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Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
August 1, 2023 e-newsletter
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Greeting from Executive Director Jim Rindelaub | |
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Greetings ALCM friends,
Wow, I am still on cloud nine after spending the 4th of July week with you in Philadelphia! One of my favorite things in the world is listening to you sing. I love hearing you sing a cappella hymn stanzas. This year we learned during the Friday evening hymn festival how glorious it is to sight read 8-part anthems together. What a sound! (Let’s do more of that in the future!) The conference worship was so meaningful throughout, capped off by the children’s choir camp leading our closing service in Landsdale. Many thanks to our plenary speakers for their inspirational words and most especially thanks to Tim Getz and his conference committee for making it all possible. If you were not able to be in Philadelphia, I do hope you will experience the conference virtually. There is much to learn from all our presenters.
Please start making plans to be with us in Valparaiso, IN July 22-25, 2024, as we celebrate Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. John Passion on its 300th anniversary in the majestic Chapel of the Resurrection. Another ALCM moment not to be missed!
Blessings my friends,
Jim Rindelaub
Executive Director
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Elections
The votes have been counted. Watch for an ALCM email announcing newly elected officers soon.
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The conference may be over . . .
. . . but there are still many things to celebrate!
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Conference Recordings Available Soon
Thanks to the generosity of Mark and Kathy Helge, the entire Philadelphia conference has been recorded: workshops, plenaries, reading sessions, worship services, and concerts. Those who attended the conference either in person or virtually will receive a link to the final edited recordings as soon as they become available. (We'll send you an email to let you know.)
Did you miss attending the conference? You can still purchase all of the recordings and "attend" at your leisure. Simply complete the virtual registration form.
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Conference Evaluations
In-person and virtual conference attendees:
If you have not yet completed the conference evaluation, please do so as soon as possible. Your input really does affect planning for future conferences! The email with links to the evaluation forms was sent on July 14. If you need to have the email re-sent to you, please contact us at office@alcm.org.
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Sabbatical Winners
Congratulations to Patrick D'Amato, Diane Colin, and Amy Koch, winners of the three sabbatical drawings at the Philadelphia conference. Each will receive $2,000 that they can use to create their own week-long (or more) sabbatical. Thanks again to Mark & Kathy Helge for their gift that made these three sabbaticals possible.
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Offerings from the Philadelphia Conference
Designated monetary offerings were gathered at the opening and closing worship services at the Philadelphia conference and donated to two local non-profit organizations. $1,693.94 was offered during the opening worship service and donated to Feast Incarnate, a weekly hospitality ministry of University Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia. And $902, offered during the closing worship service, was donated to the Trenton Children's Chorus, which empowers the academic and social development of children through artistry in music. Many thanks to all who contributed to the support of these two wonderful organizations!
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Faithful Servant Awards
The Faithful Servant Award was established by ALCM in recognition of and appreciation for those who have made extraordinary contributions to the worship life of the church. In January 2023, ALCM’s board of directors identified three gifted individuals to receive this year’s award: Lorraine Brugh, Martin Seltz, and Stephen Starke. The awards were presented at the business meeting at the Philadelphia conference.
Congratulations to these three very deserving people!
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Save the dates:
Monday, July 22 to Thursday July 25, 2025
Retaining our now-established pattern of holding a conference at Valparaiso University in even-numbered years, we will meet next summer on the VU campus under the theme, "From Generation to Generation: Ponder Anew." This annual conference provides opportunities for attendees to strengthen their gifts and explore new skills through workshops, discussions, and hands-on learning experiences. In addition, the 2024 conference will celebrate the 300th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. John Passion. More information will be coming shortly, but mark your calendars now!
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The price for the series of three one-hour webinars is $25 for ALCM members; $39 for non-members. The morning of the webinar you will receive a link to join the webinar. Within 24 hours after the webinar concludes, you will receive a link to the webinar recording and any handouts from the webinar. Registering for the August webinar will also give you access to the recorded webinars from June 23 and July 28. | |
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ALCM Announces New Grant Program
The ALCM board is pleased to announce the establishment of a grant program providing financial assistance for projects and initiatives that support ALCM’s mission to “nurture and equip musicians to serve and lead the church’s song.”
Who may submit a grant request? Anyone who is an ALCM member!
How much? $500-$1500, though larger amounts may be considered at the discretion of the review committee.
What kind of projects? You decide! Some possibilities include: personal study; support of the music ministry in your congregation; research travel or a conference; presenting a community event or Hearts, Hands, Voices workshop; purchase of instruments or equipment to use to support a new musical ensemble in your congregation or community outreach program. You decide what kind of project—use your imagination!
How do I apply? Complete this application form. Applications will be accepted August 1, 2023 – October 1, 2023.
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Echoing Air, Inc. is now booking its 2023-24 concert season!
Echoing Air is a traveling Baroque chamber ensemble featuring two countertenors, two recorders, and basso continuo. The ensemble’s repertoire encompasses music of many European countries spanning from Medieval times to the present. Echoing Air tours frequently, appearing on civic, church, and university concert series. Masterclasses at the collegiate level and age-appropriate presentations for students grades K-12 are also available.
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Fourth Friday Happy Hour with ALCM
Friday, August 25 - 6:00 pm Eastern
Recognizing that virtual community IS real community, you are warmly invited to join "Fourth Friday Happy Hour with ALCM" on Zoom every fourth Friday. Moderated by President Nancy Raabe and Executive Director Jim Rindelaub, discussion will be oriented around a general theme each month, but the larger purpose is to encourage conversation, sharing, and community. Bring whatever thoughts, comments, or concerns are on your mind, and of course a libation of your choice. Click on this recurring link to join each month.
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Events are published both in the website calendar and in the monthly e-newsletter. Do you have an event that you'd like to include? ALCM members should log in and follow the link on the main members area page. Non-members should send event details to office@alcm.org for consideration.
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LSM 2023 Livestream Archive
Relive your favorite moments from LSM 2023 or catch the events that you missed! View 25 inspiring concerts, recitals, and worship services by visiting our Livestream Archive. Share with your friends and family and continue to spread the excitement of this summer!
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If you have attended or plan to attend a conference or workshop and would like to write a short report on your experience for CrossAccent, please feel free to contact editor Clayton Faulkner (crossaccent@alcm.org). Examples of recent and upcoming conferences include:
Lectures in Church Music (Concordia University Chicago)
American Guild of Organists (chapter, regional, or national events)
Choristers Guild Institute
Lutheridge Adult Music Week
The Hymn Society Annual Conference
North American Academy of Liturgy
National Conference for Sacred Music
Institute of Liturgical Studies
ALCM Biennial Conference (Philadelphia)
Calvin Symposium on Worship
Conference on Worship, Theology, and the Arts (St. Olaf College)
Society for Christian Scholarship in Music
American Choral Directors Association National Conference
Hearts, Hands, Voices workshops
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Lift Every Voice: Spiritual Songs in Lutheran Worship
call for manuscripts
Issue 31.3 (Fall/Winter2023)
Manuscript Deadline: 1 September 2023
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David E. Eicher and Simei Monteiro have been honored as Fellows of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada for outstanding leadership and significant contributions in encouraging, promoting, and enlivening congregational song. The new Fellows were recognized on July 19 during the organization’s recent Annual Conference in Montréal, Québec, Canada. This year’s conference, “Land, Language, and Liberation,” gathered people from ten nations on five continents, for mutual support, learning, celebration, and singing.
David was honored as a Fellow for his work as a hymnbook editor, as a promoter of congregational song, and for his service to The Hymn Society. David also served as ALCM's interim executive director in 2007, before accepting a position as editor of Glory to God (2013), the most recent hymnal of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Simei was honored for her leadership in congregational song not only in her native Brazil, but throughout the world.
Read the full press release here.
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Do you have a story of wisdom gained from real life ministry to share with ALCM members? "The Worst and Best of Everything” is an In Tempo series about the best and worst experiences lived or advice received regarding playing, conducting, singing, hymn introductions, worship planning, technology, resolving conflict, any and everything church music and Lutheran worship.
What have you learned along the way in church ministry that can help others musically, personally, relationally? If you would be willing to share your hard-earned wisdom and practical tips, please send an article proposal by September 1 to intempo@alcm.org.
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Are you getting the most out of your ALCM membership?
Did you know that new member benefits are being added all the time to the members area of the ALCM website? You will want to log in whenever you visit the site to be sure that you have access to everything available to members. Can't remember your login information? In almost every case, your user name is your email address. You can change or reset your password by following the "Forgot your password?" link in the login box.
Items in the members area are available for unlimited use as long as your membership remains active. Here are a few items for members only:
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All issues of CrossAccent (from the very beginning) and In Tempo are available for viewing. These items are for sale in the Marketplace to non-members;
- Advertise your local events on ALCM's calendar;
- Listen to all ALCM CD recordings for free;
- Hymns, accompaniments, descants, concertatos, and hymn stanza alternations for choir;
- Other free downloadable seasonal and non-seasonal resources;
- Discounted registration fee for ALCM-sponsored webinars and conferences;
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Past issues of ALCM's original practical resource, Grace Notes, from 1997-2011;
- Discounts on purchases of CDs and other items in the Marketplace; and
- A host of other resources free for viewing and downloading.
If you have any difficulty logging in or if you have questions or comments about the website or your membership, please feel free to contact us by email at office@alcm.org.
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Are you a congregation looking for a musician?
A musician looking for a position?
ALCM can help!
Employment resources have been developed to assist congregations in the process of searching for and hiring a musician. Presented in a step-by-step format, these resources will guide you through the entire employment process.
The ALCM job listing service connects those looking for positions in the field of church music with congregations and other institutions that have openings. By completing an online job posting form, congregations can post their positions on the ALCM website where those looking for employment may view them.
Musicians searching for a job may view posted job openings on the ALCM website, where those looking for positions can view them. Both full-time and part-time positions are listed, and new positions are added as received.
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A list of ALCM member-led
Sunday worship streams & recordings is available at:
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The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
nurtures and equips musicians
to serve and lead the church's song.
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