Resource Search Results

William Phemister on Lively Piano Accompaniment for Hymns

Church pianists who apply William Phemister’s advice can introduce congregations to hymnody or more deeply immerse them in it. Typical worshipers may be surprised to learn that pianists don’t necessarily play every note as written in the hymnal—and there are good reasons why.

Conversation | January 13, 2023

New Worship Songs for Climate Change and Creation Care

Our 2017 annotated list of worship songs about care for creation remains so popular that we have compiled a new list of worship songs to lament climate change and encourage creation care. Many of these songs and hymns have been released since 2018. Others are new to various English-speaking audiences because they come from international hymnals and organizations.

Feature Story | November 07, 2022

Hymns for a Pandemic: A Brief Historical Introduction

Centuries before 2020’s novel coronavirus, COVID-19, Christians around the world responded to plagues, pandemics, uncertainty, and sin with faith in God’s presence and care—a faith expressed in many theologically rich hymns that can remind modern believers of God’s faithfulness.

Resource Guide | May 05, 2020

How to Play (and use) Psalms

2019 Calvin Symposium on Worship | Workshop

Video | April 15, 2019

Kai Ton Chau on Small Church Choirs

Small church choirs can do far more than sing anthems. Despite perceived challenges, small church choirs can successfully help lead and enliven worship.

Conversation | March 29, 2018

Best Tips and Resources for Small Church Choirs

Kai Ton Chau is well acquainted with unique challenges faced by small church choirs. He has gathered a wealth of tips and resources to help choirs nurture worship in small congregations.

Article | March 29, 2018

Renewed: Come, Holy Ghost

Introducing the worship song “Come, Holy Ghost / Be Not Afraid” by Bruce Benedict and Ray Mills.

Video | October 16, 2017

Worship Songs about Care for Creation

Caring about God’s good creation includes lamenting whatever harms it and joining God’s mission to make all things new. Songs from around the world explore these ideas.

Article | June 15, 2017

Bringing Hymns to Life on Guitar

We’ve heard many of the great old hymns played beautifully with organs, pianos, and choirs, but their journey into the world of guitar-led worship can be awkward. Old tunes are often abandoned or significantly altered in the name of modernization, but such revision is not always necessary.

Video | March 08, 2017

Singing Bilingually in Spanish and English: A Vision and Resources for Singing Together on the Journey of Faith

In North America, we have a splendid opportunity in the years and decades ahead to learn to sing bilingually, transcending a language divide in ways that help us all learn and grow together as we discover scripturally inspired songs from a variety of contexts and cultures.

Video | March 02, 2017

Benjamín Alicea-Lugo on Praise y Adoración Bilingual Hymnal

Praise y Adoración is a new private-market bilingual hymnal and worship resource by Benjamín Alicea-Lugo and Irma Cuevas Alicea. It has 950 song texts in English and Spanish and comes in three editions.

Conversation | December 14, 2016

Singing in Spanish and English: Reflections of Musicians and Educators

Carlos Colón and Maria Monteiro are Texas Baptists, educators and musicians. They serve on a team that is compiling a fully bilingual Spanish-English hymnal for Protestants.

Conversation | November 30, 2016

Rediscovering the Beauty of Rest

Resources in the Bahasa Indo language from the Malang Choral Festival II held in Indonesia.

Resource Guide | October 27, 2016

Lift Up Your Hearts Hymnal App for iPad

Learn more about the iPad App and FlexScores for "Lift Up Your Hearts" hymnal.

Article | November 20, 2014

God, We Sing Your Glorious Praises: Hymns and Prayers for Devotional Use

To express gratitude to God for the gifts we received through Bert, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship offers this collection of some of Bert Polman's litanies and prayers, hymns and psalm versifications.

Reflection | July 18, 2013

Ten Reasons Why Hymnals Have a Future

Hymnals make several valuable contributions to Christian life today, in dynamic interaction with all the other ways we access and project music and information. Further, a hymnal is a valuable resource for all kinds of Christians, as well as congregational leaders, whether or not their congregation uses a hymnal in worship.

Article | May 03, 2013

Brian Larson on Planning a Psalms for All Seasons Psalmfest

Brian Larson is cantor at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. His was one of 40 organizations that recently hosted a public congregational singing event based on the new Psalms for All Seasons: a Complete Psalter for Worship. In this edited conversation, he discusses the Psalmfest that Trinity Lutheran hosted on January 27, 2013.

Conversation | April 19, 2013