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Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

April 1, 2025 e-newsletter

Dear ALCM Friends and Colleagues:

One of my fondest memories in my ministry as a church musician was attending three of the Paul Christiansen summer choral school sessions. I don’t remember whether it was in 1976 at the University of Denver, CO, in 1977 at Millikan University in Decatur, IL, or in 1980 at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA, when I first heard these words of Paul Christiansen: “Music has the power to lift us into the realm of the Spirit.” I have never forgotten those words. I have them in a framed plaque sitting on the organ in my home. It is likely that we all can remember singing hymns whose tune combined with a powerful text have taken us to “mountain-top experiences.”

ALCM provides all of us with opportunities to have experiences of being lifted into the “realm of the Spirit,” refining and strengthening our musical gifts so that we can help and encourage our congregations’ members to raise their voices in a powerful song that glorifies the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Singing, learning, and worshiping together as “ministers of music” in ALCM touches peoples’ hearts and strengthens our walk with Jesus.

If you have not already registered for ALCM’s 2025 national worship and music conference, For all that is to be, it is not too late. I encourage you to make plans to be a part of a life-changing event that will take you into “The Realm of the Spirit.”

Dr. Wallace Horton

Member of ALCM Board of Directors 

Join us in Raleigh-Durham in August!

Why is the time and expense required to attend the ALCM conference in Raleigh-Durham this August 4 - 8 worth it?

Because I kid you not, it will be a once in lifetime experience! You will participate in and hear the song of God's people like never before!

1. A highlight of every ALCM conference for me is when the organist allows us to sing hymn stanzas a cappella. In Raleigh that will be taken to another level when we experience a Tom Trenney hymn festival at the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral. This worship space has the greatest acoustics I have experienced in the U.S. It is like a great European cathedral. Hearing our ALCM members singing with the Raleigh community in this space will be "once in a lifetime." If that isn't enough, we will also hear VOCES8 sing as part of this hymn festival, in this space.
2. Another highlight is the opportunity to hear VOCES8 do a sacred music concert in the Duke University Chapel and attend workshops led by VOCES8. This is a "once in a lifetime" gift to us made possible by ALCM members Pauline and John Kiltinen. VOCES8 is currently planning a concert program for us titled "Lux Aeterna." This concert is part of the final American tour for high soprano Andrea Haines whose pure sound has been a signature of VOCES8 since 2008. Hearing Andrea before her departure from VOCES8 is reason enough to come to the Raleigh-Durham conference. But on top of that will be an entire conference of workshops, learning, fellowship, and the song of God's people like never before!

Please do not miss this year’s ALCM conference in Raleigh-Durham. There will never be another chance for this once in a lifetime experience!

Jim Rindelaub

ALCM Executive Director

If you haven't visited the conference site for a while, check out the schedule, which now includes specifics regarding workshop titles, times, and leaders.

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 donors will be listed in the conference book. Donations may be made at ALCM website. 

The Raabe Prize at 25!

We are coming to the end of our celebration of 25 years of the Raabe Prize for Excellence in Sacred Composition. Endowed in 1999 by Dr. William and Pr. Nancy Raabe of Philadelphia, this prize is awarded every two years for a single musical work that reflects a larger history of excellence on the part of a composer. Its aim is to recognize and encourage significant accomplishments in composition contributing to the body of sacred music for the church in the Lutheran heritage. 

You can view previous interviews on the Prize Winners page on the ALCM website. Watch for the final interviews in the coming months!

The first 2025 issue of In Tempo was mailed to ALCM members on February 18 but is experiencing postal delays. While the print copies work their way to you, enjoy reading the issue online on the ALCM members only page at https://alcm.org/members-area/

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.

Renewing Your ALCM Membership

Remember: you do not need to log in to the members area to renew your membership or change your contact information. Just follow the "Member Quicklinks" heading on the home page. Those links also appear at the bottom of each page on the website.

Volunteer Position Opening: CrossAccent Reviews Editor



The CrossAccent journal includes reviews of books, recordings, podcasts, and other professional development resources. We are seeking a new volunteer willing to serve as Reviews Editor and coordinate the publication of these reviews. A full position description can be found here.

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

Nancy Raabe

Nate Crary

In memoriam

Donna Hanna

Martin Marty

Mary Bolek

Andrew King

Carol T. Clausen

Betty Gehring

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, April 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.

Hymn Resources

For Palm/Passion Sunday, below you will find a variety of hymn enhancements for "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" in the members area.

VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN – Boehler

VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN/All Glory, Laud, and Honor – Finke – Processional/hymn introduction for choir and/or handbells

VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN/All Glory, Laud and Honor – Finke-  Choral hymn introduction   Introduction with trumpet



VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN/All Glory, Laud and Honor – Meineke – Descant for choir or C-instrument   Descant for B-flat instrument

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 Easter Hymn during the Easter season and at all times. 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.  

Final Enrollment for LSM 2025

EXCITING NEWS: Due to high demand, we’re ADDING spots for LSM 2025!

Final openings are available now, with many areas still open, and priority given to students who play oboe, string bass, euphonium, flute, bassoon, and percussion.

Learn more and apply at LSMacademy.org/apply.

LSM 2025 | Valparaiso University, IN | June 22-July 20 | Grades 8-12

Learn more: LSMacademy.org/program 

View the complete ALCM calendar.

St. James Music Press is once again awarding a grant to a church starting or revitalizing a choir program. The purpose of this grant is to support new music programs or established music ministries that are adding a new element by offering resources and professional support.

Elements awarded in the grant include -

• Complementary 1-Year Membership to St. James Music Press
• $1000 - To support ministry needs
• Quarterly program consultations with SJMP colleagues to help recipients maximize their SJMP membership, discuss program challenges, and celebrate/build upon program successes.

The deadline for submissions for this year's grant is May 30, 2025.

The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada is conducting a competition for one or more theologically rich hymn or song texts for congregational singing that could be used in celebration of God the Creator. The search is for a text, whether written for an existing or a new musical setting. The writer of the winning entry will receive a $500 prize. Second and third place prizes of $250 may be awarded to other writers if there are additional outstanding entries. Deadline for submissions is May 2, 2025. Complete information, guidelines, and submission form may be found at https://thehymnsociety.org/2025-hymn-search/.

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.