BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Sing! The Center For Congregational Song - ECPv6.18.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Sing! The Center For Congregational Song X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://congregationalsong.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Sing! The Center For Congregational Song REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20280312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20281105T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20260101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261110T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261110T110000 DTSTAMP:20260907T141647Z CREATED:20260907T141647Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260907T141647Z UID:3679-1794304800-1794308400@congregationalsong.org SUMMARY:Architects of Congregational Song Panel Discussion 2 DESCRIPTION:  \nPanel 2: Evaluating Texts for Congregational Singing\nJoin editors Adam Tice\, John Witvliet\, and Maria Cornou for a discussion on the editing process when putting together collections as well as the week-to-week process of evaluating congregational song texts. Moderated by Center Director Brian Hehn. Free\, but RSVP required by registering using the button below. \nTuesday\, November 10 at 10AM Eastern Time URL:https://congregationalsong.org/event/architects-of-congregational-song-panel-discussion-2/ CATEGORIES:Centered in Song,Workshop ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://congregationalsong.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Writing-Texts-Panel-Banner-2a.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270125T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270315T173000 DTSTAMP:20260930T143028Z CREATED:20260916T191052Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260930T143028Z UID:3711-1800892800-1805131800@congregationalsong.org SUMMARY:Lift Every Voice and Sing: Black Christianity Hymnody for the Whole Christian Church DESCRIPTION:Course Information \nJoin Donté Ford for an eight-session exploration of the repertoire\, tradition\, and performance of Black Christian Hymnody across its various traditions. This course seeks to empower the whole church in faithfully singing songs and hymns of the Black Church.\nThis online class will meet on Mondays from 4:00 to 5:30 pm ET\, beginning January 25\, 2027 and concluding March 15\, 2027. \nOur online hymnology courses are designed for pastors\, musicians\, and church leaders who may not hold formal degrees in church music or theology\, or who wish to deepen their understanding of congregational song in the 21st century. \n  \nMore Details & Required Materials \nThe primary textbook for this couse will be “Black Hymnody: A Hymnological History of the African-American Church” by Jon Michael Spencer. \n  \nRegistration Information \nHymn Society members: $175 \nNon-members: $225 \nPastor-musician teams from the same congregation: $275 \nClick To Register \n  \n \nInstructor \nDr. Donté Alexander Ford is a native of Philadelphia\, Pennsylvania\, and serves the Wheaton College community as Assistant Professor of Music and Associate Chaplain for Worship Arts. He is an alumnus of Penn State University (BA)\, Southern Methodist University (MSM\, MM\, MDiv)\, and the University of Arizona (PhD) and is best described as a musician\, minister\, and scholar. At Wheaton\, Donté teaches Principles in Music and Worship Ministry\, coaches Chapel Bands\, oversees the music and worship arts offerings in Chapel worship\, and serves as the director of the Worship Arts Certificate. \nDonté’s many musical talents have afforded him the opportunity to serve as guest clinician/conductor\, lead pianist\, opera chorister\, resident percussionist\, and Minister of Music. His musical activities also include composing (specifically focusing on arrangements of Christian hymns and Negro Spirituals)\, and in 2019 he won the Brooklyn Youth Chorus Bass Ensemble composer competition. He is the founder and Artistic Director of Sankofa Chorale\, a multi-ethnic choral ensemble that preserves and perpetuates African American Choral music while performing that music alongside choral masterworks of the Western European choral canon. \nA Christian minister\, Donté is a gifted preacher\, holding ordination and ministerial credentials in the Holiness-Pentecostal and Baptist traditions\, respectively. Though a life-long Pentecostal\, Donté is committed to the diversity of the body of Christ. As a scholar\, Donté focuses his efforts on the history and preservation of Black American concert and popular music\, church hymnody\, congregational song\, and the history\, theology\, and music of African American Pentecostalism. His scholarly work includes lectures on African American choral art forms and contributions to the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology and UM Discipleship Ministries’ History of Hymns. \n  \nCourse Dates (all times 4:00PM to 5:30PM Eastern) \nMonday\, January 25\, 2027 \nMonday\, February 1\, 2027 \nMonday\, February 8\, 2027 \nMonday\, February 15\, 2027 \nMonday\, February 22\, 2027 \nMonday\, March 1\, 2027 \nMonday\, March 8\, 2027 \nMonday\, March 15\, 2027 \n  \nClick To Register URL:https://congregationalsong.org/event/black-christianity-hymnody/ CATEGORIES:Centered in Song END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270214 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270215 DTSTAMP:20260916T161324Z CREATED:20260916T161324Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T161324Z UID:3700-1802563200-1802649599@congregationalsong.org SUMMARY:A Capella Sunday 2027 DESCRIPTION:A Cappella Sunday Hymn Suggestions YEAR B\nWhat:\nA Cappella Sunday is when worshiping communities from across the world commit to singing a cappella in their Sunday morning worship service. For communities where this is a new concept\, it could just be one hymn\, but for communities that are more comfortable singing unaccompanied\, they are encouraged to sing their entire service a cappella. Below are why we do it\, when we do it\, and some resources to help make it successful. \n \nWhy:\nSpending one Sunday a year to focus on your congregation singing a cappella (without instrumental accompaniment) has many benefits and purposes. \n\nIt connects us to the history of the church. For thousands of years\, a cappella singing was the mainstay of the church’s song. By recognizing this and exploring this way of music-making\, we are acknowledging and honoring the saints of the past.\nIt connects us to many Christian denominations\, traditions\, and regions of the world that continue to use a cappella music as their primary mode of music-making in corporate worship. Those include but are not limited to many Mennonite denominations\, the Church of Christ\, many Orthodox traditions\, the Church of God in Christ\, and South African Methodists.\nIt offers to God something that is\, for many congregations in the United States and Canada\, a gift that is different from our usual music-making. Psalm 96:1 tells us to “Sing a new song to the Lord\,” which can be achieved for some of us by singing a cappella.\nIt encourages the congregation’s song by building up confidence in their own voices. Many in our congregations believe that they can’t sing\, or can’t sing well. Singing a cappella presents those people with the best opportunity to hear themselves and others singing\, giving them a fresh perspective on their assumptions of their own abilities and the ability of the congregation’s combined voice.\nIt emphasizes the unique ability of instruments to enhance the congregation’s song. By showing the congregation that they can sing without instrumental accompaniment\, instrumental accompaniment can then begin to enhance and empower the congregation’s voice rather than acting primarily as a crutch.\nIt allows the instrumentalists to spend a Sunday listening carefully to the congregation to assess where their voice needs support. Often times it is hard to listen carefully to the congregation when you are focusing on playing your instrument accurately and musically. This gives the instrumentalists permission to step away for a Sunday without feeling like they are leaving the congregation stranded.\nFinally\, singing a cappella is fun! By removing our typical means of accompanying song\, our minds are often challenged to come up with new and creative ways to sing together that maintains energy and vitality. It can bring out the best in not only the congregation\, but in the musician’s leadership.\n\nIt was a rich Lenten experience to spend a Sunday morning worshiping with only our voices. Thanks to @The Center for Congregational Song for the inspiration and encouragement. Soli Deo Gloria; To God alone be the glory!! – Justin Fox of Grace Community Church\, Seal Beach\, CA \nWhen:\nEach year on the first Sunday of Lent (2027 is Sunday\, February 14) \nLet us know you’re participating!\n\n\n \n \n A Cappella Sunday Signup\n Use this form to let us know that you're participating in A Capella Sunday \n \n X/TwitterThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name*\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n Email\n \n Church Name*\n \n \n \n Church Name\n \n \n \n \n Church Location \n \n \n \n Street Address\n \n \n Address Line 2\n \n \n City\n \n \n State / Province / Region\n \n \n ZIP / Postal Code\n \n AfghanistanÅland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire\, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo\, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea\, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea\, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine\, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRéunionRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaSaint BarthélemySaint Helena\, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania\, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTürkiyeTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUS Minor Outlying IslandsUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands\, BritishVirgin Islands\, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabwe\n Country\n \n \n \n Submit \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n  \nResources:\nDownload Our Guide for Lectionary Year A (2026\, 2029\, 2032) \nDownload our Guide for Lectionary Year B (2027\, 2030\, 2033) \nDownload Our Guide for Lectionary Year C (2025\, 2028\, 2031) \n  \nFriend of The Center\, D.J. Bulls from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area has spent his career in an a cappella singing denomination the Church of Christ. \nBelow are three resources he suggests to check out if your interested in a cappella hymn singing: \n1. Fearless4you.com Is a website that provides a cappella\, four-part congregational arrangements for a number of different types of modern hymns and contemporary worship songs/anthems/choruses. Available in round and shaped notes\, many with rehearsal recordings and projected notation as well.\n2. ZOEgroup.org This is a group that has done 20 something albums of four-part\, presentational\, and congregational a cappella worship. Folios with arrangements and individual pdf’s are available on their website and recordings are available on the iTunes store\, Amazon Music\, and google play.\n3. paperlesshymnal.com This is a site that is a compendium of digital\, projected four-part arrangements for congregations of thousands of hymns. \n  \nSample Bulletins from Years Past\nFirst Baptist\, Greensboro\, NC \nSt Peter ELCA\, Northfield\, MN \n  \nSupporting Organizations:\n \n  \n  \n  \n \n \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n \n  \n  \n  \n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n\nPast Participants Include:\nAirline Baptist Church – Metairie\, LA\nAll Saints’ Westboro Anglican Church – Ottawa\, ON\, CAN\nBethesda Presbyterian Church – Aberdeen\, NC\nCalvary Chapel – Albuquerque\, NM\nCelebration Presbyterian Church – Myrtle Beach\, SC\nCentral Presbyterian Church – Baltimore\, MD\nChoir Festival of the Island Churches – St. Peter Port\, Åland Islands\nChurch of Our Saviour Lutheran – Fond du Lac\, WI\nChurch of the Holy Cross Episcopal – Edgewood\, NC\nDuke University Chapel – Durham\, NC\nEast End United Church – Toronto\, ON\, CAN\nFifth Avenue Baptist Church – Huntington\, WV\nFirst Baptist – Rapid City\, SD\nFuller Avenue Christian – Grand Rapids\, MI\nGethsemane Lutheran Church – Columbus\, OH\nGood Shepherd Episcopal – Humble\, TX\nGrace Community Church – Seal Beach\, CA\nHighland Baptist Church – Kitchener\, ON\, CAN\nHoly Trinity Lutheran Church – Akron\, OH\nJesup First Methodist Church – Jesup\, GA\nLong Memorial UMC – Roxboro\, NC\nLutheran Church of the Master – Coeur D’Alene\, ID\nNew Bloomfield United Methodist – New Bloomfield\, PA\nPeace Presbyterian Church – Bradenton\, FL\nPort Stanley United Church – Port Stanley\, ON\, CAN\nSaint Andrew Presbyterian Church – Denton\, TX\nSalem United Church of Christ – Doylestown\, PA\nSeward United Methodist Church – Seward\, NE\nSt John’s Lutheran – Orange\, CA\nSt. James Lutheran – Pottstown\, PA\nSt. John Lutheran Church – Roanoke\, VA\nSt. Peter Lutheran Church – Mechanicsburg\, PA\nSt. Philip’s Anglican – Toronto\, ON\, CAN\nSt. Stephen Lutheran Church – Kitchener\, ON\, CAN\nStorrs Congregational Church UCC – Storrs Mansfield\, CT\nThe First Baptist Church in America – Providence\, RI\nVestavia Hills Baptist Church – Birmingham\, AL\nVienna Baptist Church – Vienna\, VA\nVillage on Antioch Presbyterian Church – Overland Park\, KS\nWest Side Presbyterian Church – Ridgewood\, NJ\nWestminster United Church – Whitby\, ON\, CAN\nSt. John’s Lutheran Church Sweet Air – Phoenix\, MD URL:https://congregationalsong.org/event/a-capella-sunday-2027/ CATEGORIES:Centered in Song END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270413T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270413T170000 DTSTAMP:20260916T175048Z CREATED:20260916T175048Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T175048Z UID:3702-1807628400-1807635600@congregationalsong.org SUMMARY:Text Writers Colloquium 2027 - Online DESCRIPTION:We are happy to once again offer an online colloquium for text writers. 2027’s session will be led by David Bjorlin. The colloquium will be in two parts\, with the first being more presentational on the art of text-writing and the second a chance to receive direct feedback from the clinician on your text in progress*. \n*Each participant will be asked to submit an unpublished text ahead of time. \nDates: April 13 and 15\, 2027 \nTime: 3:00-5:00 pm ET \nPrice: $40 (members) or $50 (non-members). \n Don’t forget to also check out this year’s Online Tune Writers Colloquium! \nClick To Register \n\n \nDavid Bjorlin was born in Duluth\, Minnesota\, and grew up in neighboring Hermantown until graduating from high school. After completing a one-year certificate at a school outside of Quito\, Ecuador\, he attended North Park University in Chicago where he graduated with a BA in History and Secondary Education. He went on to complete a Master of Divinity at North Park Theological University in 2011 and earned his PhD in History and Hermeneutics (Liturgical Studies) at Boston University School of Theology in 2018. \nDavid currently is an Assistant Professor of Worship at North Park Theological Seminary and the Pastor of Worship and Creative Arts at Resurrection Covenant Church in Chicago. He has co-authored one book (Incorporating Children in Worship: Mark of the Kingdom) and written several journal articles on the history and practice of congregational song. He currently serves on the boards of both The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada and The Liturgical Conference. His first book of hymns\, Protest of Praise (G-10101)\, was released in 2020 by GIA. \nWhen not writing or teaching\, he enjoys attending concerts\, trying to finish The New York Times crossword\, and reading fiction and poetry. He lives in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood surrounded by a close community of friends. URL:https://congregationalsong.org/event/text-writers-colloquium-online-2027/ CATEGORIES:Workshop ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://congregationalsong.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Hymn-Writer-Upscaled-e1789576835610.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20270420T150000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270420T170000 DTSTAMP:20260916T175050Z CREATED:20260916T175050Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260916T175050Z UID:3707-1808233200-1808240400@congregationalsong.org SUMMARY:Tune Writers Colloquium 2027 - Online DESCRIPTION:We are happy to once again offer an online colloquium for tune writers. 2027’s session will be led by Ana Hernandez. The colloquium will be in two parts\, with the first being more presentational on the art of tune-writing and the second a chance to receive direct feedback from the clinician on your tune in progress*. \n*Each participant will be asked to submit ahead of time an unpublished tune\, preferably with a suggestion of an appropriate existing text. \nDates: April 20 and April 22\, 2027 \nTime: 3:00-5:00 pm ET \nPrice: $40 (members) or $50 (non-members). \n Don’t forget to also check out this year’s Online Text Writers Colloquium! \nClick To Register \n\n \nAna is a composer/arranger\, workshop facilitator\, theomusicologist\, songleader\, and author. She travels around collaborating with groups small and large to deepen community and create beautiful liturgies in many different styles. She facilitates meaningful conversations using the Art of Hosting modalities. Ana’s work aims to bring each of us to a sustainable place in terms of showing up\, being present\, and listening generatively\, so we can remember how beloved we all are. \nAna has made eight recordings and is the author of: The Sacred Art of Chant: Preparing to Practice. She also helps individuals to find their voices and use sound as a way to get and stay integrated. Her retreats and workshops are filled with laughter\, expanding comfort zones\, and tunes that stick\, so when the world is an unholy mess\, you’ll have the right tool to accompany you as you walk along the way. Workshops are suitable for any age\, and intergenerational groups are often illuminating for everyone in attendance. \nLife is beautiful\, but shorter than you think. Show love now.”  – Ana \n  URL:https://congregationalsong.org/event/tune-writers-colloquium-2027-online/ CATEGORIES:Workshop END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR