Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
October 1, 2020 e-newsletter
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Dear ALCM Colleagues
Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices….
The opening words of this beloved hymn text by Martin Rinkhart have been echoing through my head as I prepare to leave the board of ALCM after 4 years of service. These words have also been on my mind as we remember that Rinkhart wrote them as a simple table prayer during remarkably similar times of violence, hunger, and a plaque. They remind us that we should always give thanks with all we do and in all we do, even in challenging times.
I am grateful for the heart of ALCM, its leaders, members, and staff who listen with compassion and understanding to each other, even when our views and styles differ. Members who support and care for each other even in this strange time of pandemic, when our vocation is being challenged by change and unknowns.
I give thanks for the hands of ALCM. Hands that work hard in supporting our vision, hands that serve as leaders, conference organizers, editors, writers, in education, outreach and more. Without your gifted, creative, and generous hands ALCM would not be in existence or the strong pan-Lutheran organization it is today.
I rejoice for the voices of ALCM. Voices that are not silenced by a face mask, but work to creatively keep the song of the church alive and strong. Voices that are striving for diversity in all we do. Voices that proclaim, lead, celebrate, challenge, grow, and change as we are called to be a living voice together.
Ryan K Hostler, ELCA Deacon
Out-going Region 2 President
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Last Day for Submissions for the
2021 Raabe Prize
Submissions for the 2021 Raabe Prize for Excellence in Sacred Composition are due today. The prize is awarded every two years for a single musical work, published or unpublished and written within the last five years, that reflects a larger history of excellence on the part of the composer. Dr. William and Pr. Nancy Raabe of Madison, Wisconsin, endowed this prize to recognize and encourage significant accomplishments in composition contributing to the body of sacred music for the church in the Lutheran heritage.
Additional details about the prize and submission requirements are available on the ALCM website.
Submission deadline is October 1, 2020.
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ALCM Virtual Christmas Hymn
"Angels We Have Heard on High"
Anne Krentz Organ, arranger
Available to use in Christmas services and concerts beginning December 1st..
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All ALCM members, friends and choirs are invited to submit vocal and instrumental recordings for the virtual Christmas hymn. Recordings may be submitted October 19 - November 8. More information to come.
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Professional Singers Needed |
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ALCM will be inviting selected members to help create guide recordings for the virtual Christmas hymn. If you have served as a paid singer or have a vocal performance degree, please email your interest in volunteering to [email protected] with your voice part and a link to a sample of your singing.
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Summer Issue of CrossAccent
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The summer 2020 issue of CrossAccent is now available for download at https://alcm.org/crossaccent-issue-summer-2020/. Fourteen contributors—musicians, pastors, scholars, theologians, and a physician—have provided wisdom, experience, advice, and encouragement for these uncertain and challenging times, and we thank them for generously sharing their gifts in this way. Because of the special and timely nature of this issue, it has been posted outside the Members Area as a free, downloadable resource for the wider church. Accordingly, you are welcome to share its contents with staff, synod, district, and other colleagues as desired. Note that the link above also includes downloadable congregational TIF files for three new compositions by Anne Krentz Organ included in the issue. Printed copies will also be mailed to members during the first week of October.
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Mark and Kathy Helge to be Honored by LSSI |
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You are invited to attend the virtual True Friend Gala, a celebration of the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Children's Community Services, where major ALCM donors Mark and Kathy Helge will be honored. We give thanks for the many ways that Mark and Kathy support the Lutheran community. This virtual celebration is Saturday, October 10 at 7:00 pm Eastern: Free Registration for Gala
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The first Hearts * Hands * Voices online workshop is now available on ALCM's YouTube channel. Mark Johanson from Christ Lutheran Church–Christ Providence in Charlotte, North Carolina, and other colleagues have prepared a series of videos that offer "Worship Solutions that Respond to COVID-19 Challenges." Geared toward small/medium-sized churches, topics covered in the various videos include:
- Opening Video / Introduction
- Revising Your Worship Services: The “Why” and the “How”
- Live-Streaming: The Basics
- Incorporating Your Congregation into the Live-Stream
- Case Study: A Reasonable Plan to Safely Reopen for In-Person Worship (Messiah Lutheran, Charlotte)
- Copyright Check-Up
- Amp Up Your Live-Stream: Cameras
- Amp Up Your Live-Stream: Lighting
- Amp Up Your Live-Stream: Technology
- Amp Up Your Live-Stream: Sound
- Amp Up Your Live-Stream: Effective Use of ProPresenter
- Plenary Session: Recruiting Volunteers to Your Music Ministry (prerecorded from a 2018 ALCM webinar)
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Additional Pandemic Resources |
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In addition to the videos listed above, a pandemic resources page has been added to the ALCM website. These resources are not intended to be comprehensive, nor are they a “one size fits all” solution. Instead, this page is intended to be a gathering place for various resources related to worship and music during a time when abnormal has become the norm.
Included on this page are the articles from the summer 2020 issue of CrossAccent, which is dedicated almost exclusively to issues surrounding the pandemic. Paper copies of this issue will be mailed out during the first week in October.
As we learn of additional writings and resources, they will be added to this page, so check back often. If you have found something helpful that would be appropriate to add to this page, please email us at [email protected].
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FREE Webinar:
“How to Create a Virtual Anthem”
Friday, October 23
2:00 PM Eastern (1:00 PM Central)
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Want to have your choir sing a virtual anthem during your worship stream?
Watch presenter Lauren Grangaard sharing her computer screen
while walking us through the step by step process to create a virtual choir anthem.
Register at:
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Grace Notes Now Available
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Past issues of ALCM's original newsletter, Grace Notes, are now available for viewing and download in the members area of the ALCM website. This newsletter, which ceased publication in 2011, combined news items and brief articles of interest and included an insert of practical ideas related to worship and music called "ResourCenter" (originally "Resource Center"). Issues for 1997-2011 are now posted in the members area of the website. Issues prior to 1997 will be posted as they become available.
Enjoy!
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Fall Friday Webinar Series
Explore and register for the Fall ALCM webinars at Fall Friday Webinar Series. All Friday webinars are from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm eastern. Sessions include:
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Recording Available
Practical Methods and Uses
of Virtual Church Music Sungjoon Lee
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October 16
Confused about copyrights
and licensing? Let’s talk
Mark Lawson
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November 13
Truly Present: Practicing Prayer in the Liturgy
Lisa Dahill
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Lutheran Summer Music
Webinar Series
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October 26, 2020
1:00 PM (CT)
On Pandemic, Singing, and Teaching: A Reformation Reflection
Hosted by Chad Fothergill, LSM Cantor
Description
This webinar will give tangible, practical steps for one of the most important Reformation legacies for the Lutheran church—the training and instruction of young musicians who enter a world marked by rapid technological and cultural change. We will also take stock of where we are in this time and place, to assess the challenges posed by the pandemic and anticipate creative opportunities for what may come.
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Lutheran Summer Music 2021 |
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LSM 2021 Applications Now Open!
For students currently in grades 8-12
June 27-July 25
Valparaiso University
Now is the time to consider what young musicians in your congregation or community would thrive at LSM! The lone high school singer in your adult choir, the teenage pianist admiring the organ, or the parishioner who plays flute in the 8th grade band all have a place at LSM 2021.
Nominate a Student today to help them take the first step in realizing their profound gifts and exploring how to creatively use their skills within the Church.
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A list of ALCM member-led
Sunday worship streams & recordings is available at:
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