Resource Search Results

Anneli Loepp Thiessen on Collaborative Songwriting and Copyright

Anabaptist Worship Network used a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship to host a songwriting retreat. A diverse group of Anabaptist songwriters gathered for three days to collaboratively write songs, raising questions around copyright justice and remuneration.

Conversation | November 28, 2023

Anneli Loepp Thiessen on Creating Non-Hymnal Songs

Even when denominations try their best to compile culturally sensitive hymnals, not every congregation can or should use that hymnal. That’s why Anabaptist Worship Network works to include more people and cultures in creating new songs for use in worship.

Conversation | November 28, 2023

Mary Aluel Garang: The Charles Wesley of South Sudan

Since the mid-1980s, Mary Aluel Garang's theologically rich hymns have helped Sudanese Christians maintain faith and hope in God despite decades of war, conflict, and hardship. Her songs are known and sung beyond her Dinka people, her Episcopal tradition, and her nation of South Sudan.

Feature Story | March 31, 2022

Karen Campbell on Dinka Gospel Songs

Meeting Dinka Christians and musicians decades ago in East Africa made a lasting impression on Karen Campbell, a pastor and musician. She reflects on what we can learn about God through the lens of other cultures.

Conversation | March 28, 2022

Dinka Christian Infrastructure: Song and Prayer Ministries

During decades of Sudanese civil war, the Jol Wo Lieech song ministry and Thiec Nhialic prayer ministry gave refugees and refugee congregations a sense of family and purpose. Both still work to unite Christians, whether or not they belong to the Dinka tribe or still live in South Sudan.

Feature Story | March 28, 2022

Lucie Eddie Campbell: A Mother of Gospel Music

James Abbington was inspired to insert an old gospel song before the eulogy at the funeral for baseball star Henry “Hank” Aaron. The reaction prompted him to honor the heritage of Lucie E. Campbell, an influential Black gospel musician whom many people have forgotten.

Feature Story | May 11, 2021

Preaching and Singing the Resurrection  

 2021 Online Calvin Symposium on Worship | On-Demand Panel Discussion Video

Video | October 29, 2020

Mary L. Cohen on Prison Choirs That Churches Can Start

Churches can use this community/prison choir model to embody and invite people into restorative justice. It can help us develop our awareness of our common humanity and help people see God’s love within each of us.

Conversation | August 12, 2019

Mary L. Cohen on Community Choirs in Prisons

Oakdale Community Choir in Coralville, Iowa, meets in the prison where half its members live. Church choirs and congregations can learn from the principles and practices that make this choir so life-giving. It focuses as much on relationships and potential as on music.

Conversation | August 12, 2019

Andrea C. Hunter on Contemporary Songwriters and Scholars

You might think of scholars as looking back and contemporary Christian songwriters as looking forward. Songwriter Andrea C. Hunter says that scholars can help remind musicians and congregations of what to aim for in worship. Scholars also mine treasures from Christian traditions in many eras and places.

Conversation | May 29, 2019

Andrea C. Hunter on Contemporary Worship Music’s Thou-to-I Shift

Her wide and deep experience with contemporary worship music gives Andrea C. Hunter keen insight on how it can form—or malform—Christians and congregations.

Conversation | May 29, 2019

W. David O. Taylor on Scholars and Songwriters

Scholars and songwriters don’t normally talk together. But wonderful music for Christian worship can result when they share insights.

Conversation | March 01, 2019

How Singing through the Psalms Reveals the Excellence of Jesus

Singing through the entire book of Psalms helped Wasilla Bible Church expand its lyrical breadth. This shared Scriptural repertoire is pointing people of all ages toward Jesus.

Feature Story | February 25, 2019

Best Resources for Singing Psalms in Worship

Joel Stamoolis acknowledges it was challenging to help his church sing through the entire Psalter. But during 171 consecutive Sundays of doing so, he gathered a wealth of tips and resources. You can use them to help your congregation begin singing more psalms in worship.

Article | February 25, 2019

Eddie Espinosa on Changes in Contemporary Worship Music

Eddie Espinosa, composer of “Change My Heart, O God,” explains why those who lead worship need to cultivate heart holiness.

Conversation | August 22, 2018

Storytelling and Testimony in Christian Worship

Celebrating its 150th anniversary led First Baptist Church of McMinnville, Oregon, into a practice of storytelling and testimony in worship. They learned how stories cross boundaries and time and connect people with God’s big story.

Feature Story | June 26, 2018

Erika Marksbury on Connecting Testimonies to Scripture

Sometimes it is easier to use the Bible to look back at what God has done than to see what God is working toward. First Baptist Church of McMinnville, Oregon, includes testimonies in worship so that people can see how their lives are part of a story God is still telling.

Conversation | June 26, 2018