Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
November 1, 2017 e-newsletter


Greetings from ALCM during this wonderful time in the church year! We have been blessed by attending or leading Reformation anniversary services, hymn festivals, and concerts. The educational opportunities to learn about Martin Luther and the early Lutheran church have been bountiful. We have received extra publicity and attention due to the magnitude of this anniversary. Many of you have probably even traveled to the "homeland" to see the historic sites. We have much to be proud of as we celebrate an incredible legacy of theology, music, and education which is due to Luther. There is no doubt that he created a revolution that has transformed the Church in these 500 years.
 
Acknowledging the gift of grace and the work of the Spirit, we also accept that we ourselves have been reforming in these many years. Ecumenism and reconciliation have brought the Church closer together. We have shared and received from our fellow sisters and brothers in Christ. This is reflected most notably in our hymnal and liturgies. We share more hymnody today than perhaps at any other point in time. It is an inspiring moment to be a church musician, as we help to widen and forge the path to unity through the central and single most important message that we all share - salvation through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
 
With Reformation celebrations coming to an end and the natural world around us turning dormant, we remember those who now rest eternally in God's presence. It is always a poignant moment during the national conference when the names of the deceased are read. We give thanks for those who have gone before us and have contributed so greatly to our vocation. Within our own congregations, we will minister through the power of music to those who feel sorrow and loss. What an incredible honor we have in using our God-given gifts to bring healing to a hurting world.
 
As we proclaim the gospel and minister to weary souls through the divine gift of music, we are fortunate to have ALCM as a support system and a resource. ALCM publications offer insight into theology, history, and hymnody, or practicality regarding hymn playing, rehearsal planning, and music selection. Colleagues act as a sounding board for new ideas, share helpful tips, listen to frustrations, and celebrate in successes. What a great gift this is! But the greater gift is your service to the Church. Your hours of planning and practicing, the evenings of rehearsals and meetings, and the holidays spent working are a blessing to your congregation. Your dedication enriches and strengthens the Church's song, which furthers the true "reformation" - the reforming of our hearts and souls through faith in Jesus Christ.
 
Soli Deo Gloria!
 
Daniel Aune
President, Region I

Be sure to check out the Augsburg Fortress ad below for details about a special offer for ALCM members. Don't dawdle. The offer ends December 15th!

Introducing Allison Schweitzer, 
New  In Tempo  Editor 

We are pleased to announce that Allison Schweitzer has accepted the position of editor of ALCM's practical publication,  In Tempo. Allison is a freelance musician, teacher, and director from Wauwatosa, WI. She studied music (horn) and new media/journalism at Valparaiso University ('05), and was a freelance writer for several local northwestern Indiana publications while living in Valparaiso.
 
In 2011 Allison graduated from Concordia University in Wisconsin with a Master of Church Music degree, emphasis in conducting. She is handbell director at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, which is her home congregation. She plays piano regularly for services at The Congregational Home in Brookfield, WI, freelances on French horn at a semi-professional level, and teaches piano and horn to a number of private students. Allison also directs three student wind ensembles at Martin Luther High School in Greendale, WI.
 
If you have ideas that you'd like to share with Allison or would like to contribute to In Tempo, you can contact her by email at intempo@alcm.org. Welcome Allison!



Our Goal Is in Sight!

The fall annual fund appeal letter in the mail; you may have already received yours. In this second year of our "Celebrating 30 Years" fund-raising campaign, our goal of having 300 contributors is within reach. If everyone who made a gift in 2016 makes one in 2017, we only need a few dozen new contributors to hit 300! So if you have not already done so, or you would like to make an additional gift, we invite you to renew your gift this year, or become a first time giver - all gifts help us in our mission to nurture and equip church musicians to serve and lead the church's song.
Gifts may be made using the return envelope included with the letter, or online here.
Michael Krentz
Secretary/Treasurer


ALCM's Second Webinar

Tuesday, November 28
2:00 pm Eastern/1:00 pm Central

Rehearsal Time Management:

How to be ahead of the game when the clock runs out (and the clock ALWAYS runs out)

Registration for the November 28 webinar is open! ALCM members, log in to the members area of the website to register at the reduced rate.

If you missed yesterday's webinar featuring David Cherwien, you can purchase the recording in the ALCM Marketplace. Be sure to log in to get the reduced price!


ALCM Celebrates 10 Years in Valparaiso

With all of the excitement and celebrations surrounding ALCM's 30th anniversary and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we did not want to forget that a very important event happened 10 years ago. In mid-October 2007, ALCM accepted Valparaiso University's gracious offer of office space and officially moved to the Valparaiso University campus. For the past 10 years we have enjoyed this spacious rent-free house at 810 Freeman Street. We are extremely grateful to Valparaiso University for this wonderful gift!


Dates have been set for some of the one-day events that will be held next year. Additional dates and locations will continue to be added as information becomes available. Check the main Hearts-Hands-Voices page of the website to see the current list.

For those of you planning to host events, be sure to notify Scott Weidler at  sweidler59@gmail.com when you have confirmed dates and locations.


Send Us Your Reformation Service Folders

The hymn "God Alone Be Praised," commissioned in celebration of ALCM's 30th anniversary and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, was used in many Reformation celebrations this past week. Did you use it in your Reformation service, hymn festival, or other service this year? If so, we'd love to have you send us a copy of the service folder/program for our archives. Paper copies can be sent to:

ALCM
810 Freeman Street
Valparaiso, IN 46383

If you don't have a paper copy, you can email a copy in electronic format to office@alcm.org

Thanks once again to Bill and Nancy Raabe for their additional gift to the Raabe Prize fund, which has made possible this additional gift to the church.



54-rank Casavant - Létourneau pipe organ for sale with 
10-year warranty: $949,000
 
Orgues Létourneau is offering a 50-stop rebuilt pipe organ in like-new condition for USD$949,000. The core is Casavant's Opus 2518 from 1959 with electro-pneumatic wind chests; the revised specification can incorporate up to sixteen new stops built by Létourneau. Installation costs, on-site voicing, an allowance for casework in red oak, a rebuilt three-manual solid-state console, and a ten-year warranty are included. Transportation from Québec is not included. This organ requires approximately 570 sq. ft. with 20' ceiling for 16' ranks.   For more details,  visit our website,   e-mail   info@letourneauorgans.com  or call Andrew Forrest at 450-774-2698. 



January 3-5, 2018
Charlotte, NC

Leading the Church's Song
Featuring Andr
é Thomas, Isabelle Demers, Zebulon Highben,
Jacqueline Thompson, Heather Potter, David Bone

National Conference for Sacred Music is a unique conference designed to provide the practicing church musician with fresh new ideas to help create a vital, growing music ministry. The emphasis of this conference is to provide a wide variety of new approaches to revitalize and reinvigorate the church's passion for music in worship. Sessions will include the following:
  • New worship planning ideas for your congregation and choirs
  • Choral technique classes with an emphasis on deepening the spiritual experience for the choir member
  • Reading sessions featuring new publications from Augsburg Fortress, Hinshaw, and MorningStar Music
  • Sponsored by three different denominational groups: The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, and the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts
  • Workshops for working with children
  • Handbells
  • Morning worship
Registration Fee: $150.00
Meal Plan (Wed dinner and Thu/Fri lunch): $45.00

More information

Register

 
Evangelical Lutheran Worship invites us to keep Ash Wednesday through Easter in a new-old way. During these days, we will worship using the services for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Vigil of Easter, and join in reflection, study, and discussion of the cross and empty tomb, baptism and the Bible--the meaning of this journey for ourselves and the world.
 
Mark your calendars to attend one of these events that will immerse you more deeply in worship for the Three Days. Come and be refreshed in your planning and leading of these worship services that are central to our worship together as Christ's church.
 
January 18-20, 2018 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Winter Park, Florida
February 1-3, 2018 at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas
 
Presenters include: Robert Farlee, John Morris, Gail Ramshaw, Leslie Scanlon, and Miriam Schmidt.
ELCA Staff Leaders: Jennifer Baker-Trinity, Kevin Strickland, and John Weit.
 
To register visit the ELCA "Worship at the Center" page.
For questions, contact BethAnn Lynch at BethAnn.Lynch@elca.org or by phone at 773-380-2590.


Concordia University Irvine Commissions
World-Class Architectural Acoustic Firm for its
Music, Worship & Theology Building

Concordia University Irvine (CUI) recently announced that it has secured global architectural acoustic consulting firm WSDG (Walters-Storyk Design Group) of New York to design the professional recording studio in its new Music, Worship & Theology (MWT) building. The MWT building--the first building in CUI's Master Plan--will serve as the intersection of musical tradition and theological foundation, values core to the Lutheran faith. Concordia's music program offers a Bachelor of Arts degree for music majors with concentrations in commercial music, composition, church music, instrumental performance, music education, piano performance, and vocal performance. 

Organ for Sale

FOR SALE: Allen organ, Protégé, model # C-6. Eleven years old, meticulously maintained, pristine condition. One owner. Willing to assume 50% of shipping cost. Asking $13,000. Phone Lois DeWell, 906-226-3263. 

Full Scholarships Available -
MSM & DMA in Organ Performance
at the University of Notre Dame

Applications are being accepted for the two-year Master of Sacred Music and three-year Doctor of Musical Arts programs in Organ, which are part of the University of Notre Dame's ecumenical Program in Sacred Music. Details about the two programs can be found at sacredmusic.nd.edu.

All students receive full-tuition scholarships, health insurance, and an internship that supplies a generous stipend. Typically an MSM organ student interns at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus, while DMA organ students are placed off campus in local churches.

The Fritts organ and organ hall are stunning. In addition, the new Fritts organ in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart was dedicated earlier this year. You can watch the building process here

The new music building, O'Neill Hall, will open in January; practice organs have increased to four, and in total there are now fourteen organs on campus.

For more information: 
 
Craig Cramer, DMA
Professor of Organ
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana  USA
574-631-7836
574-273-9519