How do we know when to give up hope? As soon as the words had escaped my lips I knew it was a mistake. I should have spent just a few more seconds thinking about the question before I had opened my mouth. But it was too late. Download the rest of the article to...Read More
Unlike any other profession, ministry requires three elements: (1) a conviction of God’s calling; (2) a passion for God’s Kingdom; and (3) a compassion for God’s people. Dan Lee Three Elements of MinistryRead More
Introduction Recently I had major surgery that dictated I have a minimum of four weeks recovery. During that time I was to stay out of the office and do no rehearsing of the choir. In preparation for the time away, I met with four of the gifted choir members who also happen to be conductors....Read More
The Story of God. That was the recurring mantra for Robert Webber in his last months and years as he relentlessly worked for worship renewal in the 21st century. He was passionate about re-introducing the Christian community to the necessity of worship narrating God’s story of creation, Fall, redemption, and re-creation. Bob wanted us all...Read More
Words are funny things, aren’t they? Sounds and scribbles that represent ideas….We usually think about words positively – as if they were good, and I suppose they usually are. We look at words as if they always make life better – as if they always make ideas clearer and make subjects easier to talk about....Read More
The promise of God’s presence is fulfilled. According to Matthew, that is how the Gospel begins. In interpreting the meaning of the angel’s declaration to Joseph that Mary would bear a son to be named “Jesus,” Matthew states all this took place to fulfill the promise recorded in the prophecy of Isaiah: the one to...Read More
God spat. At first glance such an assertion might sound irreverent, even dangerously blasphemous. How dare I attribute such a disgusting act to the Divine! Yet in my mind I am following the lead of the Gospels, at least if we see the actions of Jesus as not only the ministry of a carpenter from...Read More
A Christmas Garland, Conrad Susa SATB—ECS Publishing No.4365 For voices, congregation, organ or brass or orchestra. Extended choral setting of various carols. A Spotless Rose, Herbert Howells SATB—Galaxy Music Corp. No.220 A cappella; great piece! Allons, gai, gai, G. Costeley SATB—Broude Brothers (Come Shepherds and See sung in French and English) Angels We Have Heard...Read More
A few — a very few — people you get to know in life are larger than life. The force of their character seems to enlarge a room when they walk into it. Of course, larger than life people can either be “black holes” that suck everything and everybody into themselves — you get smaller...Read More
The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies (IWS) offered its first class in June of 1999. From the beginning its visionary leader infused IWS with his own well-developed and missional theological understanding. IWS is, as its name implies, focused specifically on training men and women for theological reflection on Christian worship, and for putting...Read More
Jump to Lent • Holy Week • Palm/Passion Sunday • Eastertide Lent Pie Jesu (from Requiem), Andrew Lloyd Webber SATB—Hal Leonard HL 08603519 Need exceptional soprano I and II (youth) for duet. Choir part is easy. I have also orchestrated it per the recording with Sarah Brightman. Holy Week Beneath the Cross of Jesus, arr....Read More
For the last several weeks, Athanasius’s On the Incarnation has been displacing a lot of other reading I had hoped to do. In part, with much sadness in world news and in the lives of close friends, it was Bono’s Christmas-time question that got me here: “Hope and history don’t rhyme, so what’s it worth,...Read More
IWS faculty member Mark Torgerson presented a workshop at the 2007 Calvin Symposium on Worship on the fundamental influences in church architecture during the twentieth century and the potential value of these designs. Read more for workshop audio, notes and a link to Dr. Torgerson's book.Read More
The Phos Hilaron, (literally, light of hilarity, or gladdening light) is probably the most ancient piece of non-scriptural hymnology or ecclesial poetry to have made its way into regular Christian liturgical praxis. It is quite simply a hymn of thanksgiving for light, itself, composed to accompany the daily ritual of the lighting of the lamps...Read More
The following is the text from a session Connie presented at the Symposium on Worship at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, January 2006. Session Description: How engaged are the worshipers in your congregation? Do they tend to function as observers or active participants? Learn how to design worship services that invite dynamic participation. Introduction...Read More
