1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University
© 2026 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
Wendell Kimbrough’s setting of Mary’s Song captures the wonder, fear, and obedience of Mary’s response to Gabriel’s message. The song is a perfect fit for Advent, Christmas, and Lessons and Carols services.
Bert Polman counted more than 1000 musical settings of the Magnificat, Mary’s song from Luke 1:46-55. Do we need one more? Yes! Every generation should create new songs based on scripture. In fact, Mary’s song was based on Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10, which in turn was based on Psalm 113. Wendell Kimbrough builds on this legacy with a wonderful new version that fills a need for contemporary Christmas songs.
Renewed: Worship songs to refresh your church’s voice
Hosted by Greg Scheer
With Larry Figueroa, piano
Words and Music: based on Luke 1:46-55; Wendell Kimbrough © 2014 Wendell Kimbrough
For more information:
www.wendellk.com
Used by permission.
Hear the original recording on the Cardiphonia compilation Songs for the Incarnation.
(https://cardiphonia.bandcamp.com/track/marys-song-our-king-of-peace)
View Wendell Kimbrough’s website, with links to printed music, instructional videos, and a mailing list. (http://www.wendellk.com/)
Listen online to “Psalms We Sing Together,” Wendell's latest album, or purchase the CD. (https://wendellk.bandcamp.com/album/psalms-we-sing-together)
Email greg@gregscheer.com for an arrangement of “Mary’s Song" for choir, piano, and strings.
This panel will explore the intersectionality between culture and disability. What can we learn from the experiences of people across varying cultures and contexts? What do experiences of racism and ableism in the church have in common? How do they overlap? How does belonging for people with disabilities look different in a variety of cultural contexts?
Teenagers’ desire to encounter God has been realized throughout history as youth ministry has grown and evolved. Indeed, teenagers have expressed needs and desires to practice and grow their faith at church, school, and home as well as at camps and conferences or on short- and long-term mission trips. On the one hand, these worship efforts have been deeply formative. On the other hand, these worship efforts have focused on attracting and keeping teenagers as much as, if not more than, on spiritual formation. This session will identify key historical patterns in adolescent worship and examine how we might engage their wisdom for faithful worship practices with teenagers today.
Songs from the people of Korea can deeply enrich your liturgy whether you have Korean-speaking members in your congregation or not. This workshop will introduce a variety of bilingual Korean-English songs that have been newly translated in the past few years as well as strategies to lead them effectively in your own worshiping context.
This panel will explore the intersectionality between culture and disability. What can we learn from the experiences of people across varying cultures and contexts? What do experiences of racism and ableism in the church have in common? How do they overlap? How does belonging for people with disabilities look different in a variety of cultural contexts?
Teenagers’ desire to encounter God has been realized throughout history as youth ministry has grown and evolved. Indeed, teenagers have expressed needs and desires to practice and grow their faith at church, school, and home as well as at camps and conferences or on short- and long-term mission trips. On the one hand, these worship efforts have been deeply formative. On the other hand, these worship efforts have focused on attracting and keeping teenagers as much as, if not more than, on spiritual formation. This session will identify key historical patterns in adolescent worship and examine how we might engage their wisdom for faithful worship practices with teenagers today.
Songs from the people of Korea can deeply enrich your liturgy whether you have Korean-speaking members in your congregation or not. This workshop will introduce a variety of bilingual Korean-English songs that have been newly translated in the past few years as well as strategies to lead them effectively in your own worshiping context.
In this panel, Hispanic pastors share the learnings and experiences lived by their congregations after completing projects related to the development of their understanding and practices about worship. Together, they represent a variety of Hispanic denominations as well as of "dreams" they were able to realize (learning about the Creeds, bilingual worship, multigenerational worship, worship in non-traditional settings). Their congregations were part of the first cohort of Hispanic congregations receiving "worship grants" under a new initiative CICW launched in July of 2022.
