RECOMMENDED READING ON THE LORD'S SUPPER
- Table and Tradition: Toward an Ecumenical Understanding of the Eucharist by Alisdair Heron (Westminster Press, 1983).
- Worship, Community, and the Triune God of Grace by James Torrence (InterVarsity Press, 1997).
- Bread of Life and Cup of Joy by Horton Davies (Eerdmans, 1993).
NEW HYMNAL SUPPLEMENT PROGRESS REPORT
In RW 46, we announced plans to begin work on a joint CRC/RCA hymnal supplement and invited songwriters to send us worship songs. A committee of ten has now met three times to consider published as well as new worship songs. Committee members are Barbara Boertje, Emily Brink, James Brumm, Al Fedak, John Paarlberg, Bert Polman, Charsie Sawyer, Annetta Vander Lugt, Amy Van Gunst, and John Witvliet.
Many new submissions have already come in from as far away as England, Australia, and New Zealand! The committee is looking for four types of worship songs, all twentieth-century:
- Praise & Worship songs
- New psalm settings
- Songs from different cultures around the world
- New hymns in more traditional structures
The supplement will include about 225 songs. Ask for a list of guidelines and/or send submissions (two copies of each song) to Emily R. Brink, editor, 2850 Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, MI 49560. The next committee dates are July 10-11 and October 16-17, 1998; the committee hopes to complete most of the selection process by the end of this year and work toward a release date in the year 2000.
CONFERENCES
Wausau, WI, September 19
Eden Prairie, MN, September 21
Des Moines, IA, September 26
Cedar Falls, IA, September 28
Lincoln, NE, October 3
Omaha, NE, October 5
Fargo, ND, October 10
Sioux Falls, SD, October 12
Wichita, KS, October 24
Shawnee Mission, KS, October 26
Edmond, OK, October 31
San Antonio, TX, November 9
Houston, TX, November 14
1998 Renew Your Worship! workshops with Robert Webber on blending contemporary and traditional worship. Webber has devoted several years to covering most of North America with these one-day leadership training workshops. Contact the Institute for Worship Studies, P.O. Box 894, Wheaton, IL 60189; 630-510-8905.
PRESBYTERIAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSICIANS CONFERENCES
- Montreat, NC, June 14-20; repeated June 21-27, 1998
"Forward in Faith: Worshiping God with All Your Heart—Reclaiming the Center." Contact: Montreat Conference Center, P.O. Box 969, Montreat, NC 28757; 800-572-2257; 704-669-291 I; fax 704-669-2779; http://www.mra.montreat.edu - Albuquerque, NM, July 5-10, 1997
"Worship in Turmoil: Can We Be All Things to All People?" Contact: The Presbyterian Church of La Porte, 305 Kingsbury Avenue, La Porte, IN 46350; (219) 362-6219; fax (219) 362-6210; e-mail: davenjoe@csinet.net - Westminster, PA, July 12-18, 1997
"A New Creation" worship conference. Contact: J. Scott Miller, P.O. Box 328, Lincroft, NJ 07738; 732-741-8921; fax 732-741-1594.
Grand Rapids, Ml, July 12-16
The annual conference of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, hosted this year by Calvin College, with Emily Brink and John Witvliet as local chairs. The theme is "The Transformation of Congregational Song—a Generation of Change." Contact: The Hymn Society, Dr. Carl Daw, Executive Director, l-800-THE HYMN.
Pasadena, CA, July 16-18, 1998
Summer Church Music Conference, with Anton Armstrong, choral clinician. Sponsored by the Choral Conductors Guild. Contact: Paul McNeff, (714) 447-4532; CCGGuild@aol.com
Wilmington, Delaware, August 5-8, 1998
Network of Biblical Storytellers (NOBS): I Ith annual festival gathering: "Call, Career, and Charisma." Theme stories: The Calling of Samuel, the Annunciation to Mary, and Jesus Commissions Peter. Group performances of Esther and James. Contact: NOBS, 1810 Harvard Blvd., Dayton, OH 45406; 1-800-355-NOBS; e-mail: nobsint@united.edu
Wheaton, IL, September 11-12, 1998
First annual Church Pianists' Institute at Wheaton College. Keynote leader is Mark Hayes. Contact: Wheaton Conservatory of Music, Wheaton College, 501 College Ave., Wheaton, IL 60187; 603/752-5099; patricia.swindle@wheaton.edu.