By Janelle Bidne
Communications Director

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word ardor as a “depth of feeling” synonymous with words such as “passion,” “enthusiasm,” and “eagerness.”  Every Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m., the members of All Saints Lutheran Church in Davenport worship not only with deep sense of ardor for God but with Ardor: the congregation’s contemporary worship band.

About fifteen years ago, four musicians with a passion for worship music began playing together as the contemporary worship band known as Generation Chi-Rho and performed special music for services at All Saints from time to time. In 2001, the pastor and church council approached Generation Chi-Rho with the idea of changing the late service to a contemporary worship service with the band providing musical leadership.

 As years passed, Generation Chi-Ro has developed and grown in their ministry.

One major development has been the band re-branding itself with the name "Ardor". According to Matthew Reece, Director of Music Ministries at All Saints and current music leader of Ardor, the name is "a more complete reflection of the way we approach music and worship." The praise band has also developed in the last few years by expanding their ministry outside of worship through multiple outdoor concerts at All Saints and performing off-site.

In addition to these developments, Ardor has seen their ministry grow through congregation involvement. Over the years, the praise band has involved 36 people sharing their musical talents and worshipping God as musicians and worship leaders in Ardor. Sharon Martin, a three-year member and worship leader of Ardor, summarizes the praise band’s role in the life of All Saints noting how "music is an incredibly vital part of our ministry, as it allows us to serve the congregation by engaging and involving them in the worship experience."

Today, Ardor provides and enthusiastically leads all the worship music for the late service at All Saints. The band rehearses once a week with an additional rehearsal session before the worship service to prepare for worship that day. The music selection is based on a chosen theme for the day or on the scripture readings for that Sunday. This selection combines familiar contemporary worship songs such as Darlene Zchech’s "Shout to the Lord" or the guitar-driven "Consuming Fire" by Third Day, with reflective worship songs like Chris Tomlin’s "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)." Recently, Ardor performed an acoustic, outdoor concert called "Ardor Unplugged" that, according to Matthew Reece, was a ‘lo-fi’ musical event …that stripped away concert-style technology and vibe and really got down to the core of the worship experience." Instead of the "high tech" stage, lights and microphones of past outdoor concerts, Ardor used the light from a campfire, the instruments in their hands, and their voices to create  what those in attendance felt was a "beautiful, meaningful, very worshipful experience."