In addition to a wonderful, busy conference schedule, we are also offering two post-conference excursions on Saturday, July 8: one to the world-famous and beautiful Longwood Gardens, originally established by Pierre DuPont in the 1920s, and the other to Trappe, Pennsylvania, home of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg and the oldest Lutheran church building in continuous use in the United States. Tours will depart from Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale after our closing Eucharist, and will return to the conference hotel at the end of the day. The $75 cost for each tour covers your transportation and admission charges. Even if you've already registered for the conference, it's not too late to add on one of these fantastic excursions! Just email office@alcm.org to let us know you want to add it to your registration.

There's still time to contribute to ALCM and support our July conference in Philadelphia. All donors will be listed in the conference book. Donations may be made at on the ALCM website.

You are invited to freely make use of the ALCM Virtual Easter Hymn during the Easter season and at all times. Share the hymn with everyone. All copyright restrictions are waived. If you own a One License subscription and offer the hymn recording in worship please include it when submitting your One License report. 

Come to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lancaster, PA on Saturday, April 22 for a one-day event focused on current resources for enlivening the church’s song. Workshop sessions will focus on understanding and reporting copyright usage, exploring the new All Creation Sings worship resource, learning about resources for contemporary music, and nurturing relationships between pastors and pastoral musicians.

Be sure to check the ALCM website for additional locations and information!

Please join us at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, April 18 for a combined reception hosted by ALCM and the Lutheran Diaconal Association (LDA) on the lawn of the Center for Diaconal Ministry, 1304 LaPorte Avenue, Valparaiso, IN 46383.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Norma Aamodt-Nelson Student Scholar Award. This award was established in 2021 to honor the legacy of Norma, a practicing church musician and Instrumental Acquisitions Editor for Augsburg Fortress from 1993 until her death in 2020. The establishment of this award encourages collegiate students as they prepare for a vocation in church music. Applicants must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student as of Fall 2023. The recipient will receive a full scholarship for the 2023 ALCM biennial conference in Philadelphia, including housing and travel expenses, as well as a cash prize of $500. The recipient will also be invited to publicly play a piece or participate in worship at the conference. The deadline for submission is April 30.

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 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.

The final application deadline for LSM 2023 is May 15 – so still plenty of time for you to help students to consider LSM this summer. Know an 8^th-12^th grade musician who would benefit from the life-giving and joyful musical community at LSM?

Nominate a student for LSM today at lsmacademy.org/nominate.

In Tempo, ALCM's practical resource publication, invites article proposals with your worship music ideas and suggestions. This month we are especially seeking:

1. Your "Worst and Best” story. The best and worst experiences or advice regarding playing, conducting, singing, hymn introductions, worship planning, technology, resolving conflict, any and everything church music and Lutheran worship. Which strategies turned into train wrecks? Which have you absorbed and made standard practice? Your stories of “bumps along the way” as well as successes can teach, cheer, and encourage us.  If you would be willing to share your hard-earned wisdom and practical tips in a short (up to 700 words) article, please contact intempo@alcm.org.  

2. Alternative, folk, or contemporary music in worship.  These terms span a variety of interpretations and practices - what have you learned about employing non-classical or non-Western music forms? If you’d like to share your suggestions (especially with musicians of modest congregation size and budget) email intempo@alcm.org for more information and writer guidelines.

Kyries (prayer concerns) and Glorias (thanksgivings) are posted in the members area and on this page on the ALCM website. Kyries and Glorias for the following people have been recently posted:

Mark Bangert*

Timothy Guenther*

ALCM members are invited to submit Kyries and Glorias following the link in the members area of the website. Non-members may contact the ALCM office at office@alcm.org with information for posting.

St. James Music Press will award a grant to a church starting or revitalizing a music program. The purpose of this grant is to support new choir programs or established music ministries that are adding a new element by offering resources and professional support.

Elements awarded in the grant include -

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 user name is your email address. You can change or reset your password by following the "Forgot your password?" link in the login box.

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.

To be added, please email information to: office@alcm.org