2019 – Hopes, Dreams, and Introductions
As we worked toward the launch of The Center over a year ago, we developed a set of guiding stances for the work of The Center for Congregational Song. I’d like to highlight a few of those guiding stances that I think speak to what we hope to accomplish in 2019. HOPES We […]
20th of December 2018
“Sing! An Irish Christmas” Concert Review
Author – Brian Hehn is the Director of The Center for Congregational Song I had the pleasure of being invited to attend the Getty “Sing! An Irish Christmas” concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. last weekend. As an organization that prides itself on congregational song, the Getty brand always has congregational singing […]
3rd of December 2018
When Secular Is Sacred
Author – Brian Hehn is the Director of The Center for Congregational Song When the “other” sings the Gospel As someone who is a life-long church musician but who cut(s) his teeth on Ben Folds Five, the Goo Goo Dolls, Nirvana, Ray Charles, The Beatles, and other secular pop/rock artists, I quickly became fascinated with […]
13th of November 2018
Lessons and Carols for the Small Congregation
Author – Ginny Chilton Maxwell is Music Minister at Church of the Ascension in Norfolk, Virginia, where she serves as organist, choirmaster, and elementary music teacher. Lessons and Carols My church has a tradition of doing a service of Advent Lessons and Carols every year. To me, the term “Lessons and Carols” brings to […]
5th of November 2018
Congregational Song’s Potential Challenges in the (near) Future
Author – Adam Perez is a doctoral student in liturgical studies at Duke Divinity School. The Future of Congregational Song “What do you think the future of congregational song will be like?” This question was posed to me recently. Though the future is difficult to predict (I was hoping for flying cars by now), […]
2nd of November 2018
Singing Coritos: An interview with Rosa Cándida Ramírez and Analisse Reyes
**This article was originally published by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. For the original article, click here. Singing coritos {short songs} in Spanish and English is hospitable in worship. It also opens up worshipers to new understandings of God. By: Joan Huyser-Honig, Rosa Cándida Ramírez, Analisse Reyes Rosa Cándida Ramírez is pastor of compassionate ministries at First […]
11th of October 2018
5 Benefits of Starting a “Family Choir”
Author – Ginny Chilton Maxwell is Music Minister at Church of the Ascension in Norfolk, Virginia, where she serves as organist, choirmaster, and elementary music teacher. 5 Benefits of Starting a “Family Choir” When I took my most recent music ministry post, part of my job description was to start a children’s choir. At […]
3rd of October 2018
Participation in Praise and Worship – A Retrospective
Author – Adam Perez is a doctoral student in liturgical studies at Duke Divinity School. Worship War There have been many varied but regular attacks posed by opponents of contemporary praise and worship since its inception in the middle of the 20th century. These attacks have been intense enough to call it […]
24th of September 2018
“Good” Theology?
Author – Brian Hehn is the director of The Center for Congregational Song. Words Words Words We get so caught up in what a song or hymn says through its lyrics/verses. I’ve watched debates rage on about what a text means and whether it has “good theology.” There are books written on […]
10th of September 2018
Relaxed and Re-tuned: Scott Chard’s album, Sanctus
Author – Ginny Chilton Maxwell is Music Minister at Church of the Ascension in Norfolk, Virginia, where she serves as organist, choirmaster, and elementary music teacher. I tried to pay attention to the music at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church this year, which took place in Austin. The worship planners did a […]
