Judith Miller's fingers danced over the organ keys as she practiced an old hymn, making a joyful noise in the small Meadowlands church.
For the past 74 years, Miller has shared her gift for music with the congregation of First Lutheran Church. After Sunday's service, the 88-year-old organist will retire.
"It's time to sit in the pews and listen," she said. "When you play [the organ], you miss a lot of the service."
A church organist is deeply enmeshed in the life of the church and is there not only for church services, but for family events such as weddings and funerals. Miller has also been called on to play at other churches in the area.
First Lutheran has been served by 58 pastors over the 74 years Miller has been organist.
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Chuck Prudhomme, president of the First Lutheran Church Council, said Miller has meant a great deal to the church and the community.
"Judy is the church. ... I don't think anyone in the community can think of First Lutheran Church without thinking of Judy," Prudhomme said. "She has probably touched just about every person in the community, one way or another, by playing for weddings and funerals and community services. She's just a saint. She is the kindest, most wonderful person."
Longtime church members Helen and David Abramson said Miller is the reason the church has a reputation for having powerful singers.
"She plays out [on the organ] and we sing to keep up with her," Helen said.
The couple described Miller as a warm human being who is dedicated to the church. "She is one of these ladies who can always find the best in everyone," Helen said. "She doesn't want anyone to make a fuss over her."
Miller is quick to point out she has had help along the way. For about three years when she was a young woman and was in business school and working in Duluth, someone else took over the organ. For many years, other organists shared the duties with Miller or took over for a few months.
Other than the past eight years, when she volunteered her time, Miller always was paid for her work, she said. But she didn't do it for the money, she said.
"I just feel I've been called to do this," Miller said. Providing music for the church has deepened her faith over the years, she said.
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"God has guided and richly blessed my life," Miller said. "I love my church family. We've shared joys and sorrows along the road and they have been supportive of me. The church means more and more to me the longer I live."
About Judith Miller
Age: 88
Background: Judith Miller is a self-taught musician. When she was 14, she was asked to take over when the previous organist moved away. "I kept with it. I just loved it so much," she said.
From the early 1950s to the early 1980s, Miller also led a church choir. It disbanded when people became too busy to take part.
Miller and her first husband, Andrew Anderson, operated a dairy farm and had two children. She was a secretary and bookkeeper at Toivola-Meadowlands School for 18 years and worked for Northland Telephone Co. for seven years. Her husband died in 1982. In 1987, she and Roy Miller were married.
Judith Miller's grandparents were among the founders of the church in 1909 and her grandfather built the altar and pulpit, which still are in use. Her family donated an organ and piano to the church.
Favorite hymns: "Children of the Heavenly Father" and "How Great Thou Art"
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Her church: First Lutheran has more than 100 members and about 30 people regularly attend services. The church's new organist will be Alan Berg of Hibbing.
Event: Miller will retire after the 10 a.m. Sunday service at First Lutheran Church in Meadowlands. There will be a retirement party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Meadowlands Community Center.
