Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church Ministries

FIFTEEN YEARS OF BRASS

Pentecost, June 4, 1995. The sermon was "The Mockingbird God" given by Ann Stiebing and Pastor Whetstone. The Senior Choir sang "Oh Come, and Dwell in Me."

G. Edward Whetstone was pastor; parish assistants were Sem. Cindy Rasschaert and Don Schwartz. Louise Shinham was interim director of music. Among "those assisting in the services" was an octet: David Rau, Kenneth Beem, Douglas McNamara, David Fries, Frank Camden, Mark Rau, Andrew Dorsch, and Alex Rogers. Eight trombones.

As it celebrates its 15th anniversary of making a joyful noise, the group once called "Octet," later "Ezekiel 37," and now "Salem Brass of Catonsville," continues to enrich worship life at Salem.

Fifty days before their debut, David Rau sat in church on Easter Sunday and thought it would be a wonderful thing to tap into the congregation’s rich talent. At the urging of Louise (now Rau), he began asking around to see who could play a brass instrument to supplement festival worship on the upcoming Pentecost Sunday. To his amazement, he found seven others willing and able – boys and men, all trombonists. Their backgrounds were varied: one had been a member of the All-Ohio Boys Band; another played with "The Rebels," a regionally popular band of another time. Some were students who needed rides to practice. Others left indulgent families at home as they practiced and prepared.

The congregation was certainly surprised that day 15 years ago when they heard its lusty hymn singing augmented by the group’s triumphant sounds. As time passed, there have been opportunities for growth and change, including the addition of valved instruments and the decision to "go co-ed." Over the years, the group has continued to play at services when asked. Additionally, they have offered numerous benefit concerts at Salem, as well as contributing to many of this congregation’s social events. Several other congregations in Catonsville and beyond have invited them to contribute to their worship experiences. They have played at weddings and get in the spirit a little early every year at the Catonsville Historical Society’s annual Christmas open house.

It was just as it was prophesied: "The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. . . . He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O Sovereign Lord, you alone know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. . . .Then you will know that I am the Lord.’"