REGISTRATION CLOSED

Invitation

For those who work for the church week in and week out, time away to rest, reflect, and re-inspire is important. Writing the Church’s Song is a three-day writing retreat for beginner and intermediate hymn writers. Two exceptional clinicians will challenge, inspire, and guide you as a hymn writer. These mentors will provide sessions on how to start writing hymns and how to hone your skills throughout the three days. Group sessions to build writing/composing skills will be offered, as well as one-on-one time with the mentors to discuss your works in detail and receive personal feedback.

Rest, Reflect, and Re-Inspire

Date & Location

November 8-11, 2023

Richmond, VA

Our hosts will be Richmond Hill, an ecumenical Christian fellowship and residential community who serve as stewards of an urban retreat center within the setting of a historic monastery.

Lodging & Food: Richmond Hill is a residential facility with simple but comfortable rooms available. The full registration ($450) includes a room within the Richmond Hill facilities, all your meals while on campus, and times of prayer with the community. For more information about what it’s like to attend a retreat at Richmond Hill, you can click here.

Registration

REGISTRATION CLOSED

$450 Full Registration Fee (includes 3 nights lodging & all meals)

$325 No-Lodging Registration Fee (includes lunch & dinner for each day)

*two needs-based scholarships available that reduce cost 50%. Contact ccs@thehymnsociety.org to inquire.

Faculty

Text Writing – Jacque Jones, FHS

Jacque B. Jones has been writing in various forms all her life and she took up the challenge of writing hymn texts in 2003. As a writer, she considers herself a storyteller, and many of her texts reflect that. Jacque has been an active member of The Hymn Society in the US and Canada since 2003, having served as its president from 2014 to 2016.  She is a member of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn, NY, and is actively involved in worship leadership. A native of Texas, Jacque attended Baylor University and The University of Texas at Austin, where she received a BFA in theatre. She and her husband live in Brooklyn Heights and they have 3 adult children.

Jacque’s hymn text collection Songs Unchanged Yet Ever Changing was published in 2015 by GIA.  Hymn texts are included in the collections Assembled for Song, Assembled for Song 2, Come, O Holy House, and Worship, and in the hymnals Glory to God, Community of Christ Sings, Worship 4, Hymns for a Pilgrim People, and most recently on GIA’s new series “Unbound“. She also has two anthems published: Newborn Child Now Sleeping (with Mark Stockert) and All Will be Well (with Richard Clemmitt).

Tune Writing – Mark Miller

Mark Miller believes that everyone is a Child of God and that music is instrumental in healing the world.  He adheres to Cornel West’s belief that “Justice is what love looks like in public.” Mark sees an inextricable interplay between music, social justice, and the joyful beloved community and spends his life composing, teaching and playing to reveal that connection.

Mark is Professor of Church Music, Director of Chapel, and Composer In Residence at Drew University in Madison NJ. He is also a Lecturer in Sacred Music at Yale’s Institute of Sacred Music and Divinity School where he both co-teaches an organ course and directs the Gospel Choir. Mark is also Minister of Music at Christ Church in Summit, a UCC and American Baptist congregation. Miller spends a portion of the year traveling the country, often with his band S2C (Subject to Change), leading worship and workshops, preaching and presenting concerts focused on creating community and advocating for social justice.

A prolific composer, his congregational hymns and choral anthems are sung by communities of faith throughout the world and are widely published.  His newest collection of 31 songs, “Revolution of the Heart” was published in June 2022 by GIA. His songbook “Roll Down Justice! Sacred Songs & Social Justice”, was published in 2014 by Choristers. Mark’s popular compositions for pipe organ are published by GIA and Morningstar. His album, “Imagine the People of God”, is available on itunes.

Mark is a graduate of Julliard (M.Mus. in Organ Performance) and Yale University (B.A. Music) and was Assistant Organist and Music Associate at The Riverside Church from 1999-2001 and Director of Contemporary Worship at Marble Collegiate Church from 2002-2007, both in the city of New York.

Hospitality & Logistics – Brian Hehn

Brian is an inspiring song-leader equally comfortable leading an acapella singing of “It Is Well” as he is drumming and dancing to “Sizohamba Naye.” Experienced using a variety of genres and instrumentations, he has lead worship for Baptists, Roman Catholics, United Methodists, Presbyterians, and many more across the U.S. and Canada. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Wingate University, his Master of Sacred Music from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and is certified in children’s church music (K-12) by Choristers Guild. He has articles published on sacred music and congregational song in multiple journals and co-authored the book All Hands In: Drumming the Biblical Narrative, published by Choristers Guild. While working for The Hymn Society as the Director of The Center for Congregational Song, he is also Director of Music at Light Street Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, and adjunct professor of church music at Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina. Brian lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with his wife, Eve, and children Jakob and Clara.

Schedule

Wednesday

4:00PM – Arrival & Room Check-In

6:00PM – Evening Prayer (with the Richmond Hill Community)

6:30PM – Dinner

8:00PM – Opening Gathering

Thursday & Friday

7:00AM – Morning Prayer (with the Richmond Hill Community)

7:30AM – Breakfast

9:00AM – Plenary Session 1

10:00AM – One-On-One Sessions & Small-Group Workshops

12:00PM – Noon Prayer (with the Richmond Hill Community)

12:30PM – Lunch

1:30PM – Plenary Session 2

2:30PM – One-On-One Sessions & Small-Group Workshops

4:00PM – Free Time

5:00PM – Participant Sharing & Feedback Session

6:00PM – Evening Prayer (with the Richmond Hill Community)

6:30PM – Dinner

Saturday

7:00AM – Morning Prayer (with the Richmond Hill Community)

7:30AM – Breakfast

9:00AM – Final Gathering & Anointing Service (Our group only)

11:00AM – Check-Out & Departure

Registration Now Full

Invitation

For those who work for the church week in and week out, time away to rest, reflect, and re-inspire is important. Writing the Church’s Song is a three-day writing retreat for beginner and intermediate hymn writers. Two exceptional clinicians will challenge, inspire, and guide you as a hymn writer. These mentors will provide sessions on how to start writing hymns and how to hone your skills throughout the three days. Group sessions to build writing/composing skills will be offered, as well as one-on-one time with the mentors to discuss your works in detail and receive personal feedback.

Rest, Reflect, and Re-Inspire

Date & Location

October 19-22, 2022

Richmond, VA

Our hosts will be Richmond Hill, an ecumenical Christian fellowship and residential community who serve as stewards of an urban retreat center within the setting of a historic monastery.

Lodging & Food: Richmond Hill is a residential facility with simple but comfortable rooms available. The full registration ($350) includes a room within the Richmond Hill facilities, all your meals while on campus, and times of prayer with the community. For more information about what it’s like to attend a retreat at Richmond Hill, you can click here.

Registration

$350 Full Registration Fee (includes 3 nights lodging & all meals) – REGISTRATION FULL

$200 No-Lodging Registration Fee (only includes lunch for each day) – REGISTRATION FULL

Faculty

Text Writing – Mary Louise Bringle

Mary Louise (Mel) Bringle is Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies and serves as coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Studies program at Brevard College (Brevard, NC). A teacher at heart and a theologian by training (with a Ph.D. from Emory University and an assortment of publications in pastoral theology), she began writing hymn texts in 1999. Since that time, she has won a number of international hymnwriting competitions and been featured as an “emerging text writer” by The Hymn Society in the US and Canada. GIA has published two single-author collections of her hymns (Joy and Wonder, Love and Longing in 2002, and In Wind and Wonder in 2007), as well as anthems written in collaboration with composers like William Rowan, Sally Morris, and others. Her texts and translations are included in publications from numerous denominations, including Roman Catholic, Mennonite, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Episcopalian, United Church of Canada, and Church of Scotland. She has recently served as President of The Hymn Society and chair of the committee to create a new hymnal for the Presbyterian Church USA.

Tune Writing – Sally Ann Morris

Sally Ann Morris lives and works in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 1990, she discovered the joy of composing hymn tunes, and has now written more than 150 which are published in three collections from GIA Publications, Giving Thanks in Song and Prayer (1998),  …to sing the Artist’s praise…(2009), and Spread the Good News (2016).  Her tunes appear in Glory to God, Community of Christ Sings, Gather Comprehensive II and III, Worship IV, the New Century Hymnal, The Hymnal 21 in Japan, Church Hymnary 4 of the Church of Scotland and in other current and forthcoming denominational hymnals, collections, and supplements. More about her life and work may be found in The Canterbury Dictionary of American Hymnology.

Sally serves as Musician in Residence at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity where she leads, enlivens, encourages, demonstrates and teaches the diverse wealth of congregational song for twice weekly chapel services.

Hospitality & Logistics – Brian Hehn

Brian is an inspiring song-leader equally comfortable leading an acapella singing of “It Is Well” as he is drumming and dancing to “Sizohamba Naye.” Experienced using a variety of genres and instrumentations, he has lead worship for Baptists, Roman Catholics, United Methodists, Presbyterians, and many more across the U.S. and Canada. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Wingate University, his Master of Sacred Music from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and is certified in children’s church music (K-12) by Choristers Guild. He has articles published on sacred music and congregational song in multiple journals and co-authored the book All Hands In: Drumming the Biblical Narrative, published by Choristers Guild. While working for The Hymn Society as the Director of The Center for Congregational Song, he is also Director of Music at Light Street Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, and adjunct professor of church music at Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina. Brian lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with his wife, Eve, and son, Jakob.

Schedule

Wednesday

4:00PM – Arrival & Room Check-In

6:00PM – Evening Prayer

6:30PM – Dinner

8:00PM – Opening Gathering

Thursday & Friday

7:00AM – Morning Prayer

7:30AM – Breakfast

9:00AM – Plenary Session 1

10:00AM – One-On-One Sessions & Small-Group Workshops

12:00PM – Noon Prayer

12:30PM – Lunch

1:30PM – Plenary Session 2

2:30PM – One-On-One Sessions & Small-Group Workshops

4:00PM – Free Time

5:00PM – Participant Sharing & Feedback Session

6:00PM – Evening Prayer

6:30PM – Dinner

Saturday

7:00AM – Morning Prayer

7:30AM – Breakfast

9:00AM – Final Gathering & Anointing Service

11:00AM – Check-Out & Departure

3-day workshop from May 27 to May 30, 2020 in Richmond, VA

THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. UPDATES COMING SOON.

Invitation

After the busy seasons of Lent and Easter, time away to rest, reflect, and re-inspire is important. Writing the Church’s Song is a three-day writing retreat for beginner and intermediate hymn writers. Two exceptional clinicians will challenge, inspire, and guide you as a hymn writer. These mentors will provide sessions on how to start writing hymns and how to hone your skills throughout the three days. Group sessions to build writing/composing skills will be offered, as well as one-on-one time with the mentors to discuss your works in detail and receive personal feedback.

Rest, Reflect, and Re-Inspire

Date & Location

May 27-30, 2020 – Postponed, Update Coming Soon

Richmond, VA

Our hosts will be Richmond Hill, an ecumenical Christian fellowship and residential community who serve as stewards of an urban retreat center within the setting of a historic monastery.

Lodging & Food: Richmond Hill is a residential facility with simple but comfortable rooms available. The full registration ($350) includes a room within the Richmond Hill facilities, all your meals while on campus, and times of prayer with the community. For more information about what it’s like to attend a retreat at Richmond Hill, you can click here.

Registration

$350 Full Registration Fee (includes 3 nights lodging & all meals)

$200 No-Lodging Registration Fee (only includes lunch for each day)

Faculty

Text Writing – Mary Louise Bringle

Mary Louise (Mel) Bringle is Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies and serves as coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Studies program at Brevard College (Brevard, NC). A teacher at heart and a theologian by training (with a Ph.D. from Emory University and an assortment of publications in pastoral theology), she began writing hymn texts in 1999. Since that time, she has won a number of international hymnwriting competitions and been featured as an “emerging text writer” by The Hymn Society in the US and Canada. GIA has published two single-author collections of her hymns (Joy and Wonder, Love and Longing in 2002, and In Wind and Wonder in 2007), as well as anthems written in collaboration with composers like William Rowan, Sally Morris, and others. Her texts and translations are included in publications from numerous denominations, including Roman Catholic, Mennonite, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Episcopalian, United Church of Canada, and Church of Scotland. She has recently served as President of The Hymn Society and chair of the committee to create a new hymnal for the Presbyterian Church USA.

Tune Writing – Sally Ann Morris

Sally Ann Morris lives and works in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 1990, she discovered the joy of composing hymn tunes, and has now written more than 150 which are published in three collections from GIA Publications, Giving Thanks in Song and Prayer (1998),  …to sing the Artist’s praise…(2009), and Spread the Good News (2016).  Her tunes appear in Glory to God, Community of Christ Sings, Gather Comprehensive II and III, Worship IV, the New Century Hymnal, The Hymnal 21 in Japan, Church Hymnary 4 of the Church of Scotland and in other current and forthcoming denominational hymnals, collections, and supplements. More about her life and work may be found in The Canterbury Dictionary of American Hymnology.

Sally serves as Musician in Residence at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity where she leads, enlivens, encourages, demonstrates and teaches the diverse wealth of congregational song for twice weekly chapel services.

Hospitality & Logistics – Brian Hehn

Brian is an inspiring song-leader equally comfortable leading an acapella singing of “It Is Well” as he is drumming and dancing to “Sizohamba Naye.” Experienced using a variety of genres and instrumentations, he has lead worship for Baptists, Roman Catholics, United Methodists, Presbyterians, and many more across the U.S. and Canada. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from Wingate University, his Master of Sacred Music from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and is certified in children’s church music (K-12) by Choristers Guild. He has articles published on sacred music and congregational song in multiple journals and co-authored the book All Hands In: Drumming the Biblical Narrative, published by Choristers Guild. While working for The Hymn Society as the Director of The Center for Congregational Song, he is also Director of Music at Light Street Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, and adjunct professor of church music at Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina. Brian lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with his wife, Eve, and son, Jakob.

Schedule

Wednesday

4:00PM – Arrival & Room Check-In

6:00PM – Evening Prayer

6:30PM – Dinner

8:00PM – Opening Gathering

Thursday & Friday

7:00AM – Morning Prayer

7:30AM – Breakfast

9:00AM – Plenary Session 1

10:00AM – One-On-One Sessions & Small-Group Workshops

12:00PM – Noon Prayer

12:30PM – Lunch

1:30PM – Plenary Session 2

2:30PM – One-On-One Sessions & Small-Group Workshops

4:00PM – Free Time

5:00PM – Participant Sharing & Feedback Session

6:00PM – Evening Prayer

6:30PM – Dinner

Saturday

7:00AM – Morning Prayer

7:30AM – Breakfast

9:00AM – Final Gathering & Anointing Service

11:00AM – Check-Out & Departure