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Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
August 1, 2025 e-newsletter
| | Greeting from Board Member Jean Boehler | | |
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus, the Christ!
Things are not always as they seem.
Last week, I stood beside the deathbed of my dear mother, Ruth Wynstra. As she peacefully fell asleep in Jesus, the grieving process began, knowing that I would never hear her voice answering that daily 10:00 AM phone call. At least on this side of the Jordan.
Then Sunday morning came. As I played the closing hymn, “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart,” I added the trumpets, the mixtures, the zymbelstern and played with every fiber of my being:
“And then from death awaken me, That these with joy mine eyes may see, O Son of God, Thy glorious face, My Savior and my fount of grace. Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend, And I will praise Thee without end.”
Something happened when I accompanied those words. Instead of gazing at the reality of death, my eyes, with joy, were drawn to God’s eternal timeline. I will be hearing my mother’s voice joining her singing around the throne for eternity. In fact, she joins me around the table, even now, as we sing the Sanctus with the saints here on earth and all the company of heaven. I was not alone. The faithful at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Bronx were also with me, robustly singing and proclaiming the victory we have in Jesus Christ.
So, where are you directing your gaze these days? Are you gazing at the challenges of a post-Covid church music program? Are you tired, weary, and worn?
Things are not always as they seem.
That’s what our upcoming 2025 national conference, “For All That is to Be,” will address. With joyful confidence, and perhaps a bit of a challenge, the conference committee urges us to look to the future. You are not alone. God will provide all you need.
Blessings in the name of our Risen Christ!
Jean Boehler
ALCM Board of Directors
Chair, Scholarship Committee
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Conference Opening Worship at
Duke University Chapel
Live-Stream Opportunity
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August 16, 2025
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Hickory, NC
Registration is open for adult choir members and directors for a Saturday choir retreat and workshop to be held August 16, 2025, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC. Workshop leaders Philip Biedenbender, Mark Glaeser, Jennifer Hough, Mark Johanson, and Andrew Robinson will lead registrants in a day of singing, learning, and fellowship. The day will conclude with a shared worship service of word and music in the beautiful sanctuary at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. For more information and to register go to the ALCM website.
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This week we will officially kick off the celebration of ALCM's 40th anniversary. Raleigh-Durham Conference attendees will have the chance to talk with a good number of ALCM's founding members, and to sing a new hymn commissioned for the anniversary, "O God, You Saw My Early Being."
At the conference we will also officially launch a 40th anniversary fundraising campaign titled "Now and Forever: Endowing Our Future." All ALCM members and friends are invited to join this effort. To find out more about the campaign and to see how we are progressing toward our goals, visit https://alcm.org/now-and-forever/
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August 1 is the official "changing of the guard" for ALCM. Today Karen Black steps into her new role as president, and Nancy Raabe assumes the role of past president. We also celebrate the addition of James Marriott as a board director.
The addition of this new director to the board means that we must also say goodbye to out-going director David Werth. We are grateful for David's service and contributions to the board, especially in areas of finance. We wish him well in future endeavors!
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Assembly/Congregational
Song Contest
| | ALCM’s board of directors is pleased to announce an Assembly/Congregational Song Contest as part of the organization’s 40th anniversary celebration. All are invited to participate for a chance to win a $1000 award and for the opportunity to have their work featured in the 2026 ALCM conference at St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN. Guidelines and rules are posted on the ALCM website along with instructions for submission. Questions may be sent to songcontest@alcm.org. | | | |
ALCM Board Announces Fall Grant Program
The ALCM Board is pleased to announce that applications are being accepted for the 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 and we will be happy to help find funding.
To apply, complete the grant application form at https://alcm.org/grant-program/. Applications for Fall 2025 Grants will be accepted through Oct. 3.
| | 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. Speaking of Soli Deo Gloria, 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 with Dr. Christopher Cock at the helm. Look for more information early this fall and for registration to open in mid-to-late October. | | Presenters include John Witvliet, plenary; Brenda Portman, organ concert; Hymn Festival: Hymns of David Rogner. Workshop leaders are: John Behnke, Barry Bobb, Lisa Clark, Sam and Lois Eatherton, Matthew Janssen, Benjamin Kolodziej, Anne Krentz Organ, Jim Rindelaub, Stephen Starke, and Emily Woock. Limited scholarships are available. Registration is now open at www.cuchicago.edu/LCM25. Early bird rates apply until September 15. | | |
Fourth Friday Happy Hour with ALCM
Friday, August 22 - 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.
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Events are published both in the website calendar and in the monthly e-newsletter. Adding your local event to the calendar is easy. Members can simply log in to the members area of the ALCM website and select "Add an event to the calendar" under "What would you like to do?" Click on the "Post Your Event" button and complete the form. Non-members should send event details to office@alcm.org for consideration.
Your event will appear on the main event calendar, on the main page of the website, and in the e-newsletter for the month in which the event will take place. Good advertising - and it's free to ALCM members!
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Hymn Resources
This month's featured tune is UNSER HERRSCHER. 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.
UNSER HERRSCHER – Boehler
UNSER HERRSCHER – Otte Harmonization
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.
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Did you miss LSM 2025?
No problem—LSM On Demand has you covered! You’re invited to revisit over 30 concerts, recitals, and worship services from Lutheran Summer Music 2025, all available to watch in our Livestream Archive at LSMacademy.org/on-demand. From breathtaking performances to inspiring worship, there’s something for everyone—don’t miss the chance to experience it all!
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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 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:
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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;
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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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The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
nurtures and equips musicians
to serve and lead the church's song.
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