A blog connecting you to deep conversations, valuable resources, and challenging ideas
Centered In Song is a blog that features a core team of writers who care deeply about the congregation’s voice and who seek to have deep and meaningful conversations. Our team of bloggers are always on the lookout for great events, fresh ideas, and artists who are passionate about congregational singing. Because the team is made up of folk from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, this blog offers a variety of viewpoints and opinions on congregational song, celebrating the diversity that the church’s song embodies each and every week.
Mykayla Turner holds a Master of Sacred Music with a...
Mykayla Turner
Blogger
Mykayla Turner holds a Master of Sacred Music with a Liturgical Musicology concentration She recently obtained her ACCM in Piano Performance from Conservatory Canada, and she is currently completing a Master of Theological Studies Mykayla has presented research at conferences in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom Apart from her academic work, she is an active church musician and liturgist She works as a worship coordinator for a Mennonite congregation in rural Ontario
Shannan Baker is a postdoctoral fellow in music and digital...
Shannan Baker
Blogger
Shannan Baker is a postdoctoral fellow in music and digital humanities at Baylor University, where she recently finished her PhD in Church Music (2022) Her research interests focus on contemporary worship She studies the theology and content of the lyrics, the music of the songs, the worship music industry, and how contemporary worship is used in the church While her current role focuses on research, she searches for ways to connect that research practically to the church Recently, she received the Vital Worship Teacher-Scholar grant from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship which allowed her to start the contemporary worship training workshops for the Church Music program at Baylor
While Shannan currently lives in Waco, Texas, she is originally from Michigan She received her BA in Music (Worship Arts) from Cornerstone University (2016), and an MA in Worship (2018) and ThM with a concentration in worship (2019) from Calvin Theological Seminary Also in Grand Rapids, she served as the worship director for Monroe Community Church for three years Currently, she volunteers at her local church where she leads worship and plays various instruments including drums, keys, acoustic guitar, and bass
After obtaining her first and second bachelor degrees in Translation...
Yvette Lau
Blogger
After obtaining her first and second bachelor degrees in Translation and Chinese (HKPU), and Music (CUHK) respectively and worked in music related work in the government and later in the church in Hong Kong, Yvette Lau furthered her study at Calvin Theological Seminary for M A in Worship (2010) Recently, she has finished her Doctor of Pastoral Music at Perkins School of Theology, SMU (2024) under the supervision of Prof C Michael Hawn She has served as a worship pastor in Hong Kong for several years after her graduation at Calvin She had been one of the executive committee members of the Hong Kong Hymn Society from 2011-2017 She served at the Worship Committee for the CMA Church Union of HK from 2006-2021
In 2017, she founded Anabas Ministry which is an organization for worship renewal and started to work as a freelancer for worship related ministries including consultancy work Her passion lies in choral conducting, song writing, hymn translation from English to Cantonese (main translator for New Youth Hymns), event organization, translation of books on worship including The Art of Worship, Beyond the Worship Wars, The Worship Architect, and Glory to God, and training and teaching on worship She has been the guest instructor on Worship for Alliance Bible Seminary, China Graduate School of Theology, Bethel Bible Seminary, Hong Kong Baptist Theological Seminary, and Thailand Baptist Theological School
Maria Monteiro nació en Recife, Brazil y actualmente ocupa el...
Maria Monteiro
Blog Editor - Spanish Language
Maria Monteiro nació en Recife, Brazil y actualmente ocupa el puesto de Lecturer en Música Sacra en Baylor University, en la ciudad de Waco, Texas Ella también trabaja como Directora de Música en la Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana de San Antonio, Texas Antes de unirse a Baylor, Maria enseñó música y adoración por diecisiete años en la Universidad Bautista de las Américas en San Antonio Su experiencia como docente universitaria y directora de música congregacional le ha provisto una conexión esencial entre sus intereses académicos en la música sacra y la vivencia práctica musical en una congregación local Maria cumplió su carrera universitaria (1987) y su maestría (1991) en el área de historia de la música en Baylor University Así también tiene un certificado de estudios de posgrado en musicología (1998) en Duke University En 2021, Maria obtuvo su doctorado (PhD) en el área de música sacra en Baylor University
Originally from Recife, Brazil, Maria Monteiro serves as Lecturer in Church Music at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and as music director at Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana (First Mexican Baptist Church), in San Antonio Before joining the Baylor faculty, she taught for seventeen years at Baptist University of the Américas, also in San Antonio These roles and activities have provided the essential connection between her academic interest in church music and the practical involvement in the musical life of a present-day congregation Maria holds a Master of Music (1991) and a Bachelor of Music (1987) degrees in Music History and Literature, from Baylor, a certificate of graduate studies in Musicology from Duke University (1998), and a PhD in Church Music (2021) from Baylor University
Carolyn Moomaw Chilton writes and blogs as a spiritual discipline...
Carolyn Moomaw Chilton
Blog Proofreader
Carolyn Moomaw Chilton writes and blogs as a spiritual discipline and an invitation to conversation with others She a leadership development coach with clergy, clergy spouses and lay employees, as well as a spiritual director She also works as a consultant with churches and vestries in the areas of formation, development and evangelism She can be contacted through wwwepiscopalevangelistcom
Wendell is a composer, choir director, and music educator, with...
Wendell Glick
Blog Proofreader
Wendell is a composer, choir director, and music educator, with a particular interest in contemporary hymnody and choral music He holds degrees in music composition from Wilfrid Laurier University (BMus), the University of Toronto (MMus) and Western University (PhD), and is a life member of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada Wendell’s compositions and choral arrangements have been performed by middle school, high school, college, community and touring ensembles in more than 20 states and provinces, as well as in Ireland, England, Scotland, Poland and Jamaica In addition to his music work, he enjoys model trains, tree houses, aviation, rainy days, and life with his best friend Janelle and their four lively children
David Calvert is the Creative Arts Director for Grace Community...
David Calvert
Blogger - Album Reviews
David Calvert is the Creative Arts Director for Grace Community Church in rural North Carolina, and a PhD graduate in Theology and Worship from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Blogger Brian Hehn is the Director of The Center for Congregational Song. Reworking hymns and music of the past Church musicians have always used, referenced, altered, and/or been inspired […]
This question recently came in to The Hymn Society staff. The Question Hi Brian, I’m looking for a congregational song as a response to this coming Sunday’s Micah 6:1-8 […]
Guest blogger Kevin Parks is the Congregation Designated Minister of Music at St. Andrew’s United Church and University Musician at Atlantic School of Theology, both in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Kevin […]
For many years theologians and worship leaders in various circles have been discussing the prevalence of light and darkness imagery found in both the biblical, liturgical, and hymnological language of […]
Blogger Brian Hehn is the Director of The Center for Congregational Song. In a very thoughtful and collegial Facebook Group I’m a part of, a member asked this question: […]
We are grateful to John Bell and the Wild Goose Resource Group of the Iona Community for sharing this resource with us. Below is the introductory text from the first […]
Since the mid-1980s, Mary Aluel Garang’s theologically rich hymns have helped Sudanese Christians maintain faith and hope in God despite decades of war, conflict, and hardship. Her songs are known […]
I am a music teacher and music therapist by training, as well as a church choir director. However, in March of 2020 I found myself with no choir, as I’m […]
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