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The Persistent Widow

This worship service features music led by the Calvin University Capella and the Hope College Chapel Choir, directed by Mark Stover and Eric Reyes and accompanied by organist Rhonda Sider Edgington. Nicole Massie Martin gives the sermon on the persistent widow of Luke 18:1-8.   

March 12, 2025 | 66 min video
Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin, and Son

This service of the word and table includes a message on Luke 10 from Kevin Adams, who reflects on the parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son. Communion is celebrated following the message. Proskuneo Ministries leads the music, and the Calvin University Ministry Leadership Cohort, alongside their mentor, Joanna Wigboldy, guides the liturgy. 

March 12, 2025 | 74 min video
Parable of the Good Samaritan

This worship service focuses on the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. The Holland Christian High School Symphonic Orchestra, directed by Scott VandenBerg, leads the music with accompaniment from Alexis VanZalen. Calvin University’s Awakening group leads congregational singing featuring a selection of emerging bilingual Korean-English songs. Andrea Bult delivers the message, and students from Calvin University’s Ministry Leadership Cohort, alongside their mentor, Noel Snyder, guide the liturgy.  

March 12, 2025 | 78 min video

The Rich Man and Lazarus

This worship service is musically led by Symposium contributor Raymond Wise and the Calvin University Gospel Choir, directed by Nate Glasper. Dennis Edwards delivers the message on Luke 16:19-31, “The Rich Man and Lazarus.”  

March 12, 2025 | 65 min video
La alegría de la resurrección

La resurrección de Jesús es un tiempo de profunda alegría, adoración y celebración por el triunfo de la vida sobre los poderes de la muerte. Así lo vivieron las mujeres y los discípulos de Jesús, y así lo debemos vivir las discípulas y discípulos de Jesús hoy, ante las fuerzas del mal y los proyectos de muerte. 

March 4, 2025 | 10 min read
Cuaresma: reflexión sobre nuestra mortalidad y la vida después de la vida

Los cuarenta días previos a la pascua son días que la tradición cristiana ha considerado como días de reflexión sobre nuestra mortalidad (“somos polvo y al polvo volveremos”) sobre nuestros sufrimientos, nuestros pecados y la necesidad de volvernos a Dios para ser restaurados y tener una nueva vida.

February 14, 2025 | 20 min read

Reuben Kigame on Music that Expresses the Full Gospel

Not many churches in Africa or elsewhere often include songs about social justice in worship. Kenyan scholar and musician Reuben Kigame believes that re-examining what the Bible says about justice and the good news should shift what we define as music appropriate for worship. 

February 3, 2025 | 8 min read
Ten Tips for Writing Worship Songs for Children

Lilly Endowment Inc. encourages intergenerational worship through its Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative. Worshiping together can include prayer, music, scripture, drama, visual arts, movement, testimony, and sacraments. Three grant projects include children’s worship music or songwriting for children to create immersive intergenerational worship experiences. 

January 28, 2025 | 10 min read
Nurturing Intergenerational Worship through Song

Lilly Endowment Inc. encourages intergenerational worship through its Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative. Worshiping together can include not only music, but prayer, scripture, drama, visual arts, movement, testimony, and sacraments. However, these three grant projects include or spotlight children’s songs or songwriting for children.

January 28, 2025 | 9 min read

Desde los márgenes: Servir a los marginados ¿Cómo ser discípulos de Jesús hoy?

Este mes haremos un repaso de las enseñanzas y acciones compasivas de Jesús a favor de los marginados. Las bienaventuranzas y milagros de Jesús nos muestran el desafío de ser discípulos de Jesús hoy. 

January 22, 2025 | 16 min read
Demetrius K. Williams: African American Christians Enlarged the Meaning of the Cross

Through spirituals, freedom narratives, conversion accounts, and Black preaching, enslaved African Americans shared the embodied hope of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Like Paul, they proclaimed that the power of the cross of Christ should advance how the church participates in and quests for a more just and equitable world.  

January 14, 2025 | 8 min read
Mark Stover on Choral Music as Pastoral Ministry

Singing in a good choir is aesthetically satisfying. But choral directors have the opportunity to do so much more. Mark Stover explains how do pastoral ministry in and through choral ensembles. This includes choosing anthems that promote social justice in ways that express God’s wide welcome.  

January 7, 2025 | 6 min read