Regularly I received emails with organist/music director vacancies. Details about what is expected are included, and in one case, applications were to be emailed to the “search committee.” Makes me wonder: how do our churches search/find organists? When ministers are leaving, a calling committee is appointed. Their task is to …
Read More
In the last few years, there is much talk about singing Psalms: rediscover and reintroduce Psalm singing. For example, in 2018, the Getty conference was dedicated to singing Psalms. Some churches always include the Psalms in their liturgy, others have sung the Psalms in the past, and some churches have …
Read More
SINGING REVOLUTION Estonia became independent from the USSR through a Singing Revolution. Four years of people singing, united, standing ground against the Soviet tanks, and: they succeeded. In 1991 they became independent because of their singing. The Estonians finally reached freedom. (The documentary film “The Singing Revolution” was released in …
Read MoreIn Presbyterian, Anglican, Catholic, and Reformed churches you don’t expect to hear the same music and sing from the same ecumenical hymnal. Also within the Reformed Churches different songbooks are used, reflecting e.g. the different history and identity of the federations. Focusing on the Canadian Reformed Churches (CanRC), there are …
Read More
Let’s shake it up in church… …because the same things every Sunday become a boring routine. Sometimes we hear this sentiment, with some ministers responding by being creative, yet without rocking the boat. People like change, and often we hear comments when some things go differently. Yes, let’s shake it up, …
Read More
1. A controversy in a Catholic church in Michigan created a stir earlier this month. The approach of Rev. Edwin C. Dwyer (photo) to bring back the youth in church, was met with joy and hope by younger members of the congregation, but some of the elderly members complained. Stressing …
Read More
A prophesy not found in Scripture, but practiced in churches! The self-fulfilling prophesy is not in Scripture, yet churches make use of it frequently. I am thinking about church music and church musicians. How often do you hear the complaint/concern/thought: “There are no new organists to accompany in church?” Cases …
Read More
What kind of church? In December I received promotional email of a sheet music, classifying music by denomination, based of the type of worship service (with plenty of choice in each category). • Liturgical: e.g. Lutheran, Anglican, Catholic, Russian Orthodox • Evangelical: e.g. Baptist, Pentecostal, Community churches • More liberal: …
Read MoreSometimes I hear the complaints of monotonous elements of the worship service, and a desire to shake it up and change. But often people don’t have much of an idea about the background of what happens in church. If adults don’t know, they can’t explain it to the youth either, …
Read More