1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University
© 2026 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
This vesper service offers a journey through the psalms in a jazz style. Music is adapted from the album Connexion: A Jazz Psalter, produced by Wally Brath. Brath (piano), Nikki Lerner (voice), Greg Tardy, (saxophone, clarinet), and a Calvin University chamber orchestra lead the congregation through God’s story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration, exploring the full emotional depth of the psalms. The jazz-inspired soundtrack offers rich musical expression that complements the divine poetry.
This service was originally recorded at the 2025 Calvin Symposium on Worship.
Rob Linton, David Lerner, Greg Tardy, Maria Stapert Vanden Berg, Nikki Lerner, Shana Brath, Lisa Meyer, Kate Snow, and Wally Brath
“Psalm 96”
Text: Psalm 96; New Genevan Psalter © 1972, 2007 William Helder
Music: Wally Brath © 2023 Wally Brath Music
Used by permission of Wally Brath.
“Psalm 8”
Text: Psalm 8; English Standard Version Bible © 2002 Crossway
Music: Wally Brath © 2023 Wally Brath Music
Used by permission of Wally Brath.
“Psalm 13”
Text: Psalm 13; versified, Isaac Watts
Music: Wally Brath © 2023 Wally Brath Music
Used by permission of Wally Brath.
“Psalm 90”
Text: Psalm 90; Christian Standard Bible © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Music: Wally Brath © 2023 Wally Brath Music
Used by permission of Wally Brath.
“Psalm 4”
Text: Psalm 4; New Genevan Psalter © 1980, 2017 William Helder
Music: Wally Brath © 2023 Wally Brath Music
Used by permission of Wally Brath.
“Psalm 142”
Text: Clarence P. Walhout, 1982 © 1987 Faith Alive Christian Resources
Music: Walker’s Southern Harmony; arr. Wally Brath © 2023 Wally Brath Music
Used by permission of Wally Brath and under CCLI #400063.
“Psalm 23”
Text and Music: Nikki Lerner; arr. Wally Brath © 2015 Nikki Lerner Music
Used by permission of Nikki Lerner.
“Psalm 126”
Text: Michael Morgan © 1999, 2011 Michael Morgan, admin. Faith Alive Christian Resources; refrain Wally Brath © 2023 Wally Brath Music
Music: HITIKVAH; traditional Hebrew melody; refrain and arr. Wally Brath © Wally Brath Music
Used by permission of Wally Brath and under CCLI #400063.
Modern song writers are continually setting the psalms to new music for band-led worship contexts. Join Paul Ryan, Nate Glasper, and the Calvin University Worship Apprentices to sing contemporary psalm settings sung in public worship at Calvin.
Join this excursion through compositional method, use of text, melodic creation, vocal range, and inner insights. The session includes the presentation of new psalm settings by Rawn Harbor.
Martin Luther frequently called Psalm 118 as his “own beloved psalm,” describing it as a “friend who helped [him] out of many troubles.” This session provides a history of the interpretation of this beloved psalm by looking at the readings of Ambrose, Augustine, Theodoret of Cyrus, Cassiodorus, Luther, and Calvin.
Modern song writers are continually setting the psalms to new music for band-led worship contexts. Join Paul Ryan, Nate Glasper, and the Calvin University Worship Apprentices to sing contemporary psalm settings sung in public worship at Calvin.
Join this excursion through compositional method, use of text, melodic creation, vocal range, and inner insights. The session includes the presentation of new psalm settings by Rawn Harbor.
Martin Luther frequently called Psalm 118 as his “own beloved psalm,” describing it as a “friend who helped [him] out of many troubles.” This session provides a history of the interpretation of this beloved psalm by looking at the readings of Ambrose, Augustine, Theodoret of Cyrus, Cassiodorus, Luther, and Calvin.
Carmen Imes has spent the past fifteen years immersed in the book of Exodus, writing about it for both her master’s thesis and her doctoral dissertation. In this lecture, Imes will share some of the most paradigm-shifting insights she’s had while reading Exodus through an Egyptian lens.
