Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

March 1, 2024 e-newsletter

What Wondrous Love. That was the theme of ALCM's 2023 Biennial Conference in Philadelphia last summer. In these Lenten days, we ponder the wondrous love of Christ Jesus who died on the cross to rescue us from sin and who rose from the dead to bring us new life. We immerse ourselves in the disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in a season of repentance and renewal. As musicians of the Church, we are in a time of intense planning and preparation as we look ahead to Holy Week and the Paschal season.

If I am honest, I find myself almost paralyzed in worship planning and preparation for Holy Week. Even with amazing resources like Sundays and Seasons, Lutheran Service Builder, and Prelude Music Planner, I find myself at the foot of the cross overwhelmed by how to choose music that will somehow convey our grateful song of praise to the One who has given His all to save us. What music may I choose to proclaim the life-changing Easter message, “The Lord is risen!” 

Admittedly, our specific musical choices are largely determined by the reality of our local setting. If you find yourself serving in a church with a pipe organ that malfunctions, or if you find yourself in a congregation in which you are valiantly trying to pull together a few willing singers to sing a unison or simple two-part anthem, or if you find yourself in a congregation in which two of the five band members are too ill to attend rehearsals, know that the Lord has placed you where you need to be. As you lead your congregation in song (in whatever form that may take), you will join heaven and earth in singing about our Lord’s wondrous love.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing:

To God and to the Lamb I will sing:

To God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM,

While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,

While millions join the theme, I will sing.

Jean Boehler

Board Member

Join us on the campus of Valparaiso University and the beautiful Chapel of the Resurrection as we Ponder Anew how to communicate God’s saving grace to all peoples in meaningful, relevant ways. Through workshops, discussions, worship, and hands-on learning opportunities, we invite you to strengthen your gifts and develop new skills in topics such as worship leadership, technology, composition, enriching assembly song and more, all the while forming connections from Generation to Generation with young musicians attending the Lutheran Summer Music Academy (LSM).

The emphasis of this conference is on practical skill-building. Registrants will be able to attend in-depth learning sessions on a variety of topics. These sessions are 90 minutes long and typically consist of multiple sessions, with each session building on the previous. In addition to the in-depth learning sessions, a variety of workshops will round out this practical learning experience. Many fine presenters will be on hand to lead us in a variety of learning opportunities.

REGISTER BY MARCH 19 TO RECEIVE THE EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT. AFTER MARCH 19, PRICES GO UP!

St. John Passion

The conference will celebrate a 300-year anniversary:

St. John Passion - J.S. Bach

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 – 7:30 pm – Chapel of the Resurrection, Valparaiso University

Bach Collegium Valparaiso

Christopher M. Cock, Artistic Director and Conductor

The Bach Collegium Valparaiso is an ensemble composed of the finest period instrument and vocal forces in the Chicago area. The mission of BCV is to perform the great masterworks of the 16th - 18th centuries with attention to historically informed practice and the highest standards of musical performance.

This event is made possible through the generous financial support of Pauline and John Kiltinen.

Additional information about the conference, including pricing, scholarships, accommodations and more is available on the ALCM website.

Valparaiso Conference Sponsorship Opportunities

Would you like to contribute to ALCM and support our July conference in Valparaiso? Gifts are welcome to support the conference and all donors will be listed in the conference book. Donations may be made at ALCM website.

Register now to attend the one remaining winter webinar. When you register, you will also receive links to the recordings and handouts for the first & second webinars.

The Raabe Prize at 25!

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Raabe Prize for Excellence in Sacred Composition. Endowed in 1999 by Dr. William and Pr. Nancy Raabe of Philadelphia, this prize is awarded every two years for a single musical work that reflects a larger history of excellence on the part of a composer. Its aim is to recognize and encourage significant accomplishments in composition contributing to the body of sacred music for the church in the Lutheran heritage. Throughout 2024, ALCM will highlight each prizewinner with a video describing the piece, its significance and, where possible, featuring a conversation with the composer.

Lent, Holy Week, Easter Resources

As you finalize plans for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter, be sure to check out the Seasonal Resources in the members area of the website. Links have been added under the "Quick Links" heading. And don't forget about the hundreds of Hymn Settings to support congregational singing. There's a link for that as well!

Here are two samples of what you will find in the Hymn Settings section:

Gethsemane (Jean Boehler)

Gethsemane (Paul Otte)

Enjoy hundreds more of these harmonizations in the ALCM members area!

Having difficulty logging in to the members area? First check to be sure that you are using the email address that we have on file (the address at which you receive copies of the newsletter). Click on the "Forgot your password?" link in the login box and follow the instructions to re-set your password. If you still have difficulty logging in, send an email to office@alcm.org and we'll be happy to help.

Direct Your 2023 Thrivent Choice $$$ by March 31!

Thrivent Choice Dollars allows eligible clients with membership to choose where Thrivent distributes a portion of its funding each year. A profound thank you to those of you who have designated ALCM to receive your Thrivent Choice dollars. In the past 10 years over $20,000 has been contributed to ALCM through Thrivent. Especially for those of you who still have 2023 dollars "in the pot," remember that March 31 is the last day to direct those dollars to participating organizations. After March 31 the 2023 dollars go away and 2024 dollars start to acrue. Once again, many thanks to all who choose ALCM as a recipient of Choice Dollars!

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.  

Fourth Friday Happy Hour with ALCM

Friday, March 22 - 6:00 pm Eastern

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.

Nominate woodwind & brass students for

Lutheran Summer Music!

Enrollment for LSM 2024 is nearing capacity! Many instrument areas are filling, and LSM is seeking brass and woodwind players to balance enrollment. Lutheran Summer Music takes place at Valparaiso University from June 30-July 28, 2024. Know a high school student who would thrive at LSM and who plays bassoon, clarinet, euphonium, flute, horn, oboe, trumpet or tuba? Nominate them for LSM today: LSMacademy.org/nominate. 

Bach Society Houston to Perform St. John Passion

New American English performance edition of the Bach St. John Passion will be performed by Bach Society Houston on Palm Sunday, March 24 at 6 p.m. CST at Christ the King Lutheran in Houston.

Celebrating the 300^th anniversary of Bach's composing of this work, this new edition is the result of more than four years work. Translated by Madeleine Forell Marshall, with text-laying and collaboration with the Bach Society Houston, Rick Erickson, Artistic Director, this is a new and bracing version of this work. 

As one hearer said upon first performance - "it is as if a veil had been lifted."

Featuring the Bach Society Choir and Orchestra, with Tony Boutte, Evangelist and Malcolm Merriweather, Jesus, this performance will be available to hear online at www.bachsocietyhouston.org.

In Tempo 2024, No. 1 - It's in the mail and posted in the members area of the website!

Post your own event!

Adding your local event to the calendar is easy. Just log in to the members area of the ALCM website and follow the "Add an event to the calendar" link under "What would you like to do?" Click on the "Post Your Event" button and complete the form. Your event will appear on the main event calendar, on the main page of the website, and in the e-newsletter for the month in which the event will take place. Good advertising - and it's free to ALCM members!

Just in time for worship, March 17, St Patrick’s Day

A piano voluntary and alternate hymn accompaniment to the Irish folk hymn tune SLANE, arranged by Craig Mather and published in In Tempo, 2024, no. 1, is now posted in the members area of the ALCM website. This 2-page easy-medium work is appropriate as an offering or communion voluntary for “Be Thou My Vision,” “Christ Be My Leader,” and “Lord of All Hopefulness,” found in our denominations’ hymnals. Permission to download and reprint is granted to current ALCM members. Blessings on your Lenten worship!

Worship and Fine Arts Day Camp for Children

Nationally known musician and children’s music educator Dr. Michael Burkhardt is leading a Worship and Fine Arts Day Camp June 24-27, 2024. The camp, held at Grace Lutheran Church in downtown State College, PA, is for children entering grades 2-8 and runs from 9 AM to 3 PM daily. Experience is not required. Email arts@glcpa.org for details. Register by April 1. Early Bird ALCM discount has been extended to March 8. 

As part of the 50th anniversary observance of the beginning of Seminex, there will be a hymn festival on Wednesday, April 17, at 7:30 PM at Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 Division, River Forest, IL. It is open to the public.

Several ALCM members are leading the event. Martin Seltz is providing the commentary. Robert Buckley Farlee, Anne Krentz Organ, Daniel Schwandt, and Michael Costello will be leading the hymns, along with Grace’s choir. For a complete schedule and information on additional activities related to the observance, go to lstc.edu/seminex.

Kyries & Glorias

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:

In memoriam

Mark Prater

Alice Parker

Randall Ewell

Kyrie

Bob Hobby*

Jenny Hobby

John Ferguson*

Jayne Southwick Cool

Ethel Geist

Jennifer Phelps

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.

* indicates a Charter Member

The Lilly Endowment is pleased to announce its new Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative.Through this national and competitive initiative, the Endowment is inviting eligible charitable organizations to apply for grants of up to $1.25 million that may be used for up to a five-year period to establish new and/or enhance existing programs that support congregations as they design intergenerational corporate worship services and prayer practices that more intentionally and fully engage children and nurture their faith.

The Endowment is especially interested in supporting programs that help congregations address one or more of the following objectives:

1. Strengthening worship and prayer practices that attend to and respect how children experience God and express their faith.
2. Enhancing worship and prayer practices that are more fully inclusive of all children, including children with disabilities.
3. Drawing more fully on the arts (e.g., music, visual arts, drama, etc.) to enhance the experience of worship and prayer for children.
4. Creating opportunities for Bible storytelling that help children hear and tell stories of faith through worship and prayer practices.
5. Enhancing worship and prayer practices that more intentionally connect worship with the daily lives of children and their families.

More detailed information about the aim and objectives of this new initiative, as well as eligibility criteria and proposal guidelines, may be found at the Endowment’s Nurturing Children Initiative webpage.

Live-Streaming Members Area Compositions

If you are a current member of ALCM, you automatically have permission to use any of the materials posted in the members area of the website as long as your membership remains current. This permission is being extended to live-streaming music during worship, but again only as long as your ALCM membership remains current. Already-posted materials in the members area do not include a permission statement on the copy covering live-streaming/recording of pieces for use during worship, although they are included in this live-streaming blanket permission. Going forward, new materials posted will include a more comprehensive statement. 

If you have materials posted in the members area and you do not want to extend the permission to cover live-streaming, please email us at office@alcm.org, so that we can remove your compositions from the website. Also, remember to notify us if any of your posted compositions is published. We will remove them from the website and include a note that the material is now available from the publisher.

Any questions, let us know!

Members of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians are cordially invited to attend the annual conference of the Association of Anglican Musicians (the professional association of Episcopal Church Musicians) June 9–13 in Minnesota, at the AAM member rate. The conference will feature performances by The Singers, Kantorei, the choir of Saint John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in Saint Paul, and a festival choir drawn from Episcopal Churches across the Twin Cities. Recitalists will include Gerre Hancock Intern Abe Wallace, Isabelle Dembers, and Damin Spritzer, as well as a hymn festival led by David Cherwien. Featured venues will be Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Saint Olaf Catholic Church, and Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis; Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and Saint John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in Saint Paul; and Saint John's Abbey, Collegeville. At the end of the conference, there is an optional retreat to be held at the Saint John's Abbey Guest House, led by the Reverend Kathie Nycklemoe.

If you register by March 1st, the rate is $499.

For the full schedule of events and to register, please visit https://anglicanmusicians.org/conf/