Psalmfest Mini-grants Program

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Psalms For All Seasons

The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship is providing support to worshiping communities to host a public worship event (Psalmfest) that features congregational singing based on our brand-new publication Psalms for All Seasons: A Complete Psalter for Worship (Brazos and Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2012).

Who is participating?

Through an application process (now closed), 40 worshiping communities from 17 provinces and states applied for support. They include

• All Nations Christian Reformed Church, Halifax, NS
• American Lutheran Church, Clinton Township, MI
• Baylor University, Waco, TX
• Beckwith Hills Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, MI
• Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church Brevard, NC
• Calvary Baptist Church, Washington, DC
• Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
• Carey Theological College, Vancouver, BC
• Central United Church, United Church of Canada, Sarnia, ON
• Chinese Bible Teachers Fellowship, Canada, Scarborough, ON
• Church Music Ministry of Canada, Vancouver, BC
• Emmanuel College, Toronto, ON
• Fairplain Presbyterian Church, Benton Harbor, MI
• First Presbyterian Church, Boyne City, MI
• First Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX
• First Presbyterian Church of Homewood, Homewood, IL
• First Union Church, Cedarville, MI
• Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant, Glen Ellyn, IL
• Gordon College, Wenham, MA
• Grace Christian Reformed Church, Cobourg, ON
• Hope Christian Reformed Church in Oak Forest, IL
• Hyde Park Presbyterian Church, Hyde Park, MA
• International Council of Ethnodoxologists, Duncanville, TX
• Lewinsville Presbyterian Church, McLean, VA
• Mayfield Central Presbyterian, Mayfield, NY
• Olympia Christian Reformed Church, Olympia, WA
• Princeton Christian Reformed Church, Kentwood, MI
• Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN
• Shiloh~Inwood United Church, Bright's Grove, ON
• St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Vancouver, WA
• St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Kensington, MD
• Second Christian Reformed Church, Grand Haven, MI
• Third Reformed Church, Holland, MI
• Trinity Church of Livonia, Livonia, MI
• Trinity Lutheran Church, New Smyrna Beach, FL
• Union University, Jackson, TN
• University of Evansville Neu Chapel, Evansville, IN
• Wake Forest University School of Divinity, Winston-Salem, NC

Why is this happening?

To promote the faithful and fruitful use of the biblical psalms in Christian worship.

When are the PsalmFests?

Check our Events Calendar as PsalmFest dates become finalized.

What are the requirements?

1. The Psalmfest must:
   • be a public event free of charge (perhaps a Sunday evening or mid-week service);
   • feature congregational singing of at least eight selections from Psalms for All Seasons; and
     
   • be held any time before May 2013.
2. The planning team agrees to help us share the learning you experience as a worshiping community as you engage with the Psalms more deeply.

How will we gather this learning?

 We will:

• Post your Psalmfest date and information on our Events Web Calendar.
• Receive from your team a reflection document after your Psalmfest.

 We may also:

• Schedule an interview with your team with a writer who produces stories and conversations for our website
• Invite a member from your team to be on a panel at a future January Symposium on Worship, held in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

What support will the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship provide?

• Free copies of Psalms for All Seasons for the planning team (3 - 5 copies). Songbook retails for $29.99 USD. 
• Additional psalm resources published by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship at no charge (approximately an $80 value)
• Access to guest leadership (Worship Institute staff and associates) with honorarium and travel expenses covered.

What are some tools for planning a Psalmfest?

• Explore the Psalms in Worship Showcase on our website, with links to many articles, cds, books.
• Visit the companion website to the songbook which contains many additional resources that support the use of the songbook.
• Visit Hymnary.org to find text, tune, and composer information on each song in the songbook.
• Options to consider for a Psalmfest:
  • Sunday evening or mid-week service
  • A community-wide service with other churches in your classis, presbytery, or neighborhood
  • A service before a classis or presbytery meeting
  • A school event involving children for a spring festival with different grades taking a different psalm
  • A Reformation Day or Ascension Day service featuring the Psalms
  • An evening option for a weekend youth group or college dorm retreat
  • An evening gathering for a retirement complex
  • Other ideas?

Application

This is a two-part process:

Part One is now closed.

Part Two

After you receive a confirmation email that your application has been accepted, you will be mailed (to the church address) the resources requested.

After your planning team has met and made additional plans, complete the "Part Two" online form which requests the following information:

1. *Confirm final date and location of the Psalmfest. See all the PsalmFests at our Events Calendar.
2. *List selections (minimum of eight) from Psalms for All Seasons to be featured at the festival.
3. Order as many additional copies of Psalms for All Seasons at the bulk rate of $15 per copy ($25 shipping fee OR free shipping if you order more than 10 copies). We encourage you to provide copies to all festival participants and encourage further Psalm study and reflection at home and in small groups.
4. If applicable, indicate the name of a staff member or associate you would like to request to join the Psalmfest. We are able to provide their time and travel costs at our expense. We request you arrange housing, meals, and local transportation.
5. As you are planning yor Psalmfest, you may have questions about copyright. Please read this important information. 

Use our downloadable program headers in color or black and white (right click the link and select "save link as" to download the image to your computer).   

Name, area of speciality

• Emily Brink, liturgist or song leader
• Dale Cooper, liturgist or preacher
• Norma de Waal Malefyt, organist or pianist
• Betty Grit, liturgist
• Betsy Steele Halstead, visual arts consultant, liturgist
• Scott Hoezee, preacher, liturgist
• Bert Polman, choral reading of the psalms rehearsal leader
• Ron Rienstra, preacher, liturgist, song leader/rehearsal leader
• Greg Scheer, song leader, music group director
• James K.A. Smith, liturgist (available for West Michigan area and Chicagoland only)
• Kathy Smith, preacher or liturgist
• Carrie Steenwyk, liturgist or choral reading/children's participation rehearsal leader
• Howard Vanderwell, preacher or liturgist

The final communication will be the feedback form which we will email to you after your festival.

With support from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

Published:

November 30, 2011

Resource Type:

Article

Category:

Worship- Planning

Occasion:

Hymn Festival

Task:

Plan Worship

Tags:

Psalms, Psalms For All Seasons, Psalmfest

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