The Earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, Psalm 24:1
Creator has been building a tradition of exploring scripture during Creator's weekly Bible Discussions each Wednesday and examining the wisdom the Bible holds for our current times. This Wednesday’s Midweek Advent service moved that exploration seamlessly into a liturgical dimension. Creator’s Evening of Poetry, Prayer, and Advent Music with Mychal and Theresa Lotz last night honored the season in both structure and content.
Pastor Emillie opened with Mary Oliver’s poem “Making the House Ready for the Lord.” The last line,“as I do all morning and afternoon. Come in, Come in," led directly into the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” where Mychal and Theresa Lotz began their musical journey with Creator through this church season.
The selections moved from Tim Hughes’ “Here I Am to Worship,” through carols like “Angels We Have Heard on High,” to Lotz’s original compositions.
The first was titled “Alaben,” which means “to praise” or “we praise.” Participants joined in this song of proclamation without hesitation. People felt the heartfelt gratitude expressed in that piece, which Mychal transitioned deftly into the hymn “Beautiful Savior.”
Lotz’s next original composition, “Lord I Put My Trust in You,” was delivered with clear, steadfast conviction. The congregation was familiar with “Praise to the Lord,” yet there was a deeper reverence in this version of what Mychal and Theresa played, one that the congregation followed, moving naturally into silence, prayer, and the lighting of candles.
A bilingual “Jesus, Remember Me” and Lotz’s “Dona Nobis Pacem” reminded everyone how universal the language we use for God truly is.
Mychal and Theresa then performed “Sanctify.” Creator was apparently on Mychal’s mind when he wrote the music. “I Bow Down” caught some of the awe everyone was feeling as the service began to define the ardor kindled in each of our souls, which continued with “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High” and “Veni Sancte Spiritus.”
The Lotzes ended with everyone joining in on “10,000 Reasons.”
What lingered afterward was not just music, but a shared sense of readiness, a community quietly prepared, like Mary Oliver’s house, with doors open and lamps lit. In a season that invites waiting, Creator found itself already listening, already responding, already saying together: Come in.
A memorable night.
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