Conversations

The “Billboard Top 40” of Church Music

The Sunday Soundtrack If you had to make a list of approximately 40 songs that best characterize your church, which songs would you choose? Here’s the catch: I’m not just […]

Elbows Up?

“Elbows up!” Canadians have been encountering this phrase a lot over the last few months. As a Canadian living in Ottawa, the nation’s capital, I most regularly come face-to-face with […]

A Tale of Two Melodies – When Hymns Are to Be Sung in Cantonese Part V of V

A Tale of Two Melodies – When Hymns Are to Be Sung in Cantonese (Part V of V: The Road Onwards)   In the previous four blogs, I have explained […]

Christmas Tunes: Don’t Forget About the Harmony

Less than a month ago we were given the opportunity to sing the same carols that we do every Christmas season. Songs like “Deck the Halls,” “O Christmas Tree,” and […]

Repetition Is Not the Enemy

I love old people. That might sound strange considering that my last blog post (click here) focused on young people; nevertheless, my mom worked in long-term care for the first half […]

Who Will Lead Our Music?

Introduction Over the summer, I was assisting several scholars with a project that explores how young people (aged 12 through 30) engage in worship. Utilizing ethnographic methods, our research team […]

Hymns by Abusers, Cancel Culture, and Pastoral Responsibility

This blog contains language about sexual assault and abuse. It contains the names of a few accused abusers for the benefit of those who are unaware of those allegations and […]

A Tale of Two Melodies – When Hymns Are to Be Sung in Cantonese Part IV of V

A Tale of Two Melodies – When Hymns Are to Be Sung in Cantonese (Part IV of V: Theological Reflection and Biblical Foundation of Singing Tone-matching Lyrics)   In the […]

Not-So-Ordinary Time

What a Hymnal Does I love hymnals for lots of reasons. I love that hymnals, especially denominational hymnals, showcase the breadth of the whole Christian tradition, as well as the […]

What is “showing off”? – PART II

This blog is a continuation of Part I. If you haven’t read Part I, click here. In Part I you’ll remember that we explored the cultural and practical dimensions of […]