1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
© 2025 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
What a gift to have in a single conversation leading experts on the rich history of Christian worship music in the continent of Africa as well as from African diaspora communities in the United States and England! What treasures and insights from this rich history should be more celebrated and cherished? What misunderstandings should be corrected? How can we learn from this rich history without misappropriating it? What signature examples of congregational song should we all learn more about and from? How can we all continue to learn more and explore more deeply connections across continents and Christian traditions?
Come learn and sing through a selection of choral pieces for use in worship. Packets provided by GIA Publications, Inc.
Drawing from Psalms, Colossians, Revelation, and the global church, Carlos Colón invites us to write texts and songs of lament, protest, and hope. We will examine ways to give voice in our worship and prayer gatherings to our pain, our questions, and our desire for deep hope and the healing of all creation. We will examine songs with these themes in the "Santo, Santo, Santo / Holy, Holy, Holy" hymnal and in classical and contemporary sources.
What makes a song singable? Meet with Paul Ryan and Wendell Kimbrough as they discuss the morning worship service held in the chapel [10:30–10:50 a.m.] and the qualities of congregational song that help the church join its voices as one.
For many Christians, Bible verses and passages are often easier to memorize when set to music. Worship pastor Ken Boer designed the website Biblevox to help people find word-for-word scripture songs.
Ordinary time, the time of the church calendar that stretches from Pentecost to Advent and Epiphany to Lent, is a good time to consider the life of Christ or other sermon and song series based on a series of Biblical passages.
Memorizing Bible verses and passages can enrich family, school, and church communities. Internalizing God’s Word, whether by music or another method, helps Christians meditate, pray, and grow closer together with God and each other.
Contemporary-worship congregations are rediscovering hymns as treasuries of theological depth that express the full range of emotions and Scripture. Singing hymns together helps people connect across generations and cultures.
If your congregation experiences hymn singing as dull and lifeless, then try Jonathan A. Powers’ advice on finding, introducing, and teaching hymns that will resonate with your worshiping community.
Some congregations worry that singing songs outside their own tradition might be inauthentic or offensive. Ethnomusicologist Katie J. Graber gives reasons for using worship songs from other cultures and eras—and how to do so with proper appreciation and attribution.
COVID-19, “the triple pandemic,” and future universal health threats will continue to prevent many congregants, especially senior members, from attending worship in person. But for those willing to put up with some “holy messiness,” Herbert H. Tsang offers low-tech solutions to connect, sing, and worship together.
Explore a jazz and classical guitarist's techniques for playing in worship. Jason Werkema demonstrates left- and right-hand exercises, fretboard memorization, expanded chord voicings, fingerstyle technique, and much more!
