With Grateful Hearts

As our Music Director, Jen, prepares for a new chapter, we pause to give thanks for her faithful leadership, creativity, and the joyful spirit she brought to every note sung. Her dedication over the years has shaped the heart and sound of our worship, leaving a legacy that will continue to echo in our sanctuary. On behalf of the entire congregation, thank you, Jen and family, for the music, the ministry and the memories. We send our well wishes as you step into this next season together.

Spotlight: Jen Bistline

REFLECTING

What first brought you to ALC, and what do you remember about those early days?

Our family moved to town in July of 2013 and joined ALC shortly after. We came to ALC because I have been an ELCA Lutheran my entire life. Mike and I went to Wartburg, and when we got our first jobs in Jesup, we bought our first house right next to the Lutheran Church. We quickly became involved in that congregation, who also had a strong music heritage like ALC in La Porte. When we came to La Porte, Mike already had lots of connections with members of our congregation who also happened to work for the school district. When we visited we noticed all the families with young children, and naturally, were drawn to the musical talents of Pastor Rooke, and his wife, Randi, and the Adult Choir. Those few years of overlap with the Rookes’ last years and our first years here were memorable for lot of reasons, but for a musician, the opportunities to collaborate with fellow musicians was a real gift. Doug, Randi, and I worked together to create a few services that highlighted flute solos with sermonettes inspired by our song choices. I sang with the choir, and started to lead the Sunday School music hour while Mike wrangled our four babies, ages 2, 5, 7, and 9. I was a stay-at-home mom at that time, and new to the community, so the chance to socialize with adults, even if it was only an hour a week, was a gift! Sarah Craft started the It’sa group shortly after we moved, and I quickly forged new friendships with other stay-at-home moms at our church and in the community.

How has the music ministry grown or changed over the past decade?

When the Rookes moved to Blue Earth, MN, I took over Randi’s job as Music Director. At that time, we had an adult choir, a large Sunday School program, a fledgling chime choir, and a large Christmas Program with over 90 children packed on the sanctuary steps! LuAnn and I began working together to plan worship services, and Jeff and I navigated a new routine with a new pastor. The choir continued to provide music for worship, and we continued the tradition of “Youth Sunday” with more contemporary music and the help of the high school youth, and the addition of middle-school Joe Bistline on a new

drum set.

In the first few years as music director, I worked with Pastor Rick Biedermann, who was our interim pastor for about a year, until Pastor Nathan Clements accepted our call. During Pastor Nathan’s time with us, we worked through the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak. I remember one of the first headlines, and a large number of deaths, being tied to a church choir rehearsal in Washington state. People were DYING because they sang together! The very thing that brings us all so much joy wasn’t safe. So, the choir took a break, and our congregation learned to get together online. Pastor Nathan got our church online, and we began recording and broadcasting services though YouTube. When we returned to in-person worship, we weren’t singing for a long while, and when we did begin to sing, we wore masks. I bought big plexiglass shields to put on music stands, so soloists could perform without masks, and not project their air particles onto the congregation. Our church landscape changed, as did churches all across the world. People came back to church eventually, but not back to pre-COVID attendance. Many of us, however, had a new appreciation for the blessing and privilege of our time together in worship and fellowship in our brick-and-mortar church building. The choir did eventually start singing together again, Sunday School and our music-filled worship services returned, too.

MEANINGFUL MOMENTS

Is there a particular service, song or season that stands out as especially memorable?

Advent and Christmas come to mind first, followed by Lent and Easter. These are the two most challenging seasons for a church musician. I really enjoy planning worship services and searching for just the right music to go with the texts for the day. LuAnn and I spend extra time planning hymns to create a meaningful worship experience during these special seasons. I often find guest musicians, learn new music and coordinate extra rehearsals. I enjoy the work, but it’s also a very stressful time during the school year with extra performances and accompanying obligations. I’m happy to share my gifts, even if I’m exhausted by Christmas Day and Easter Brunch!

Can you share a moment when you felt God’s presence most deeply through music?

By this stage in my life, there are so many moments! An experience, not related to my time as music director, happened when I was working as a Music Therapist for Cedar Valley Hospice just shortly after we moved to LPC. I was covering a maternity leave for their music therapist. An elderly gentleman was a patient at the Hospice Home and his family requested music therapy services. His wife had preceded him in death, and while she was in hospice care, the couple would see the music therapist. They had been dancers in their earlier years, and enjoyed reminiscing with the music therapist. In her final days,

music was relaxing, a distraction from the process, and a comfort to her and her family.

Unfortunately, my schedule that week didn’t allow me to see this man immediately. By the time I arrived at his room, he had been unresponsive for a few days. When I entered his room I was greeted by a very tired son and daughter. They had been taking turns at his bedside, along with his other siblings for days. However, they were grateful for my presence. When I asked if there was anything special they would like to hear, the woman replied, “Could I Have This Dance by Anne Murray. My parents used to dance to that song.” As I sang, they listened tearfully while holding their dad’s hand. The elderly man was taking

slow, intermittent breaths. I sang, “Could I have this dance for the rest of my life? Will you be my partner every night? When we’re together it feels so right….” While I was singing, I watched his respirations. His chest rose with one big breath, then a pause, and finally a long, final exhale.

“I think he’s gone,” his daughter said. I went to get one of the nurses, and when I returned his daughter hugged me and said, “Thank you. I think mom just waltzed down from heaven to take him home.”

What a privilege it was to be in that space at that time! Was this the power of music to help this man relax enough to let go? Was this divine intervention? Coincidence? I just happened to be there? As a Christian, I like to believe the daughter’s take on her dad’s death. How comforting to know God has created a place for us where family members and loved ones are waiting to greet us when our time here on earth is done.

LOOKING AHEAD

Is there a message you’d like to leave with our congregation?

Thank you for welcoming me as your music director 10 years ago. Together we’ve carried out ALC’s mission to reach out to teach and share God’s love for His people through music, word and sacrament. It has been my privilege to share the gift God has given me. Thank you for supporting me along the way! God’s blessings to you as you search for a new music director.

Looking ahead: We’ll only be 80 miles away in Des Moines. Mike will be one of the band directors at Bondurant-Farrar High School. I’ll be working in the Des Moines Public School System at Windsor Elementary as their elementary music teacher. Joe and Harrison will be Junior and Freshman at Wartburg in the fall. Madi and Isabella will be Junior and Freshman at Bondurant High School. We

plan to live in Altoona. We’ll be back to visit, but if you’re in our neck of the woods, please look us up! Our email is bistlinestudios@gmail.com. My phone number is 319-239-4981. Our new mailing address will be forthcoming.

I leave you with two bible verses that have given me some assurance for the future. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Jeremiah 29:11 says “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Blessings to you!

Jen