Sunday, September 19, 2010, beginning at 7:00 PM, marked the start of the eighth Lutheran Hymn Festival in Dallas since 1993. The hymn festival, with the theme "Triune God, to You We Sing," was held at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, one of the world's great concert halls. This year's festival, with an attendance of over 2,000, presented a unique experience for singing great hymns from the tradition of the Lutheran Church and Christendom in general.

The purpose of the Lutheran Hymn Festival is to:

• Glorify God - soli Deo gloria!
• Encourage one another in the faith by singing hymns. The Scriptures bid us to do so: "...sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:19 - 20 NRSV). And again, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word and deed, do everything in the name of our Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:16-17 NRSV).
• Proclaim the Gospel to the Metroplex community.

The Lutheran Hymn Festival has been blessed over the past seven festivals to make financial gifts to mission and ministry agencies totaling $81,500. From the past 3 festivals, $34,000 has been given to the Lutheran Music Program, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform lives and connect people through faith and music. We are so impressed with LMP, which provides top quality training for young people at the annual, four-week Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival. We are especially appreciative of their work with students who are considering careers in worship as organists. We are thankful for their ministry and encourage others to provide direct support.

Lutheran Hymn Festival 2010 featured a mass choir of 130 singers from Lutheran Churches in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, under the direction of Samuel J. Eatherton, Minister of Music at Zion Lutheran Church in Dallas. The Children's Chorus of Greater Dallas also participated in their third Lutheran Hymn Festival. Under the direction of Cynthia Nott the Children's Chorus of 80 children performed with a Children's Choir comprised of 40 students from area Lutheran Churches and Schools.

Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, a nationally recognized composer, conductor, church organist and clinician served as guest organist for the festival, playing The Herman W. and Amelia H. Lay Family Concert Organ which is the focal point of the Eugene McDermontt Concert Hall at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The organ and the Meyerson Symphony Center are acoustical and architectural benchmarks and are a proud legacy to generations of music lovers in the Dallas area.