Psalms/Scripture
Local Psalm Festivals

As part of the Dwelling in the Psalms year, the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship has provided resources to support Psalm festivals around Canada and the United States. These events are open to the public and many will be livestreamed. 

August 10, 2026 | 4 min read
Exodus Through Egyptian Eyes

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. 

August 10, 2026 | 82 min video
My Soul Speaks Out to the Living God

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.

August 7, 2026 | 90 min video

My Own Beloved Psalm: A History of the Interpretation of Psalm 118

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.

August 7, 2026 | 77 min video
Psalms We Love to Sing

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. 

August 7, 2026 | 85 min video
Rebecca Chaffee on Intergenerational Storytelling in Worship

Learning to give testimonies, add visuals, and enact scripture helped one small congregation build intergenerational relationships and learn to see their stories within God’s story. 

August 5, 2026 | 7 min read

The Voice of the Psalms: Sounding Scripture in Contemporary Contexts

This panel considers the psalms as a source of artistic and theological engagement, exploring how musicians and songwriters draw from these ancient texts to navigate the emotional complexity of the human experience. Through diverse musical approaches and cultural perspectives, the panelists will consider how the psalms continue to resonate in modern contexts by offering language for lament and praise, shaping liturgical practice, and fostering resilience in both personal and communal experience.

July 28, 2026 | 71 min video
O Rest, My Soul: Campus Choir & Woodlawn Choir

This chapel service is a festival of psalms centered on Psalm 42. This service originally took place as part of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship’s “Dwelling in the Psalms” year. This event was a partnership between the Calvin University Campus Choir, under the direction of Dr. Mark Stover, and the Woodlawn Church choir, directed by Chan Gyu Jang.

July 28, 2026 | 1 min read
Singing the Psalms as a Spiritual Practice for Resilience

In this workshop, the McGrath family and Kiran Young Wimberly will discuss how spiritual practices, particularly singing the psalms, can build resilience in our lives. In a retreat-like experience, interwoven with psalms set to Celtic music, we will sing together as we reflect on what brings us joy, strength, and hope so we can flourish in the face of daily challenges.

July 27, 2026 | 75 min video

Singing the Psalms as a Spiritual Practice for Resilience

In this workshop, the McGrath family and Kiran Young Wimberly will discuss how spiritual practices, particularly singing the psalms, can build resilience in our lives. In a retreat-like experience, interwoven with psalms set to Celtic music, we will sing together as we reflect on what brings us joy, strength, and hope so we can flourish in the face of daily challenges. 

July 22, 2026 | 65 min video
Tiempo ordinario, mes de agosto: La bendición y protección de Dios nos ayudan a sortear los peligros de la vida

La felicidad genuina se vive en el seno del hogar (Salmo 128). En la vida de toda persona se experimentan peligros de muerte, pero Dios escucha y socorre a quienes lo invocan (Salmo 107). Mantener viva la memoria de las grandes acciones de Dios en la historia enriquece nuestra vida y adoración a Dios (Salmo 105). Asimismo, estudiar y reflexionar sobre lo que Dios ha hecho y hace en el mundo nos ayuda a ser sabios artesanos de nuestra vida personal y comunitaria (Salmo 111). Y, aun cuando vivamos situaciones de peligro mortal, si Dios está de nuestra parte, somos más que vencedores por su amor (Salmo 124).

July 16, 2026 | 18 min read