Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
January 1, 2023 e-newsletter
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Video Greeting from ALCM President Nancy Raabe |
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Join Us in Philadelphia!
Are you registering for your first-ever ALCM conference? Welcome!
Have you attended before but still don't quite feel fully connected? Welcome to you as well!
Have you attended ALCM conferences many times and look forward to seeing, catching up, and exchanging stories with dear friends and colleagues? Welcome back, and we'd like your help in extending hospitality toward first-time attendees or others who are seeking the same kind of community you have come to treasure so highly.
For the 2023 Philadelphia conference, we will be offering a "buddy system," pairing our newer attendees with guides who might introduce them to a few friends, or share a meal, or sit together in worship, or anything that might help them feel more at home with ALCM! This program is entirely optional for everyone, but on your registration form you'll find boxes to indicate whether you'd like to participate. You can choose "I'd like to have a conference buddy" or "I'd like to serve as someone's conference buddy." A few weeks prior to the conference, buddies will receive each other's names and contact information, so that you can connect by phone or email before arriving in Philadelphia.
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Hearts • Hands • Voices are local half- or full-day skills-based workshops organized and hosted by ALCM members. These events provide opportunities to learn new skills, share best practices, build relationships and support systems among musicians in your area, and introduce others to the ALCM community.
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Plan your winter 2023 getaway now - and attend a
Hearts • Hands • Voices event while you're there!
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Saturday, February 4, 2023
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Ascension Lutheran Church
Kate Adelman & Lorraine Brugh, presenters
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Registration for this and other events is now open.
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Manz Organ Needs a New Home |
ALCM member Daniel Schwandt, former cantor to the LSTC community, writes:
" . . . the liquidation (at a firesale price!) of an instrument I loved and used for 12 years stings. The Ruth and Paul Manz Organ is a magnificent instrument and I hope it finds a good home. Soon."
The organ is being sold through the Organ Clearing House. Let's help find this wonderful instrument a new home -- in a Lutheran congregation!
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Looking for additional music planning aids? For each season of the church year Augsburg Fortress staff select lectionary-based music ideas for choir, piano, and organ from the Augsburg Music Catalog. With each selection, you can expect:
- A link to the Augsburg Fortress website for each piece where you can view a sample, learn more, and make a purchase.
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These suggestions are in addition to listings included in Sundays and Seasons.
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Many scores are available through a subscription to Prelude Music Planner.
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Gmail users: be on the lookout!
Gmail users, if you access your email directly from the Google website, you may encounter a display issue with the monthly e-newsletter. Because of the file size, our newsletter may be truncated and only partially displayed. All ALCM emails sent through Constant Contact contain our ALCM-specific footer. If you are viewing the newsletter and see a funky display without the ALCM footer, check for a link on the bottom left side that says: "View entire message." Use that link to see the entire email.
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Do we have your current contact information?
The 2023 ALCM Membership Directory will be published in January, and we want to be sure that it includes your correct contact information. If you have recently moved and/or changed church positions and haven't yet reported the change, please let us know no later than Tuesday, January 10. You can email the changes to office@alcm.org or fill out the online contact information form.
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Choral Reading Session
Packets Available - Last Call!
We still have a few extra packets of music available from the choral reading sessions from last summer's Valpo conference. Packets are $8 each, which covers the cost of shipping. Limit 2 (two) packets. To place an order, please fill out this form. Credit card payment must accompany the order.
Packets will be available on a first come/first served basis until January 13 or when we run out, whichever comes first.
Register now to access all of the recorded sessions and handouts--including concerts and worship services!
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Fourth Friday Happy Hour with ALCM
Friday, January 27 - 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.
Weekly Compline
Participate with ALCM members in the contemplative sung service of Night Prayer posted each Monday evening at 8:30 Eastern on ALCM's Facebook page. Worship time just for you, led by President Nancy Raabe.
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LSM takes place at Valparaiso University from June 25-July 23 (Full Session) or June 25-July 9 (Half Session) and is open to students grades 8-12. The primary way prospective students learn about LSM is through encouragement from someone like you. Please consider nominating a student for LSM and help us invest in the next generation of leaders in church, music, and society.
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In Tempo, ALCM's practical resource publication, invites article proposals for these two topics:
1. Your "Worst and Best” story. The best and worst experiences or advice regarding playing, conducting, singing, hymn introductions, worship planning, technology, resolving conflict, any and everything church music and Lutheran worship. Which strategies turned into train wrecks? Which have you absorbed and made standard practice? Your stories of “bumps along the way” as well as successes can teach, cheer, and encourage us. If you would be willing to share your hard-earned wisdom and practical tips, please contact intempo@alcm.org.
2. Contemporary, folk, or alternative music in worship. “Contemporary” spans a variety of interpretations and practices, as does “folk” and “alternative.” What have you learned about employing alternative music forms? If you’d like to share your suggestions (especially with musicians of modest congregation size and budget), email intempo@alcm.org for more information and writer guidelines.
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New CrossAccent Issue Arriving Soon
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The final issue of CrossAccent for 2022 is at the printer and will be mailed this week. The theme of the issue is "Teach Us to Pray: Church Music Education," and it is quite "meaty," so you'll want to set aside some time for reading. Don't want to wait for your paper copy to arrive? This issue, along with all back issues of CrossAccent, is posted in the members area of the ALCM website and is available for viewing by all ALCM members.
With this issue of CrossAccent, publication is back on schedule. In 2023 members will receive three issues CrossAccent, three issues of In Tempo, and the annual membership directory.
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CrossAccent is searching for a Reviews editor and a SoundFest editor.
The Reviews editor coordinates the reviews of books and other media—resource sites, podcasts, recordings, and more—that assist the vocations of church musicians. The SoundFest editor coordinates the reviews of musical publications—music for keyboard, instruments, handbells, children's choir, adult choir, and more. If interested, send a note to editor Clayton Faulkner at crossaccent@alcm.org.
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ALCM Member Featured on Christmas Day Concert
at the Washington National Cathedral!
ALCM member Walter Pelz (95 years old and still going strong!) had a composition featured on the Christmas Day program at the Washington National Cathedral: Variations on ‘Vom Himmel hoch.’
Congratulations, Walter!
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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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Last Chance to Purchase 2022 Webinar Series
Webinars in 2022 were offered in three separate series (spring, summer, and fall) at a discounted price. Through January 10, 2023, you may purchase any or all of the three series at the original reduced prices. Beginning January 11, 2023 webinars will only be available individually at the regular per webinar price of $25 for members and $39 for non-members.
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Kyries & Glorias
Kyries (prayer concerns) and Glorias (thanksgivings) are posted in the members area and on this page on the ALCM website. Kyries and Glorias for the following people have been recently posted:
In memoriam
Kyrie
Gloria
ALCM members are invited to submit Kyries and Glorias following the link in the members area of the website. Non-members may contact the ALCM office at office@alcm.org with information for posting. |
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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 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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