Japanese Recording of Genevan Psalms Now Available
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW) has negotiated with a Japanese company to obtain copies of a superb recording of the Genevan Psalms sung and played by members of the famed Bach Collegium Japan. Masaaki Suzuki-sensei, founder and director of the Collegium, is a member of the Reformed Church of Japan, which has just completed a project of producing the entire Psalter to be sung to the tunes of Genevan Psalter. The recording features members of the Collegium, with voices, organ, recorder, lute, and chitarrone. The recording is available for $15 from the Calvin College Bookstore (800-748-0122) or from Faith Alive Christian Resources (1-800-333-8300).
2004 Worship Grants Bring Renewal
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship grant program, in its fifth year, generated interest from nearly every part of North America and from many denominations. In 2004 the Institute awarded more than $700,000 to 56 churches and organizations.
Several grant recipients will offer worship education programs designed to train youth and adults in the meaning of worship and worship leadership skills. Some grant projects will develop models of planning and leading worship which includes all generations. Other projects seek to integrate the arts in worship, to develop worship models that meet the special needs of the elderly, and to identify spiritual needs of youth in urban and rural settings and create worship to meet those needs. Grant recipients represent congregations and schools from sixteen denominations in the United States and Canada.
“We have learned through the grant program that as congregations seek to renew worship, they reflect on their worship experiences, discover the meaning of new and familiar expressions of worship, and develop habits of worship that continue the process of renewal for many years,” said Betty Grit, Program Manager of the Worship Renewal Grants Program.
For 2004 the Institute received almost 200 proposals from 26 denominations in 40 states and 3 provinces. “Because of the tremendous response, the selection process was extremely difficult. We were especially grateful for so many proposals that give evidence of deep theological reflection on the meaning of worship,” said John Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. The Institute worked with a seven-member national advisory board to evaluate proposals.
Funds for the program were provided through a grant from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. Founded in 1937, the Endowment’s major focuses are community development, education, and religion.
For more information, including application directions and a brochure on the Worship Renewal Grants Program, visit www.calvin.edu/worship.
Hymn Text and Tune Searches
The Hymn Society is conducting its biennial hymn search. Submit texts with original tunes or tune suggestions by August 1. For more information visit www.thehymnsociety.org or call 1-800-THE-HYMN.
Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims is seeking a setting for an already chosen text; deadline is July 15. For more information e-mail hymnal150@plymouthchurch.org or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to The Plymouth Collection Celebration, Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, 75 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
The music committee of Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, invites you to participate in a hymn tune contest for an already chosen text; deadline is October 1. For additional information and specifications contact Rick Seaholm at Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08542; phone 609-924-0103; fax 609-683-1975; Rick@Nassauchurch.org.
2005 Conferences
Sun Valley, ID, June 12-15
The Brehm Center Summit: Who holds center stage? Who is worship for? What difference does worship make? Who is left out? Who is no longer here? Eddie Gibbs, Walt Kallestad, Chuck Fromm, Karen Ward, Caleb Quaye, Bob Henley, Fred Davison, Clay Schmit, and others. Contact: www.brehmcenter.org or Erin Dunkerly, 626-304-3789, brehmcenter@fuller.edu.
Los Angeles, CA, June 15-18
Christians in the Visual Arts, 25th Anniversary. A celebration of the renaissance that has taken place in the past few decades, in which artists of faith have once again come to the fore, and a look at the next generation of Christians in the visual arts with a focus on new media. Contact: www.civa.org, call 978-867-4124, or e-mail office@civa.org.
Presbyterian Association of Musicians:
Montreat, NC, June 19-15,
June 26-July 1
“Handling the Mysteries”
New Wilmington, PA, July 10-15
“God has been this way before”
Albuquerque, NM, July 17-22
“Preaching to the Choir”
Contact for all three conferences: www.pam.pcusa.org; 1-888-728-7228,
ext. 5288; e-mail pam@ctr.pcusa.org.
Seattle, WA, July 8-10
The newly formed Association for Reformed & Liturgical Worship (AR&LW) will hold its second annual meeting preceding the Summer Institute for Liturgy and Worship at Seattle University (see below). Focus will be on the teaching of worship at Reformed and Presbyterian seminaries. Contact: Bruce L. Taylor at church@spanishspringpres.org.
Seattle, WA, July 10-15
“Holy Week in Such a Time as This: Fresh Insights for Ancient Forces.” The Summer Institute for Liturgy and Worship, at Seattle University, Don Saliers, keynote speaker. Contact: www.seattleu.edu/theomin/
summerinstitute.asp.
San Francisco, CA, July 10-14
The annual conference of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. Contact: www.FUMMWAConvo.org; 1-800-952-8977.
New York, NY, July 10-14
“Seeds of Song: Sowing in the City.” The 2005 Biennial Conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. Contact: 1-800-624-2526; www.ALCM.org.
Waco, TX, July 19-22
“Alleluia! Many Voices, One Song,” a conference sponsored by the Baylor University Center for Christian Music Studies. Contact: Melinda Coats, 254-7610-2360; Melinda_Coats@baylor.edu; www.baylor.edu/Christian_music.
Grand Rapids, MI, July 25-39
“The Theology of Worship in the Reformed Tradition.” A course to study the prominent theological writings from the Reformed tradition (Zwingli, Calvin, Hodge, Nevin, Barth, von Allmen) and how the enduring themes in these writings might be reflected in the practice of public worship in today’s cultural environment. Instructor: John D. Witvliet. Contact: www.calvin.edu/worship; 616-526-6088; worship@calvin.edu.
Dallas, TX, October 9-11
“Music in Worship: A Prophetic Voice Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.” A symposium for seminary musicians and academic deans, denominational music leaders, clergy, and church musicians. Presented by the American Guild of Organists (AGO) in partnership with the Association of Theological Schools, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, and Perkins School of Theology. Contact: AGO, 212- 870-2310; e-mail info@agohq.org.
Houston, TX, November 10-13
“The Matter of Devotion: Art, Liturgy, and the Stuff of Worship.” Artists and scholars will examine the changing relationship between worship and contemporary culture, the ways in which fine art and liturgical art influence one another, and the renewal movements in both traditional and emerging churches for the biennial Image Conference of 2005. For more information visit www.imagejournal.org/conference/.
Pipe Organ Encounters 2005
A program of regional workshops to introduce teens and adults to the organ through private and group instruction in organ playing, repertoire, history, design, and construction. Keyboard proficiency required; previous organ study not necessary.
POE for teens:
Denver, CO, June 19-25.
Contact: Denise Lanning,
deniselanning@netscape.net.
San Francisco, CA, June 19-25.
Contact: Justin Kielty,
jkielty@sbcglobal.net.
Norfold, VA, June 25-July 2.
Contact: Rachel Gragson,
rwgragson@earthlink.net.
Baltimore, MD, July 3-8.
Contact: Saunders Allen,
saunjal@msn.com.
Nashville, TN, July 10-15.
Contact: Andrew Risinger,
arisinger@westendumc.org.
Sioux Falls, SD, July 17-22.
Contact: Larry Schou,
lschou@usd.edu.
POE for adults:
Waco, TX, June 26-July 1.
Contact: Joyce Jones,
joyce_jones@baylor.edu.
Singapore, June 1-4.
Contact: Adriel Yap,
yapper@singnet.com.sg.
Nashville, TN, July 10-15.
Contact: Julia Callaway,
juliacallaway@vinestreet.org.