Music at St. Matthew

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

~ Psalm 100: 1-2 ~

Gloria Dei Choir

The Gloria Dei choir is a full four-part choir that has been enhancing our worship services for many years. Joanne Jansen is the music director. Rehearsals have begun for the new season and meet on Wednesdays at 4:30pm. All are welcome to join.

Handbell Choir

Our three-octave handbell choir enhances our worship service throughout the year. The members of the handbell choir have been faithfully providing special music for our services since 1992. It is currently lead by Michael Boice who has been director for over 15 years. All members of St. Matthew who are in high school or older are welcome to join.

Organ Recitals

Joanne Jansen is St. Matthew's principal organist and church musician. She holds seasonal organ recitals in Advent and Lent open to Spring Lake and the surrounding community.

She was accepted as an organ student of Dr. Claire Coci of New York, an international concert organist, from whom she gained excellent instruction in recital repertoire for the organ. In a trip to Germany in 1963 with a group of fellow musicians, she visited Leipzig where she was able to play the organs in St. Thomaskirke where Johann Sebastian Bach was cantor, organist, and music director from 1723-1750, and where he composed many of his compositions on the Lutheran chorale.

Several of her compositions for adult and children's choirs and handbells have been published, though no longer available. In 2010, she earned the Colleague Certificate of the American Guild of Organists (CAGO) by taking a written examination and performing prescribed music. She is a member of the American Guild of Organists (AGO), and the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. Her greatest interests have always been music, especially the music of the church, hymnology and theology.