During the first week of May, Mariachi San Pablo (MSP) traveled to St. Louis for a full week of worship, learning, and cultural celebration. Their visit began with an invitation from St. Lucas Lutheran Church, where they joined the congregation for their two English services, before taking part in their growing Hispanic service, where more than thirty people gathered for worship, the sanctuary filled with voices, guitars, trumpets, and violins, which created a joyful start to the week.
The six members of MSP who traveled to St. Louis were joined by previous members, as well as five young violinists from seminarian families. With so many violins, three-part harmonies were possible, giving the music a richness that filled the space and lifted hearts of those listening.
The Multiethnic Symposium, hosted at Concordia Seminary -St. Louis, is an annual two-day gathering for church leaders who serve in cross cultural ministries. MSP played for the morning chapel service, filling the space with music, the diversity of God’s people spanning across the pews.
After lecture sessions, MSP joined the community for a Hymns Festival in the chapel, where the leading pastor introduced each hymn by sharing its author, background, and history before MSP and the violin students played the hymn together. Several of the hymns were new to the group and had been introduced only a few days before the trip. Miguel Muñoz, MSP Director, created the arrangements to adapt the hymns to mariachi style playing.
At the end of the week, the All Nations Sing event brought the community together once more. Cultures blended during this two-hour event, praise offered in English, Spanish, and Cantonese. The sound of many languages lifted in song was a reminder of the unity found in Christ.
MSP continues to prepare, as their next trips are only two months away. In July, they will travel to Phoenix, Arizona for the LCMS Convention. Afterwards, they leave for Irvine, California to present at the Hispanic Convention, where one hundred years of Hispanic ministry in the LCMS will be celebrated.
The week in St. Louis was filled with music, learning, and shared faith. Each moment reflected the mission of MSP, which is to bring people together through music that points to Christ.
