Day 1 :: Tour 2025

Can you hear the hum?

It’s often low, droning, barely audible – but always there. 

It’s the hum of pain, loss, and fear. It’s the hum of hurt. Of brokenness. 

We hear it in the shouting headlines of war, political drama, and natural disasters. We hear it in the chaos of conflict and in the quiet desperation of those struggling to survive. And, if we pay attention, we hear it inside ourselves, relentlessly reminding us of how broken we are too.

We can’t smack the hum down, beat it into oblivion, or even just ignore it. But, we can sing another melody. One that is gloriously more beautiful, one that comes alongside the hum – that sees it and cares, and heals, and points towards The One who can redeem. 

That is what Laudate Mennonite Ensemble is about. 

That is why we come together again, for another season of rehearsing, touring and singing. 

To us, choral singing isn’t just music; it’s a living prayer, a chorus of hearts united in worship. It’s the heartbeat of Christian community, the echo of unity in Christ, and the power to magnify His glory through every note.

It reaches hearts when words fail to express emotions we can’t name. 

It weaves our individual struggles into something shared. It’s a reminder that, even in the midst of suffering, beauty still exists—still holds power—and for a few minutes, we’re allowed to rest in that grace.

So, you imagine that as we gathered on Tuesday morning, we were pumped (and yes, a little nervous too). 

The air buzzed with anticipation, a delightful blend of catching up, unpacking, and those first tentative (and then gloriously robust) notes floating through the rehearsal space.

First rehearsal days are always daunting as you stumble through music realizing how much work lies ahead. But it’s still so much fun to finally sing with people instead of a computer generated audio file or plunking piano. 

This year we are welcoming several new members to Laudate. It’s a privilege and honor to sing with every one of them, and I’m excited about what we can do together as a group. 

Lyle Stutzman, our intrepid leader, takes the reins again this year and we couldn’t be happier. He’s talented, down to earth, and oh so funny. We like him a lot and trust him too. 

We’re also so happy to welcome Katrina Weaver as general manager to Laudate this year. Everything is neatly planned and organized and we love it. Katrina excels at this job and we are so lucky to have her. 

One constant of Laudate is the lavish hospitality shown by Cliff and Trina year after year. This year is no different, and after our day of rehearsal we enjoyed a wonderful meal in the friendly confines of Cliff and Trina’s backyard. 

Pictures ensued, and after that, happy conversations started and a game of bucket golf broke out. 

This is a good start to Laudate 2025 if you ask me. 

We’ll be touring in PA, OH, VA, and NC this year. Take a look at the itinerary and make it to a program if you can. We’d love to see you! 

Until next time, grace be with you.

• Jordan Lehman