Covenant Church Music and Worship

Covenant Church : an ecumenical liberal baptist congregation in Houston, Texas

Music at Covenant is central to worship. Instrumentals, and vocal solos or small groups provide music in the absence of the choir.

Hook & Hastings Organ | Links

The music ministry at Covenant is central to worship. The choir presents extended choral works at least twice a year in addition to weekly participation in services. Choir members exhibit a high degree of dedication and commitment. The size of the choir (24-28 members) does not permit singing throughout the summer months. Instrumentals, and vocal solos or small groups provide music in the absence of the choir.

Choral repertoire is selected from the rich heritage of earliest centuries through the 20th century. Among the major works done at Covenant are the following:

Festival Te Deum, Rejoice in the Lamb, and Ceremony of Carols, all by Benjamin Britten.
By Bach, Christ lag in Todesbanden, Jesu, Meine Freude, and Komm, Jesu, Komm
Requiems by the following: Cherubini, Duruflé, Fauré, and Rutter
Heinrich Schütz' The Christmas Story
Rob Landes' Jazz Gloria and Magnificat
Arthur Honegger, King David
Alice Parker, The Sermon from the Mountain (on words by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Vivaldi's Gloria
Works by Tom Avinger on texts by Vassar Millier, and by Christina Rosetti

Two services in which choral music is emphasized are the Ash Wednesday service, traditionally held in Rothko Chapel, and Tenebrae, a Good Friday service.

The hymnal used in Covenant's worship is the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal. Hymns play an important role in worship and are chosen to enhance the lesson of the day. The congregation learns new hymns readily, and congregational singing is vigorous with the uplifting support of the historic Hook and Hastings pipe organ.

Instrumental music is considered to be an intrinsic part of the worship service. The Covenant Trio (Pam , flute, Susan Wegner, cello, and Carl McAliley, keyboard) as well as soloists add their talents to worship. The Prelude does not precede the worship hour but is treated as the beginning of worship. The congregation remains in silence through the Postlude.