Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Symposium on Worship and the Arts at Calvin College
For the first time, registration for the January 2003 Symposium was handled completely online. More than 1,400 people had registered by December 6, making it necessary to close registrations more than a month before the conference. The staff regretted having to turn many more people away who didn't realize it would fill up so fast. Mark your calendars now for next year (January 9-10, 2004) and register early!
This past January, people attended Symposium from more than 30 denominations, 31 states, 5 provinces, and 8 countries. Each person was asked to state their primary role in their congregation (checking only one role). Twenty-six roles were named; of these, the highest numbers of attendees were pastors (213), worship planners (123), worship leaders (116), and worship team members (77).
Worship Services Online
Starting with Advent 2002, complete service plans have been added to a growing list of resources on the Calvin Institute website (www.calvin.edu/wor-ship/resources/services). Each week you'll find a full worship service to assist you in worship planning. These services are crafted by Norma de Waal Malefyt and Howard Vanderweli, both Resource Development Specialists for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.
Thinking About Worship
A growing list with a wide range of practical resources for those who plan and lead worship is also available on the website (www.calvin.edu/worship/ resources/think/), including
- articles on hospitality and worship leadership
- The Nairobi Statement on Worship and Culture (in both English and Spanish)
- Five sample music job descriptions
- Practical ideas and reflections by previous Symposium presenters
- September 11 resources
- Wedding resources
Music Series
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Music-Series, published in collaboration with G1A Publications, Inc., now includes seventeen choral pieces that are listed on the website (www.calvin.edu/ worship/resources/pub/index.htm). "Christus Paradox" by Alfred V. Fedak has sold more than 20,000 copies.
Book Series
The Calvin Institute Book Series identifies Christian worship as an integrative activity at the center of the Christian life. It both reflects and shapes our view of Scripture, theology, and various facets of the Christian life. It is bound up with, for example, our practice of pastoral care, our search for justice, and our patterns of personal piety. This series aims to make the connections between worship and the various facets of the Christian life explicit, clear, and instructive—in a way that promotes deeper and richer worship practices. The series is funded by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. Check the website (www.calvin.edu/worship/research) for information on the following books in progress:
- Old Testament Scripture mid Worship
- Systematic Theology and Worship
- Worship on College and University Campuses
- Worship and World Christianity.
COLAM 2004
July 9-12, 2004, in the Colorado Rockies!
Mark your calendars!
2003 Conferences
Kalamazoo, MI, March 13
An evening workshop on Sing! A New Creation, introducing songs from this new collection and exploring the relationship between music and justice; separate breakout sessions on leadership issues, justice issues, and music Issues. Contact: Calvin Institute of Christian Worship; Betty Grit, (616) 957-8890; www.caIvin.edu/worship/ resources.
St. Catharines, ON, March 28-29
The Arts in Worship: "Unleashing Christ's Light," sponsored by Jubilee Christian Reformed Church. Contact: www.artsin worshipniagara.org; 905-938-9446; info@artslnworship.org.
Grand Rapids, MI, April 10-12
Bach the Preacher: A symposium with insights from theology, musicology, performance, liturgy, and pedagogy, bringing together internationally renowned leaders, including the Bach Collegium Japan performance of the St. Matthew Passion on April 11 (tickets are separate from symposium registration). Contact: 616-957-8558; seminars@calvin.edu; to register: ww.calvln.edu/fss/bach/htm.
Conferences of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM)
Montreat, NC, June 15-21 and June 22-28 (2 identical conferences)
Theme: "The Great Ends of the Church"
Westminster, PA, July 13-18
Theme: "Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ"
Albuquerque, NM, July 20-25
Theme; "Singing the Songs of Zion"— worshiping with the psalms
Contact: PAM, 888-728-7228x5288; pam@ctr.pcusa.org; www.pam.pcusa.org
Lake Junaluska, NC, June 22-27
Musical and Liturgical Arts Week sponsored by the United Methodist Church (UMC). Contact: Stephen Mitchell, First UMC, 327 N. Lumpkin St., Athens, GA 30603; 706-543-1442; fax; 706-546-4797; swm570@aol.com; www.sejmusicweek.com.
Boston, MA, June 26-29
Annual CIVA Conference (Christians in the Visual Arts) at Gordon College. Theme: "The Body: Sacred (Church & Christ), Public (Community), and Private (Self & Studio)." Contact: CIVA, 978-867-4124; Hosemary@civa.org; www.clva.org.
San Dlego, June 29-July 3
"Living Stones 2003," annual conference of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (AI.CM), "for all who lead worship." Contact: www.ALCM.org.
Choristers Guild Seminars Liberty, MO July 6-11 Grand Rapids, MI, July 20-25
Choristers Guild Summer Seminar for children's choirs and their directors. Contact: Barbara Merry, 972-271-1521; bmerry@mailcg.org; www.diorisLersgulld.org.
Detroit, MI, July 10-15
Annual conference of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music, Worship, and the Arts, Contact: Constance Fang, 808 Sommers St, Stevens Pt., W] 54481; 715-341-1525; cfang@charter.net.
Grand Rapids, Ml, July 21-25
Recent History of Christian Worship, a week-long course for audit or credit taught by John D. Witvliet at Calvin Seminary. Contact: Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, 616-957-6088; www.caivin.edu/ worshlp/calendar/ciimailum/seminaiy.htm.