Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
March 1, 2021 e-newsletter
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It has been almost one year since our world changed dramatically and many of us who are involved in making music in the church have had to drastically rethink how we do almost everything. Just a few days prior to shutdown in Ohio, my choir had presented a concert which included Andrew Carter’s “Song of Stillness” which reminds us to listen for God in the silence. Who could possibly have predicted the amount of silence that we would begin to endure at that point?
We are now officially moving through the Lenten Season, a penitential time of preparation. In many ways the events of the last year have felt like an entire year of Lent! As Christians, we embrace the Lenten journey because we know how the story ends. We KNOW that it concludes with resurrection glory and shouts of Alleluia. And although we aren’t through the season (or the pandemic) yet, the shouts of Alleluia feel like they are on the horizon for me.
As vaccines are being distributed, it is incredibly exciting to think about celebrating both the Easter message AND the joy we will experience when we can safely gather to proclaim God’s wonderous gift of salvation without worry. So, while we continue to fast and refrain for a while, take this opportunity to plan for the future. Embrace the new things we have all had to learn that can continue to help us in combination with the things we have temporarily set aside. May your journey be filled with hope, peace, and light!
Jeremy Bankson
ALCM Region 1 President
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Please note the ALCM Virtual Easter Hymn will be available by late afternoon on Thursday, March 25 to be used freely in Easter messages and worship services. You may share the hymn with everyone. All copyright restrictions will be waived.
Customize your stanza 3: ALCM members are welcome to request a special version of the hymn for their church by following the CUSTOMIZE YOUR STANZA 3 instructions. Using this option will allow your church to have a special edition where only your church members will be seen during stanza 3. Know that all the hundreds of participants will continue to be heard during stanza 3. Only the videos seen will be customized.
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Lenten Resources in ALCM Publications
As you continue to plan worship for Lent and Holy Week, consider browsing previous issues of CrossAccent and In Tempo. How might you use or adapt the wisdom of pastors and musicians who have written about the season? Though not an exhaustive list, here are a few suggested readings:
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Kevin Barger, “Subsisting Through the Lenten Season: Nine Tips for the Church Musician,” In Tempo 2018, no. 1, pp. 1–3
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Jennifer Phelps, “A Covenant: Stewardship of Self during the Seasons of Lent and Easter,” In Tempo 2018, no. 1, pp. 5–6
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Karen S. Eddinger, “Lenten and Easter Services in a Pandemic: One Church Musician’s Perspective,” In Tempo 2020, no. 2, pp. 6–7
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Carla Waterman, “To Lament Is to Hope: An Antidote to Despair,” In Tempo 2020, no. 3, pp. 1–4
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Cheryl Dieter, “Ostinato of the Soul,” In Tempo 2015, no. 2, p. 5
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Stephen Rosebrock, “Service Planning Ideas for Ash Wednesday,” CrossAccent Vol. 21, no. 3 (November 2013), pp. 5–7
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Susan Palo Cherwien, “Return to the Lord: The Journey of Lent,” In Tempo 2016, no. 1, pp. 10–11
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Kevin Hildebrand, “Lord, Have Mercy: Singing the Kyrie in the Season of Lent,” In Tempo 2015, no. 1, pp. 4–5
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Liv Larson Andrews, “Deep Calls to Deep: Using Simple Refrains in Lenten Worship,” In Tempo 2017, no. 1, p. 9
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Andrew Paul Fredel, “Choral and Assembly Song for Lent,” In Tempo 2016, no. 1, pp. 8–9
And if you’ve recycled past issues, shared copies with colleagues and friends, or are new to ALCM, remember that the Members Area contains a downloadable and searchable archive for both journals.
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Webinars in 2021 are offered in four separate series. Each series may be purchased individually (one series is actually free) or you may purchase a full-year webinar package (at a reduced rate!) that includes automatic registration for all sixteen webinars throughout the year.
You may register at any time through 2021 and receive recordings of the live webinars which are completed. In 2022 the webinars will revert to the regular price of $25 members/$39 nonmembers per webinar.
All webinars are on Fridays at 2:00 pm Eastern, unless otherwise noted.
Check out the March webinar below!
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ALCM Friday Webinar for March |
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Don’t Dumb it Down for Children (or Adults)
March 26, 2:00 pm Eastern
Yes, children can be sweet, and cute, and innocent, and naïve, but that does not mean they should be limited in what they can be taught! Children (and adults) are limited in what they can learn only by the limitations of our ability to teach them. From our preparation as leaders; to what is expected from our singers; to the quality of the materials we select; and ultimately to the final presentation we must offer the best we are able. This does not necessarily translate into the most complicated or technically difficult. We are ultimately called to set our singers up to succeed. The goal of this webinar is to discover, or be reminded of, tools and technique to help children be the best they can be and create the quality musical offering they deserve to experience. In the end, this is the same for ensembles of any age!
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Rae Ann Anderson
Director of Parish Worship
St. Paul's Lutheran Church
Glenside, PA
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NOTE: If you have already registered for the Spring Webinar Series or the Full Year Series, do not register again. You will receive a link to the webinar in the morning on the day of the webinar.
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National Lutheran Choir Virtual Hymn Festival
Sunday, March 14
Hope Lives! As we approach the one-year anniversary of the world shutting down due to the pandemic, we are slowly finding glimmers of hope: hope that vaccines will allow us to come back into the daylight of life and interactions with others!
People of faith are among those who long to fully come together. They have missed gathering weekly for services, and they deeply miss singing hymns together.
Join the National Lutheran Choir and guest artists, the Keith Hampton Singers & Friends, in singing well-known hymns that highlight the joy of an ever-growing hope, and new hymns that speak to our time, from the ELCA’s new hymnal supplement All Creation Sings. All are welcome to sing with joy together “…as all the world in wonder echoes shalom”.
Hope Lives! Sunday, March 14 @ 4pm (Central Daylight Time) @ NLCA.com
This online presentation is FREE for all.
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Volunteer Position Opening:
CrossAccent Reviews Editor
After faithfully serving as the book review editor for CrossAccent since 2008, ALCM member Paul Grime would like to pass the baton (or quill?) to a new volunteer willing to serve in this role. In a nutshell, the reviews editor coordinates the reviews of books, recordings, and other professional development resources published in CrossAccent. Review of applications begins on March 5. A full position description can be found here. |
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Remember Well the Future:
Preparing a New Generation of Church Musicians
LSM alumni panel hosted by Chad Fothergill and Laura Potratz
Hosted via Zoom
Monday, April 19: 6:30pm CDT
Conversations in the church about change often make assumptions about the wants or needs of younger generations, but seldom are their voices present in such dialogue. Moderated by LSM church music faculty Laura Potratz and Chad Fothergill, this panel of recent LSM alumni will discuss some of the pressing cultural, stylistic, and vocational concerns of our time from their perspectives. Together, we will consider such questions as:
- What do younger generations seek from the church and its liturgy?
- What is helpful or unhelpful about assumptions made on their behalf?
- Do words like “traditional,” “contemporary,” or “authentic” matter?
- Are there discrepancies between the aspirations of young leaders and what they feel is expected of them, or between their training and experience?
- How can educational organizations and institutions better equip and support new generations of leaders in changing cultural and technological contexts, especially in a post-pandemic paradigm?
Attendees will be able to submit their own questions as well.
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Kyries & Glorias
Kyries (prayer concerns) and Glorias (thanksgivings) are posted in the members area and on the following page on the ALCM website. The following recent Kyries and Glorias have been submitted by ALCM members.
In memoria:
Amanda Husberg
Robert Scholz
John Weaver
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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New Member Benefit: ALCM Recordings for Listening |
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ALCM members have a new member benefit: all of the ALCM recordings are now available for listening. Log in to the members area of the website and follow the link on that page.
Physical CDs (except the sold out John Ferguson “When In Our Music” CD) are still available for purchase in the Marketplace.
Enjoy!
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Spring 2021 Publisher Digital Reading Sessions
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A list of ALCM member-led
Sunday worship streams & recordings is available at:
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