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Benjamin Brody on Writing New Hymn Tunes

You might think that hymn tunes must always be in four-part harmony. But hymn tune composer Benjamin Brody includes many music styles for congregational singing in his new hymn collection - At the Weaving of Creation: 50 New Tunes.

Conversation | June 07, 2024

Brian Reichenbach on Including Band and Orchestra Students in Church Music

Playing his trumpet in worship alongside adult instrumentalists profoundly affected Brian Reichenbach’s Christian faith and church life. He works to help congregations give school band and orchestra students a similar grounding.

Conversation | May 31, 2024

Brian Hehn on an Ecumenical CCLI Top Songs List

CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing, Inc.) hugely influences what many congregations sing, so the United Methodist Church began vetting CCLI Top 100 songs in 2015. Since then, song leader Brian Hehn has been encouraging other denominations to vet these popular contemporary worship songs so he can eventually create an ecumenically approved list of CCLI Top 100 songs.

Conversation | May 21, 2024

Robert Feduccia on the CCLI Song Select Liturgy Section

Churches around the world seek permission to use contemporary worship music from Christian Copyright Licensing, Inc., or CCLI. Late in 2018, CCLI Song Select quietly introduced a liturgical section to help churches select contemporary music that fits the classic ordo, the four-fold pattern of worship. Robert Feduccia explains why.

Conversation | May 21, 2024

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

Complementary Approaches for Music: Printed, Projected and Orally Taught

Some congregations and worshiping communities sing songs from printed notation, others from projected text and lyrics, others from projected text, and others that are led orally, without anything printed.

Article | December 16, 2022

David Lemley on Becoming What We Sing

David Lemley’s book "Becoming What We Sing: Formation through Contemporary Worship Music" recognizes that contemporary worship music [CWM] helps Christians around the world feel close to God. Lemley looks at whether or how CWM moves worshipers from adoration to participation in the mission of God’s church.

Conversation | September 14, 2022

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

Everyday Faith: Possibilities, Limits, and Callings, with special guest Jeremy Begbie

Music and language form the backbone of nearly every public worship service, yet we don’t often reflect on the implications of this pairing. What is the relationship of music and language in Christian worship, and how might we best utilize them—separately and together—to give God glory and to form the faith of worshipers? Watch this webinar with Professor Jeremy Begbie of Duke Divinity School, who helps us think more deeply about how we can do justice to the primacy of the Word in worship while also honoring the immense powers of a non-verbal medium such as music. Dr. Begbie is interviewed by Noel Snyder, program manager at CICW.

Video | August 17, 2021

Emmanuel Olusola Fasipe on Yoruba Baptist Indigenous Choruses

The most recent Yoruba Baptist Hymnal includes Orin Idaraya, the indigenous choruses relevant to one of Nigeria's largest people groups. Learning how a Nigerian music scholar analyzed these short songs can help your congregation evaluate whether it offers a balanced musical diet in worship.

Conversation | July 26, 2021

Kate Williams on the Coronavirus and Sacred Music

When COVID-19 forced churches and schools to go virtual, GIA Publications helped church music ministers and music educators adjust. Some digital adaptations are here to stay because they help connect music ministers, worshipers, and music educators.

Conversation | May 11, 2021

James Abbington on Planning Henry “Hank” Aaron’s Funeral Music

Although news coverage of public figures’ funerals often focuses most on speakers and eulogists, music is crucial. James Abbington thought pastorally while planning music for baseball star Henry Aaron’s homegoing.

Conversation | May 11, 2021

Jeff Barker on Combining Music and Public Scripture Reading

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed many churches to do online worship services, inspiring some liturgists to more creatively present Bible readings. Jeff Barker explains how to combine music with the lections or scripture passages.

Conversation | September 09, 2020

Billy Kluttz on Paperless Liturgy and Music

Sometimes not providing written or projected words and notes is the best way to make liturgy truly the work of the people. Paperless liturgy and paperless music can be great tools for including all ages and abilities in worship.

Conversation | January 08, 2020

Glenn Packiam on Songs that Bring Hope in Worship

What do contemporary Christians sing about when they sing about hope? Do they experience hope when they gather to sing in worship? If so, what sort of hope is it?

Conversation | July 01, 2019

The Church's "Big" Choir

Integration of the choir into all aspects of worship and the choir's voice into the congregation's repertoire.

Article | June 19, 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.