Karen Campbell on Considering Lament: Psalms of Protest, Pain and Hope
Technically, the Troubles in Northern Ireland ended in 1998. But just as trauma didn’t end after the passage of the US Civil Rights Act or the work of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, pain still lingers in Northern Ireland. Karen and David Campbell composed a new set of lament songs to help Christians voice protest, pain, and hope during worship.
Psalmody in Black: The Psalter as Human Expression
This workshop explores the deep connection between the psalms and the breadth of human emotion through musical settings by Black composers. Interwoven with reflections on the history and function of the Psalter, this program reveals how these timeless texts continue to speak to the spiritual, emotional, and cultural experiences of our shared humanity.
May 1, 2026
|
90 min video
My Soul Speaks Out
A Psalm Talk by Rawn Harbor with musical pieces with a visual prayer and embodied response led by Dea Jenkins.
March 19, 2026
|
39 min video
Stephen Vesolich on the Songs of Ascent
Studying, reciting, singing, and praying the Songs of Ascent from the book of Psalms helped Centerpoint Community Church make its worship and spiritual formation more intergenerational. It also gave people a shared language for bringing all their emotions to God. The church created a website to make all of its Songs of Ascent resources freely available.
February 26, 2026
|
7 min read
Chris Fenner on African American Hymns and Devotions
Many Christian publishers offer books of hymn stories, hymnals that follow the lectionary and church year, and devotionals based on hymns or the lectionary. Two new resources by Chris Fenner provide all three in one—hymn stories and sources, hymns, and lectionary-based devotionals to match each hymn. Both Hymns & Devotions for Daily Worship and Hymns & Devotions for Daily Worship: African American Edition begin with Advent.
February 18, 2026
|
5 min read
Worship with a Puerto Rican Twist: A Liturgical Calendar Set to Song
AGUADA, Puerto Rico — At the First Presbyterian Church of Aguada, the sound of faith has found a new rhythm. Between the beats of bomba, plena, and seis, a community has discovered how Puerto Rican folk music can become a vehicle for worship and spiritual renewal.
February 16, 2026
|
4 min read
A Soundtrack for the Soul: Singing the Psalms with Wendell Kimbrough
This chapel worship service was led by Wendell Kimbrough at Calvin University as part of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship’s “Dwelling in the Psalms” year.
February 16, 2026
|
27 min video
Nate Glasper on Changes in Gospel Music
From “I’ll Fly Away” to “You Know My Name,” gospel music over the generations has helped musicians, choirs, and congregations embody faith in God’s promises and provisions. Nate Glasper describes how gospel music’s main genres comprise “academic, theological, historical, and cultural scholarship expressed through sound.”
February 4, 2026
|
7 min read
Nate Glasper on Directing and Mentoring Gospel Choirs
Directing a gospel choir can help singers express their own culture or learn from other cultures. Nate Glasper shares tips for helping gospel choir members grow through mentorship and skillful directing so that they live a lifestyle of worship.
January 22, 2026
|
6 min read
Jonathan Calvillo on How Hip-hop Cultivates Community
Sociologist Jonathan Calvillo researches how hip-hop gives Christians in and beyond the church agency to deal with real-life issues and shape their faith and spirituality.
December 22, 2025
|
7 min read
Jonathan Calvillo on Churches and Hip-hop
Sociologist Jonathan Calvillo grew up in Latinx Pentecostal churches where church leaders made room for young Christians to express themselves through hip-hop. His life experiences and research explore what churches can learn from hip-hop creatives.
December 18, 2025
|
8 min read
Lessons and Carols
An index of service outlines from past Lessons and Carols services, performed by Calvin University ensembles.
December 5, 2025
|
1 min read
