Sunday, August 23
Today’s service music is both traditional and new. Traditional, because our wonderful choir offers a sturdy, straightforward anthem from the loft in the Anthem slot. Howard Helvey’s no-nonsense arrangement of the early American tune “Take up your cross, your Savior said,” reminiscent in style and construction of the shape-note singing we worshipped with as a congregation this past May. The hymn tune might not be familiar, but the text should be – it’s a paraphrase of Matthew 16:24, one of the lectionary readings for today’s service. The tune itself, sturdy and sternly composed, is a perfect musical image for that text, which instructs us to face head-on the daily challenges, sacrifices, and commitment of following Jesus, rather than turning away when life gets hard.
The rest of the music today – the “new” part – comes from some of the immensely talented young people in our community. The group, Harmonious Hearts, is a collection of classically trained musicians who attend Charlotte Latin School together. I think they’re terrific, though I admit I might be biased because my son, Nicholas Smith, plays with them! They’ve been looking to share their prodigious musical gifts with the Charlotte community, and so I thought of Trinity’s wonderfully welcoming and open community. I’ll let their own beautiful, thoughtfully constructed mission statement do the rest of the introducing. I hope you enjoy their ministry today.
Harmonious Hearts
“Founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2024, we are a community-centered music organization dedicated to using the universal language of song to uplift, unite, and inspire. From our first neighborhood performance to the expanding calendar of events we now coordinate, our work is rooted in the belief that music can transform individual lives and strengthen our city’s social fabric. Neighborhood outreach extends our work beyond just concert halls. Our team organizes pop-up performances in parks, senior living centers, and community centers, bringing live music to people where they are and creating shared moments of joy. We also run targeted programs for seniors, veterans, and individuals experiencing homelessness, using music therapy-informed practices to support emotional well-being, reduce isolation, and encourage connection.
Inclusivity and diversity inform everything we do. We intentionally program a wide array of musical genres, including classical and jazz music, so our offerings reflect Charlotte’s rich cultural tapestry. We partner with artists and cultural organizations across the region to amplify underrepresented voices and ensure every community sees itself reflected on stages. We measure success not only in attendance numbers but in stories of personal transformation: a child discovering confidence through their first solo, an elderly audience member whose spirits are lifted by familiar songs, neighbors who meet for the first time and leave as friends.
These human moments drive our ongoing commitment to service and inform the evolution of our programs. Looking ahead, we aim to expand our reach throughout the greater Charlotte region, scale school and therapeutic initiatives, and incubate new artist-led residency programs that give creatives the resources to engage deeply with neighborhoods over time. We will continue to champion music as a force for creativity, healing, and human connection, building a more vibrant, compassionate, and harmonious community for all.”
– Justin Smith
Sunday, August 16
Thrilled to be back in the loft with my dear friends and colleagues, helping to lead worship once again this Sunday. We have a wonderful season of music planned and, it should be said, are OPEN TO ALL regardless of prior singing experience. Join us!
Our introit is the same piece we’ve opened the fall with for the last four years of my tenure at Trinity – the Houston composer David White’s mystical, magical Spirit moving over chaos. The text and music convey the welcoming of God into our presence through song, with tinkling bells and a newly composed hymn tune that serve to remind us of our work in the choir loft and the joy we take in it.
The anthem is short and sweet (necessarily so, since today is also our first rehearsal of the new season!). It’s a harmonization of an Orthodox chant setting a line from the Galatians reading today, where Paul compares being baptized in Christ to putting on new clothes.
If you’d like to give us a try, there is no audition and no prerequisites! Simply email me and show up at 9:30am next Sunday!
– Justin Smith