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William Phemister on Lively Piano Accompaniment for Hymns

Church pianists who apply William Phemister’s advice can introduce congregations to hymnody or more deeply immerse them in it. Typical worshipers may be surprised to learn that pianists don’t necessarily play every note as written in the hymnal—and there are good reasons why.

January 13, 2023 | 6 min read
Inclusion and Universal Design for Worship

Corporate, intergenerational worship can be designed from the start to include people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities, gifts and limitations.

December 16, 2022 | 1 min read

Complementary Approaches for Music: Printed, Projected and Orally Taught

Some congregations and worshiping communities sing songs from printed notation, others from projected text and lyrics, others from projected text, and others that are led orally, without anything printed.

December 16, 2022 | 1 min read
Katie Ritsema-Roelofs on Intentional Work for Intergenerational Worship and Community

In this episode, worship planner and musician Katie Ritsema-Roelofs shares about the importance of thoughtful and intentional ways the whole congregation can join in the formational work of intergenerational, corporate worship.

December 5, 2022 | 18 min listen
Lamar Hardwick on Disability as Diversity and Full Participation

In this episode, Pastor Lamar Hardwick reminds us that as many worshiping communities seek to become more diverse, celebrating and appreciating the beauty of all types of minds and bodies is an important theme in the life of the church.

December 5, 2022 | 25 min listen

Kevin Secundino on Knowing You’re Not Alone

Participating in Calvin University’s Ministry Leadership Cohort and doing a summer ministry internship at his church taught one pre-med student a lot about God’s promises. You can apply some of what he learned to your own congregation.

December 5, 2022 | 6 min read
La adoración en Efesios: hacer de nuestra vida cotidiana un culto de adoración

La vida cristiana: Una liturgia para la gloria de Dios La adoración en Efesios: hacer de nuestra vida cotidiana un culto de adoración Por Dr. Mariano Avila Arteaga

November 30, 2022 | 12 min read
First Round of Vital Worship Grants awarded for 2023 by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship  

The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship has announced 15 projects for funding in this first round of grants awarded for 2023-2024, 11 in the Teacher-Scholar stream of Grants and 4 in the Worshiping Communities stream of grants.

November 30, 2022 | 3 min read

Mark Doerries on the Formative Arc of Children Leading the Church in Song

In this episode, artistic director Mark Doerries tells the emerging story of the Notre Dame Children’s Choir, now ten years old, and the formative process and unifying vision the choir has built as they learn what it means to sing the sacred story of the church across time and space.

November 29, 2022 | 30 min listen
La Verne Tolbert on the Vital Role of Parents and the Church in Raising Children in the Faith

In this episode, Christian educator Dr. La Verne Tolbert shares her hopes and desires for renewed connections between parents and the church in the formative work of raising children in the faith and including children in the worship life of the church.

November 29, 2022 | 26 min listen
Witnessing to the God of Life: Reformation Sunday Worship Service

The World Communion of Reformed Churches in partnership with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship leads the annual Reformation Day global worship service in Rome, Italy.

November 28, 2022 | 1 min read