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Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

June 1, 2025 e-newsletter

I recently returned from a trip to Germany, birthplace of the Reformation that continues in our churches today. It was inspiring to stand in the church where Martin Luther preached, where J. S. Bach was baptized, and to sing German hymns at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, where Bach held the title Kantor. History came alive.

I was impressed by the number of people who helped, protected even, Martin Luther as his fame grew. There were people like Frederik the Great, Phillip Melancthon, and Katie Luther.

I returned with a new sense of purpose - I also returned with Covid. It's hard to call in sick on a Sunday morning, but I would have been worthless at the console and could have gotten many more people sick. My pastor accompanied the liturgy. Cindy, a choir member, played the hymns with a skill that I didn't know she had - and with two hours notice! Ray, another choir member, handled the opening voluntary.

You may have heard this quote from Fred Rogers: 

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

My scary thing wasn't a tragedy where lives were at risk, but I was so grateful for the helpers who jumped in to assist the assembly in proclaiming the gospel. I hope you have those helpers too. If you don't, it might be a good idea to start seeking them out.

Tony Cruz

Member of ALCM Board of Directors 

Join us in Raleigh-Durham in August!

There is still time to register for the August conference in Raleigh-Durham. Here are just a few of the highlights:

• Worship at Duke University Chapel as well as a concert there by Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble VOCES8
• A hymn festival at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral led by composer, conductor, organist, preacher, and teacher Tom Trenney
• A concert by internationally acclaimed, advanced community handbell choir Raleigh Ringers
• 25 workshops covering a wide range of topics as well as plenary presentations
• Reading sessions from six publishers
• 15 different exhibitors
• A choice of three post-conference seminars
• Numerous opportunities for fellowship and relaxation

See all the conference has to offer!

Hotel Update

ALCM is truly delighted by the registration numbers for the Raleigh-Durham conference. What a joy it will be to all gather together. In fact, registration numbers are so high that the conference hotel is sold out! We have been able to add a second hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn near the RDU Airport. Although a second hotel may seem challenging, the committee is pleased to report that the Hilton Garden Inn will offer complimentary breakfast and we are working to provide shuttle service to the Embassy Suites, so you will not have to worry about additional transportation! Look for additional details in an upcoming email.

Raleigh-Durham Conference Sponsorship Opportunities

Would you like to contribute to ALCM and support our August conference in Raleigh-Durham? Gifts are welcome to support the conference, and all donations made by June 10th will be listed in the conference book. Donations may be made through the ALCM website. 

ALCM's summer one-day workshops for church musicians kick off this month with workshops in Stillwater, MN and Lansing, MI. It's not too late to register! You can find more information and registration forms on the ALCM website. These reasonably-priced practical workshops are open to all, so register today and tell your friends!

ALCM is always looking for people to host half-day or full-day Hearts • Hands • Voices events. Exercise your spiritual gift of hospitality by contacting education@alcm.org to talk about scheduling a workshop in your area. Adam, ALCM's Education Coordinator, will be happy to help plan and program an event for church musicians in your area to foster community and learn together.

New in the Members Area of the Website

If you haven't visited the members area in a while, check out the following new settings of Paul Otte's solo-ed out hymn accompaniments for six tunes:

CONVERSE

GREENSLEEVES

LANCASHIRE

RYBURN

ST. MICHAEL

WALTHER

The second issue of In Tempo for 2025 is in the mail, and a PDF version has been posted in the members area. Also posted is a spreadsheet for the music library catalog discussed in that issue.

If you are having difficulty accessing the members area of the website, send an email to office@alcm.org. We can usually resolve log-in issues fairly quickly.

Sight-Singing and Ear-Training Textbooks

We recently received an email from someone wanting to improve their sight-reading skills and they asked for recommended materials that might be available for self-study. Do you have materials (published or unpublished) that you use either in your academic or church setting to assist singers in developing sight-singing and ear-training skills? If so, please share them with us by sending an email to office@alcm.org. Use "Sight-Singing" in the subject line. Many thanks!

ALCM Address Info

The 40th anniversary donation return envelope included in the most recent issue of CrossAccent listed the ALCM address at 1700 Chapel Drive, which is on the campus of Valparaiso University. We receive mail at either address but 810 Freeman Street is a little easier, so we encourage that address to be used.

Presenters include John Witvliet, plenary; Brenda Portman, organ concert; Hymn Festival: Hymns of David Rogner. Workshops: John Behnke, Barry Bobb, Lisa Clark, Sam and Lois Eatherton, Matthew Janssen, Benjamin Kolodziej, Anne Krentz Organ, Jim Rindelaub, Stephen Starke, and Emily Woock.

The most recent issues of both CrossAccent and In Tempo include information about the launch of ALCM's 40th anniversary celebration, titled "Now and Forever: Endowing Our Future." One key component of the campaign is to grow the ALCM Endowment Fund by encouraging members and friends to make 40th anniversary gifts or pledges in addition to continuing their support of ALCM's annual fund. Although the official "kick-off" to the celebration will be held at this summer's conference in Raleigh-Durham, a significant number of monetary gifts have already been received in support of the three-year program. Check out ALCM's progress towards it's 40th anniversary endowment campaign goals!" 

Do you have practical thoughts, suggestions, or resources that could help your fellow ALCM members? In Tempo is always looking for new contributors! The deadline to contribute to the next issue is July 15th. Questions and submissions may be directed to intempo@alcm.org.

Get Ready for LSM 2025!



Join us at Valparaiso University from June 22 to July 20 for our 43rd season, featuring over 30 free concerts, recitals, and worship services. Can’t make it in person? Watch online via Live from LSM!

Highlights include the beloved Bach Cantata Eucharist, Festival of Hymns, and the debut Faculty Organ Recital. Don’t miss Festival Week with powerful performances from the Festival Band, Orchestra, and Choir.

Read more in our new season brochure: bit.ly/2025season 

Visitor details and online access: LSMacademy.org/2025 

Kyries & Glorias

Kyries (prayer concerns) and Glorias (thanksgivings) as well as In memoria are posted on the ALCM website.

Kyrie

Luke Tegtmeier

Mark & Kathy Helge

Bob & Lois Rimbo

Bob Hobby*

Jenny Hobby

Gloria

Daniel Schwandt

Nancy Raabe

Nate Crary

In memoriam

Pope Francis

Eldon and Donna Balko

Russell Carlson

Henry Soch

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.

* indicates a Founding Member

Fourth Friday Happy Hour with ALCM

Friday, June 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.

Hymn Resources

As you plan for summer, be sure to check your hymn selections against the list of Hymn Settings in the members area of the ALCM website. (See the link under the "Quick Links" heading.) There are hundreds of hymn settings to support congregational singing.

This month's featured tune is NETTLETON, a tune which is used with a variety of texts. Below you will find a part for B-flat instrument by Jean Boehler and a setting for organ and with soloed melody by Paul Otte. Also included are links to a partita for organ written by Jim Johnson.

NETTLETON – Boehler

NETTLETON – Otte harmonization

NETTLETON – Partita for organ – Johnson  Stanza 2  Stanza 3

As part of your regular worship planning, be sure to check your hymn selections against the list of Hymn Settings in the members area of the ALCM website. (See the link under the "Quick Links" heading.) There are hundreds of hymn settings to support congregational singing as well as many free downloadable resources in the members area. If you haven't looked for a while, log in and do some exploring!

Having difficulty logging in to the members area? First check to be sure that you are using the email address that we have on file (the address at which you receive the e-newsletter). Click on the "Forgot your password?" link in the login box and follow the instructions to reset your password. If you still have difficulty logging in, send an email to office@alcm.org and we'll be happy to help.

You are invited to freely make use of the ALCM virtual hymn "O Day Full of Grace." Share the hymn with everyone. All copyright restrictions are waived. If you own a One License subscription and offer the hymn recording in worship, please include it when submitting your One License report.  

View the complete ALCM calendar.

Historic Pipe Organ Composition Competition

Sitka Lutheran Church in Sitka, Alaska, is enthused to invite young composers to submit organ works for a composition competition! This fall, Sitka Lutheran Church is celebrating the 30 year anniversary of its volunteer program. This program spreads faith, history, and love to Sitka visitors. As part of this celebration, a concert will be performed on its 1844 Kessler pipe organ, which is the oldest organ west of the Mississippi River. The winning composition will be premiered at this concert. Get the full details.

The deadline for submissions is July 15, 2025.

Happy Easter from Lutheran Summer Music!

Happy Easter from your friends at Lutheran Summer Music! Please enjoy this musical offering of Michael Boo’s Alleluia Tapestry, performed by the LSM 2024 Festival Band, conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler.

Association of Anglican Musicians Conference Opportunity 

The Association of Anglican Musicians (AAM) invites you to attend their 2025 Annual Conference "The Lord is my Strength and my Song" in Cincinnati (June 15–19, 2025). Old friends and new will gather for a week of inspiring liturgies, relevant workshops, and beautiful music in buildings with renowned ecclesiastical architecture and world-class organs. Members of ALCM can register at the AAM member rate. Find out more and register at: www.anglicanmusicians.org/conf. 

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 username 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:

• 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;
• 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.