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Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

October 1, 2025 e-newsletter

ALCM is on the move!

After 18 years at the 810 Freeman Street location, the ALCM office has now moved--into three different locations! We were notified by Valparaiso University earlier this summer that they were selling our building, and we would need to move by the end of September. Unfortunately, they did not have another location similar in size to the Freeman Street house--thus, the three locations. The office itself is now located in the Helge Center (adjacent to the VU Chapel). In addition, we have storage space in the basement of the VU Chapel as well as a room at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Our new mailing address:

ALCM

Helge Center

1700 Chapel Drive

Valparaiso, IN 46383

All other contact info remains the same.

For those of you whose membership is paid for by your congregation, please pass along this address change to the appropriate person so that payments go to the correct address.

In addition to staff members Betty, Jim, and Cheryl, several other people were instrumental in making the move happen: Betty's husband Mike, who really deserves the "husband of the year" award for working side-by-side with Betty throughout the entire process; Bill Beermann, who gathered and organized ALCM's historic records for future scanning; and Kathy Saylor (Cheryl's neighbor growing up) and her husband Dave. Kathy cleaned out the kitchen and she and her husband Dave delivered dishes, pots & pans, and an assortment of other items to a local non-profit for use by their clients moving from shelters into permanent homes.

Board Member Recommendations Wanted

The ALCM board is accepting nominations for candidates for open board of director positions in 2026. If you have thoughts on candidates you believe should be considered for these important positions—or if you yourself are interested in serving on the board—please provide those names to past-president Nancy Raabe, who is chairing the nominating committee.

Send your suggestions to Nancy at nancyraabe@gmail.com. Nominations must be received by Friday, November 14.

ALCM is excited to announce From Generation to Generation: Now and Forever, a worship and music conference to be held July 13-16, 2026 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. St. Olaf was the site of ALCM's constituting convention held 40 years ago on August 10-13, 1986, and it once again will be the backdrop for a great week of learning, celebration, worship, and music. The theme mirrors that of ALCM's 40th anniversary celebration and recalls the language at the end of the Lord's Prayer, which declares that all we do is for the glory of God. The highlight event of our gathering, made possible through a generous gift from Pauline and John Kiltinen, will be the Wednesday evening presentation of J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion led by the Bach Collegium Valparaiso, Christopher M. Cock, Artistic Director. Details are close to being finalized, and additional information (including registration costs) will posted as it becomes available. Registration opens October 15.

We have had a very successful launch of ALCM's 40th anniversary celebration and fundraising campaign! You are invited to join the 316 donors who have given to ALCM this year. Each gift, no matter the size, helps us reach our goal of 440 donors in 2025. For more information about the campaign or to make a donation, visit https://alcm.org/now-and-forever/.

40th Anniversary Hymn Commission:

"O God, You Saw My Early Being"

In celebration of ALCM’s 40th anniversary in 2026, the ALCM board of directors commissioned Rev. Stephen Starke (text) and Robert Hobby (tune) to write a new hymn. “O God, You Saw My Early Being” is the result of that collaboration.

ALCM members are invited to use the hymn and setting in worship through December 31, 2025 without additional copyright permission. 

Assembly/Congregational Song Contest

It’s not too late…

There are already strong registration numbers for Lectures in Church Music, but there is still time for you to register. Join ALCM members Anne Krentz Organ, Jim Rindelaub, Stephen Starke, Barry Bobb, Emily Woock, Steven Wente and many other presenters. Brochure and registration information at www.cuchicago.edu/LCM25  

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 November 1st. Questions and submissions may be directed to intempo@alcm.org.

ALCM Fall Grant Program

Applications are being accepted through October 3 for the ALCM's Fall 2025 grant program. Current ALCM members are eligible to submit an application to request financial assistance for projects and initiatives that support ALCM’s mission to “nurture and equip musicians to serve and lead the church’s song.” Awards are intended to be supplemental rather than a sole funding source. Grants vary in size but are typically not more than $750.

Grants are awarded for various project types including but not limited to: support of the applicant’s church music ministry; personal study; research travel or a conference; purchase of instruments or equipment for church use or community outreach programs. Grants will not be considered for Hearts • Hands • Voices workshops, but additional options for funding are available for these events. If you are interested in hosting a Hearts • Hands • Voices workshop, please contact Adam Hughes at education@alcm.org.

To apply, complete the grant application form. Applications for Fall 2025 grants will be accepted through October 3.

Congratulations to These Two Newly-Elected Bishops

The Rev. Yehiel Curry was elected as the next presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 30, 2025. He begins this role on October 1, 2025 and will be installed on October 4 in Minneapolis.

Rev. Dr. Larry Kochendorfer was elected as the fifth National Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) on July 12, 2025. His official ordination, consecration, and installation ceremony were held Winnipeg, Manitoba on September 27, 2025. Bishop Kochendorfer is an organist; some of you may have met him at the ALCM conference in Atlanta in 2015.

We had some really wonderful Hearts • Hands • Voices events in 2025, and we're beginning to plan for 2026. If you are interested in hosting a workshop in your area, please contact Adam Hughes at education@alcm.org.

Kyries & Glorias

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

Kyrie

Mark & Kathy Helge

Bob & Lois Rimbo

Bob Hobby*

Jenny Hobby

In memoriam

James Abbington

William Eifrig

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, October 24 - 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 Past-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 the Fall festivals we are featuring two hymns: EIN FESTE BURG (multiple settings) and SINE NOMINE (choral introduction).

EIN FESTE BURG (rhythmic) – Otte harmonization

EIN FESTE BURG / A Mighty Fortress & God’s Word Is – Choral introduction – Finke

EIN FESTE BURG / God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage – 2 pt mxd choir – Finke

EIN FESTE BURG – Procession/intro for handbells – Paradowski

SINE NOMINE (choral hymn intro) – Finke

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, or if you are logged in and cannot access the members area page, send an email to office@alcm.org 

and we'll be happy to help.

The Bach Seminars 2018-2024 - Free Offer

ALCM members Prof. Paul Westermeyer and Rev. John Setterlund announce the publication of their lecture notes: The Bach Seminars 2018-2024. A 300-page PDF is available free of charge, by request via email: john.setterlund@gmail.com.

Youth Musicians Invited to Lutheran Summer Music 2026

Enrollment is now open for Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) 2026 at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN! LSM is a faith-based residential music academy for high school students who come together to immerse themselves in musical excellence and build a supportive and fun community. Musical experiences include large ensembles (band, choir, orchestra), chamber music, private lessons, and electives like handbells, jazz, musical theatre, composition, conducting, church music, and more.

Priority enrollment deadline: December 1, 2025

Standard enrollment deadline: March 1, 2026

Learn more at LSMacademy.org/program 

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. Paper and downloadable versions of CrossAccent are also available in the Marketplace;
• 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.