Worship News -- May 2013

Dear friends,

For many of us, our choir seasons are coming to an end, perhaps with the festivals of Pentecost or Holy Trinity. In congregational life, I always think of summer as an odd time. Just as many have more time on their hands, we often end rehearsals and minimize the singing in worship. I will confess, however, that I have never kept regular rehearsals going all summer. Even with more time available, there is a need for respite and renewal, for directors and singers alike.

What is important is that worship during the summer months remains a central activity of every congregation, making God’s Word and Holy Communion available each week to all who come. The details of how we do the liturgy, what we sing and who leads the singing may take different forms, but the tangible signs of God’s love are always constant, consistent, and abundant.

One of the great things about summer are the out-of-the-ordinary events we, as worship leaders, may attend. Here in WorshipNews, we try to include many events and activities related to worship and music that may be helpful and interesting to you. However, we know that there is much more going on across this church and beyond. Please help us out. If you know of events that might be shared here, let us know by e-mailing worship@elca.org. If you know organizations that offer resources or training, please encourage them to be in touch with us, so they might be included.

We're in this together. We appreciate your help.

Easter joy,
SCOTT C WEIDLER
Program Director for Worship and Music

Last year, Union Lutheran Church in Schnecksville PA read an article in Worship News about First Lutheran Church in San Diego who collected and strew clothing for the homeless on Palm Sunday. That started a conversation and they decided this was a great opportunity for their congregation too.

So on Palm Sunday this year, they collected and strew new clothing for needy children in an inner city Allentown School. This resulted in three big boxes and a large plastic bag (filled with underwear).

Pastor Dennis Moore commented, "I have never seen anything as beautiful as clothing laid down in the center aisle, showing our love and to honor Jesus."

Prayer Book for the Armed Services

The first of its kind since World War II, the Evangelical Lutheran Worship Prayer Book for the Armed Services was developed with the contributions and review of chaplains and other service members. This durable pocket-sized companion (4"x6") is ideal for those in the military, family and friends of those in active service, veterans, as well as pastors and congregations of those who serve.

Features include: Morning and evening prayer for individual use; Prayers for many service-related contexts, including preparation for missions, confronting crises, grieving fallen companions, life circumstances during deployment, and more; Corporate worship services with resources from Evangelical Lutheran Worship and the ELCA's full-communion partner churches; Affirmation of baptism for returning veterans; Prayers for congregations whose pastors serve as chaplains or whose members are deployed; 26 psalms for a variety of circumstances; The words to 65 hymns and songs, including an expanded section of national song.

Pastoral Care eBook

The complete text for Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Pastoral Care is now available as an eBook for your digital reader.

Convenient and searchable, this resource contains prayers, readings, and rite for use by rostered leaders and pay persons in a variety of care giving situations.

This resource may be ordered online or by calling Augsburg Fortress at 800-328-4648.

Stirring the Waters: Reclaiming the Missional, Subversive Nature of Baptism
June 27 – 29, 2013
Techny Towers-Divine Word Seminary/Chicago IL

This year,the North American Association for the Catechumenate (NAAC) will hold its Annual Gathering concurrently with the Associated Parishes for Liturgy and Mission (APLM) in Chicago, IL. APLM is an organization that, among other goals, "champions the centrality of baptism as the foundation for Christian ministry and has worked for the restoration of the Catechumenate within the life of the Church."

The 2013 Annual Gathering features keynote speakers Ben Stewart and Ruth Meyers, and practical workshops and inspiring worship. NAAC and APLM will share program and worship, with time for the NAAC membership to fellowship and hold its membership meeting. Visit their website for more information and online registration.
For more information about APLM, visit their website.

The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians is pleased to invite you to our biennial conference, "God Is Here: Worship in a Wireless World," June 30 - July 3, 2013 at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, IN. Registration is open and all pastors, musicians and church workers are invited to attend this exciting event. The theme is centered around what it means to be physical community in a world of increasing virtual communities, and what that means for called and lay leaders alike.

Highlights of the conference include our plenary speakers, Elizabeth Drescher, Ben Stewart and Craig Mueller; organist Martin Jean as worship leader, recitalist, and masterclass teacher; a hymn festival by the National Lutheran Choir under the direction of David Cherwien with commentary by Susan Cherwien; and Bach Vespers with the Bach Institute at Valparaiso University, under the direction of Christopher Cock

Prophetic Dialogue: An Invitation to the Dance
Center for Parish Development Convocation
Chicago, IL on July 25-27, 2013

Because of God's presence in the world from the first moment of creation, all of us are called to join in God's mission to the world through dialogue: openness, listening, and care for all God’s creatures and communities. Because of the incredible Good News offering the vision of a new creation, we are called to be prophetic: calling creation to its complete fullness, confronting the forces that lead to destruction, and witnessing to the new life that the Gospel brings. You won't want to miss this opportunity to consider the church’s mission and your ministry as prophetic dialogue,... joining God in the dance of mission.

Missional church leaders of all traditions and communions are invited to tap into the powerful and timely work of Steve Bevans (well known in Roman Catholic circles for the major work Constants in Context and Prophetic Dialogue: Reflections on Christian Mission Today) whose work has tremendous ecumenical value. The 2013 convocation is this opportunity to engage with him! 

For more than 30 years, Lutheran Music Program has produced the Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM), a four-week residential training and performance program for gifted high school students. The 2013 academy will be on the campus of Luther College in Decorah, IA, where more than 150 students in grades 8-12 will live together in a supportive community focused on musical excellence, faith formation, and personal growth.

Lutheran Music Program has also partnered with two Lutheran institutions to present two Middle School Choral Camps for students in grades 5-8. The first of these two camps will take place at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN, on June 24-28, 2013. The second camp will take place at Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) on July 29 to August 2, 2013.

Check out their website for more information about both programs.

Lutheran Summer Music Welcomes 2013 Guest Artist
the National Lutheran Choir

The 32nd annual Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM) will return to Luther College this summer with more than 50 free concerts and recitals June 23 and July 21.  This year, LSM welcomes the National Lutheran Choir, as the 2013 Guest Artist. The renowned choir will perform a free concert for the public at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 29, at the Center for Faith & Life on the Luther College campus.

The Twin Cities-based choir, under the direction of Dr. David Cherwein, will perform literature from the entire spectrum of sacred choral music, from early chant to new compositions and from simple folk anthems to complex orchestral masterworks. This concert marks the first artistic collaboration between LSM and the National Lutheran Choir, two of the nation’s most respected independent Lutheran organizations. Choir members, many of whom are LSM alumni, will lead workshops with students from the LSM community prior to the concert.

Bach Cantata Camp
Grace Lutheran Church & School, River Forest IL
July 21-26, 2013

Do you know a young person who loves to make music to the glory of God?  Encourage them to join us for a week of learning, fun and music-making.

Study and perform one of Bach's sacred cantatas and other music in the context of Lutheran worship. Opportunities abound for singers and string players of high school age (completed grade 8 through 2013 graduates. Room and board on the campus of Concordia University.

Go to their website to learn more about the program and to find the registration form.

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