Conferences
April 11-14,1988, Minneapolis, MN; April 25-28,1988, Atlanta, GA
Creator Masterclass Conferences. Contact Creator Magazine, P.O. Box 100, Dublin, OH 43017.
April 16, 1988, Kalamazoo, MI; April 23, 1988, Edmonton, AB; May 7, 1988, Muskegon, MI; May 14,1988, Minneapolis, MN; June 24—25, 1988, Lynden, WA; July 12—15, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI.
Conferences on liturgy and music, with introduction of the new Psalter Hymnal. Contact: Music and Liturgy Office, 2850 Kalamazoo SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49560.
April 16,1988, St. Paul
Lutheran Worship conference at Concordia College, St. Paul, MN.
May 20-21,1988, Lookout Mountain
PCA Music in Worship Conference at Covenant College. Contact Robert Edmiston, Christian Education and Publications, P.O. Box 39, Decatur, GA 30031.
June 12-17; June 19-24,1988, Montreat
Montreat Conferences on Worship and Music. Sponsored by the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. Contact: Montreat Conference Center, P.O. Box 969, Montreat, NC 28757.
June-July, 1988, Princeton
Several different week-long sessions on various aspects of church music. For catalog and application contact: Summer Session, Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ 08540; (609) 924-7416, ext. 227.
July 10-15,1988, New Wilmington
Westminster Conference on Worship and Music at Westminster College. Sponsored by the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. Contact: PAM Office, 1000 East Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28204.
Major Reformed Worship Conference:
A major conference will be held at Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI, July 12-15,1988, cosponsored by the Calvin College Music Department and Reformed Worship. More than 500 people from across the U.S. and Canada are expected to attend. Each day will include a worship service; an address, singing, discussion; many workshops for ministers, musicians, worship committee members, and anyone interested in worship; a public evening program; and evening prayers.
Each day of the conference will follow a particular theme: psalms and Bible songs on Wednesday; hymns, old and new, from familiar traditions on Thursday; songs from traditions new to the Psalter Hymnal on Friday.
Additional copies of the conference brochure are available.
Dedication of the New Psalter Hymnal
A public service of dedication for the new Psalter Hymnal will take place during the Christian Reformed Synod. The service will be held at 8:00 p.m., Thursday evening, June 16,1988, at the Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, MI.
CRC Poll
According to a recent CRC denominational survey, church members favor children taking a more active part in worship but are hesitant about incorporating liturgical dance or altar calls into the service. The poll, conducted by the Calvin College Social Research Center, quizzed 555 members on a variety of church issues, focusing especially on attitudes toward practices which have just recently been introduced in some CRC congregations.
A complete list of responses follows:
DEGREE TO WHICH SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES WOULD HELP
RESPONDENTS IN WORSHIP: IN PERCENTAGES
(N= 555 respondents)
Activities | Very Helpful |
Somewhat Helpful |
Somewhat Unhelpful |
Very Unhelpful |
No Response |
Responsive readings | 21 | 54 | 11 | 6 | 7 |
Lay participation | 20 | 49 | 13 | 6 | 11 |
Liturgical dance | 2 | 10 | 22 | 48 | 19 |
Personal testimonies | 17 | 41 | 18 | 12 | 11 |
Sharing of prayer concerns | 56 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
Participation of children | 42 | 39 | 7 | 5 | 8 |
Expressions of emotion | |||||
(clapping, saying "Amen",etc) | 12 | 30 | 24 | 25 | 10 |
Greeting each other during the service | 23 | 36 | 18 | 15 | 8 |
Use of musical instruments other | |||||
than piano or organ | 43 | 43 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
Use of nontraditional music | |||||
(gospel, folk, etc.) | 19 | 35 | 23 | 14 | 9 |
Invitation to make decision | |||||
for Christ (altar call) | 8 | 24 | 30 | 25 | 12 |