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Presbyterian Association of Musicians

Newsletter

Fall 2007

www.pcusa.org/pam

Joint Services with a Hispanic Congregation by Kevin Kelly

There are a number of churches across the country that are undertaking the mission of multiculturalism. In the fall of 2006, the Session of Friendship Presbyterian Church in Athens Georgia extended an invitation to Gracia Infinita Fellowship, a part of the Athens Area Presbyterian Hispanic Ministry, to hold their worship services at Friendship. One Sunday each month, Gracia Infinita and Friendship congregations meet together for a bilingual worship service and communion. The spoken portions of the service are presented in both Spanish and English, which I presume to be a fairly typical procedure at other churches; what is more unusual is that the music of our services is bilingual as well. As church music director, I decided early on that we should make the same effort in trans-cultural communication in our music. Of course, this gives an added challenge to the choir and congregation, but in time our musical offerings have proven to be a fantastic way of bringing the congregations together. Some of you may be interested in how I approached this task, so I decided to offer some suggestions in what works for us. At each of these monthly services, all three of our hymns are sung alternating Spanish and English verses, with a limit of two verses in each language as a reasonable compromise. I stress to our own congregation that they need to sing the Spanish verses (as best they can); likewise the Hispanics in our midst need to sing the English verses. What we do not do, is have the Hispanics sing only the Spanish verses and our congregation sing only the English verses; nor do we sing the languages simultaneously (as I’ve heard it done elsewhere). I prepare the choir several weeks in advance of each bilingual service, and have them stand in front of the congregation to lead the singing. This way, the music keeps moving, and people seem to have fun rather than getting “hung up” about mistakes. Also, we encourage those in Gracia Infinita to participate in the choir rehearsals, which has had a wonderful effect in bringing us together, minds and voices! Another tremendous help comes from using whatever instruments are available – guitar (most important), piano, hand drum, flute/recorder, and lots of percussion. continued on page 6

From the President Dear members and friends of PAM, The fall season is an especially appropriate time of gratitude and thanksgiving. God’s love and faithfulness abundantly fills our lives and we are compelled to freely share it with others, creating a trickle-down effect that generously percolates in and among his servants. This attitude of servanthood is alive and well among the membership of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. One can’t help but feel deep gratitude for those who have worked as conference directors, planning committee members, and presenters at our summer conferences. It is simply astounding to think of the collective hours it takes to bring a conference to fruition. Heartfelt congratulations are extended to Don Armitage (Montreat) and Jason Asbury (Westminster) for their great vision, leadership, and commitment. We who attended were blessed, and in turn were sent to be blessings to our own congregations. The PAM West Conference on Worship and Music will take place at Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, October 17-20. Conference Co-Directors David Batchelder and Martha Hopson have developed the theme, “From Water to the continued on page 8

Meet Our New Executive Board Members-at-Large

Debi Eisenhour Albuquerque, NM

Karl Zinsmeister Cincinnati, Ohio

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PAM Executive Board

Newsletter Advertising Policy and Rates

President: Janet Loman [email protected] President Elect: Scott Miller [email protected] Past President: Vicki Fey [email protected] Secretary: Sue Mitchell-Wallace [email protected] Treasurer: Michael Morgan [email protected] Class of 2008: Beth Thompson [email protected] Ken Courtney, CCM [email protected] Class of 2009: Mary Lou Stevens [email protected] Roberta Banks [email protected] Class of 2010: Debi Eisenhour [email protected] Karl Zinsmeister [email protected] AHPAM (African Heritage PAM) Representative: Stephany Jackson [email protected] Korean Musicians Representative: Charles Ryu [email protected]

The Presbyterian Association of Musicians Newsletter accepts only advertising of interest or service to our members. We will not run ads for alcohol or tobacco products, ads that solicit funds for organizations or groups not related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), or political ads. All ads must be approved by the editor and be in good taste. Ads must be received by the Newsletter editor in camera-ready format or in a suitable digital format; CorelDRAW, Illustrator, Postscript, EPS, PDF, or TIF by the published deadlines. Mailing Dates - The PAM Newsletter is produced three times a year and is mailed on the approximate dates of April 15, September 15, and December 10. Deadlines - March 15, August 15, and November 7 Ad Rates Full page (7.75” X 10”)

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Send ad copy to: Creston Parker c/o Presbyterian Association of Musicians 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 0202-1396 email: [email protected]

PAM Mission Statement Worship is the human response to God’s grace and infinite love and holds central place in the life of Christ’s church. Music is one of the integral elements of our worship. Acting on these convictions, the Presbyterian Association of Musicians energetically promotes and teaches the language of faith through worship so that all of God’s people - young and old - are vitally involved in singing, praying, proclaiming and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Submitting Articles The Presbyterian Association of Musicians Newsletter accepts articles for publication. The Editor reserves the right to publish only those submitted articles which are deemed most helpful to PAM’s membership. Copy for submitted articles will not be returned, including pictures or other attached materials, unless a return self-addressed stamped envelope is included. For article submissions, the submission deadlines, mailing address and email address are the same as listed above for PAM Newsletter advertising.

Adopted 1998

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Michael Barker has Carols Published

Announcements Kenneth Lowenberg Anthems Kenneth Lowenberg, longtime member of PAM and former regional and national officer, announces the recent publication of two of his anthems using texts from the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship. “As You Cause the Sun to Rise, O God,” Selah 10-661, is for SATB chorus and keyboard (piano or organ). The choral parts are fairly easy, with some doubling of S & T, A & B. There is some text painting. The anthem builds to a climax, then subsides for the Amens. As you cause the sun to rise, O God, bring the light of Christ to dawn in our souls and dispel all darkness. Give us grace to reflect Christ’s glory; and let his love show in our deeds, his peace shine in our words, and his healing in our touch, that all may give him praise, now and forever. Amen. “Prayer for Guidance,” MorningStar MSM-50602, is scored for -part chorus accompanied by keyboard, but S & T frequently double, as do A & B, so it is very easy. Fairly short, it has an optional repeat, in case a longer length anthem is required. Very doable by high school choirs as well as adult choirs – good for summer Sundays or slim Sundays. Eternal God, you call us to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. If you would like a copy of either anthem for perusal, feel free to contact Ken, at [email protected]. He would be happy to see that you receive one.

Michael Barker, director of music at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, Black Mountain, NC, has recently had his set of music Three Carols for Flute and Organ, published by MorningStar Music. The carols include “Huron Carol,” “Lo Desembre Congelat,” and “The Wexford Carol.” “Wexford Carol” features a flowing accompaniment and lyrical lines for the flute, as well as use of the organ pedal for part of the melody and an ornamented final statement of the tune. “Huron Carol” begins and ends with short cadenza-like passages for flute, and passing chromaticism for the organ in the middle section. Also included is a sprightly, fast-paced setting of “Lo Desembre Congelat,” marked by echoing phrases traded between the flute and organ. One may view samples of the music and hear exerpts from a performance at www.morningstarmusic. com/viewitem.cfm/item_id/20-103

Ken Axelson Retires After 2 years of full time music ministry, Kenneth Axelson retired as Director of Worship and Fine Arts of the First United Methodist Church of Houston on June 30. Prior to moving to Houston in 1997, he served as Director of Music and Organist over a period of 28 years at several Presbyterian churches, including Peachtree Presbyterian in Atlanta and at Preston Hollow Presbyterian in Dallas. Eager to continue to serve in church music, Ken is interested in considering part-time or interim positions. You may contact him at [email protected] or 1010 La Rue Street, Houston, TX 77019.

Worldwide Organ Celebration at the Irvington Presbyterian Church

John Weaver Concerts John Weaver has announced that the 20072008 season will be his last season of regular concertizing, so we encourage any of you who may have always wanted to have Dr. Weaver play at your church (or if you would like to have him return to an instrument that he may have dedicated or played early in his career) to give us a call. Now is the time to contact us and reserve a date. Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc., 1-866-721-1882 www.concertorganists.com Fall 2007 page 3

The Irvington Presbyterian Church (USA),25 North Broadway, Irvington-on-Hudson, N.Y., has been selected to participate in the worldwide celebration of the 125th Anniversary of Johannes Klais Orgelbau, builder of distinguished pipe organs headquartered in Bonn, Germany. The jubilee celebration will include organ recitals performed on 17 Klais organs worldwide beginning at 12 Noon local time on Saturday, September 8, 2007. Organist Noah WynneMorton, winner of the 2007 AGO/Quimby Region II Competition for Young Organists, will perform at the Irvington Presbyterian Church. The recital will be held in the church’s historic and acoustically superb sanctuary, which was designed by James Renwick and decorated by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Noah Wynne-Morton’s program will include works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Vierne,

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and Hakim. The public is invited to attend. A free-will offering is requested.Since 1882, Klais organs have been commissioned by churches, cathedrals, universities, and concert halls around the world, as well as for private residences. Irvington’s 3-manual, 29-stop, 35-rank, mechanicalaction pipe organ (Klais Opus 1,797) was completed in April 2001. It was dedicated twelve days following 9/11, twenty-six miles north of Ground Zero. The halfmillion dollar musical instrument, consisting of 1,931 individually hand-crafted pipes, is the firm’s seventh instrument in the United States, and was its first American installation in over a decade. The organ has been received with great enthusiasm and critical acclaim. It was featured on the April 2002 cover of The American Organist Magazine, the official journal of the American Guild of Organists, the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America. The Irvington Presbyterian Church is located on U.S. Route 9 (Broadway) in Westchester County, 1.5 miles south of the Tappan Zee Bridge. The church building is accessible to the handicapped and disabled. For directions by car, bus, or rail, or for further information, please call 914-591-8124 or visit the church’s Web site.

previously published or currently entered in other contests should not be submitted. It is certainly permissible, however, to have a local congregation or other group sample your hymn before submitting it. Macalester Plymouth Church, a member of both the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ, is a liberal and inclusive church with a history of active involvement in contemporary social issues. We suggest avoiding archaic language (e.g. “Which wert, and art, and evermore shall be”) and noninclusive language (e.g. “O brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother”). There is an entry fee of $3 for each hymn submitted, and checks should be made payable to “Macalester Plymouth United Church” with a memo entry for “Hymn Contest.” Entrants should provide four copies of each hymn. The entrant’s name must not appear on these copies. Please provide a cover letter with your name, address, telephone number, and the title of your entry or entries. All entries will be acknowledged within two weeks of receipt. All entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2007. The judges will arrive at their decision by February 15, 2008, and their decision is final. The winning hymn will be announced by February 28, 2008. Only one winning entry is anticipated, but the judges may decide to split the prize among several co-winners. The judges also reserve the right not to select any hymn as the winner. Each entrant will receive notification of the contest winner and a copy of the winning hymn. Copyright for the winning hymn will be retained by the author, but the author agrees to permit the use of this hymn by Macalester Plymouth United Church in perpetuity. Churches of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area (Presbyterian Church/USA), and churches of the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ shall be permitted to use the winning hymn(s) for one year (March of 2008 through February of 2009). Please send entries and correspondence to: Hymn Contest Macalester Plymouth United Church 1658 Lincoln Avenue St. Paul, MN 551051949 Email: [email protected] Website: www.macalesterplymouth.org

Hymn Writing Contest Macalester Plymouth United Church of St. Paul, Minnesota, announces a twelfth international contest for English language hymn writers. It is our understanding that hymns can motivate the church to be more actively involved in social reform, a vital part of its ministry. It carries a prize of $500 for the winning entry. We are looking for new texts to use on Mother’s Day, sensitive to the changing nature of family life, and affirming feminist calls for equality. This contest is part of a continuing memorial to Macalester Plymouth church member A. A. (“Al”) Heckman, widely known as Minnesota’s “Dean of Philanthropy.” He was one of the first men in the nation to earn a graduate degree in social work and went on to create many private and public partnerships to help the needy. He was a pioneer in the establishment of integrated social services at the city, county and state level, and served on the boards of many philanthropic foundations. His life was an inspiration to those seeking to integrate Christian faith with social action. This is a search for new texts. We strongly encourage the use of familiar meters which may be sung to familiar tunes. New music for the winning hymn may be sought in the future. Hymns

PAM Pittsburgh Chapter Events

Fall 2007 page 

“I Don’t Have Time for That” - October 13, 2007, Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon - a spiritual retreat at Pittsburgh Presbytery. This retreat will be led by Sister Cynthia Serjak of Carlow College. This is not just for church musicians. It’s for anybody who is involved in ministry in any way - pastors, educators, worship and music committee members, or anyone else caught up in ministry’s time demands and who wants to conquer that pressure. We urge you to invite your co-workers in ministry for this special retreat. Cynthia Serjak, RSM, is a Sister of Mercy of the Americas. Her studies include organ performance, music education, theology and musicology. After serving more than fifteen years as a full-time pastoral musician in Catholic churches in

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Pittsburgh, and writing two books on music and spirituality, she was elected to leadership in her community. When her term was complete, she created and ran a music program for people who were homeless or at risk of it, and with them produced two recordings. “The Great 50 Days: Table Talk and Service of Evening Prayer” - Sunday, March 30, 2008 - dinner at 5:30 followed by planning/table talk of Vespers for The Great 50 Days, concluding with a Service of Evening Prayer at 7:00 p.m. Rev. Jim Tinnemeyer will lead the planning session and service, to be held at Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon. What better way to jump start our spiritual lives AFTER Easter than with the inspiration of that time of the church year between Easter and Pentecost! Scottish Reformation Festival!! Sunday, May 4, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, we will have a service, led by Rev. Andrew Purvis followed by a Wee Ceilidh (reception) complete with bagpipes and Highland Dancers! Come celebrate our Scottish heritage!

PAM Flashback Photo Update So you found it tricky to name all of the people in the photo below which was in the Spring issue of the PAM Newsletter. The first full set of names came from a collaboration of PAM members that included, Vicki Fey, Brock Downward, and Dana Mitchell, that were in the PAM office at the Montreat Worship & Music Conference. Soon after that, Emily Smith came into the office and was able to name all of the people by herself. The people in the photo are: Seated from left to right;

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Robert Fort, Marilyn Ballantine, Emily Smith, Lynell Williams, Kay Healy-Wedsworth, Helen Wright, Stan Powell. Standing from left to right; Harold Daniels, John Neely, Larry Rhodes, John Weaver, David Davidson, Clements Lamberth, Martha Hopson, David McCormick, Ken Cooper.

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Joint Services continued from page 1 Percussion also provides a great opportunity for children and congregational members to participate, without having to attend rehearsals and/or being able to read music. And as a result, these bilingual hymns take on great color and rhythmic energy. With the widespread interest in world music and multiculturalism, it should be no trouble to locate suitable material for communal hymns. However, keep in mind that, whatever songs are chosen, these will most likely not be familiar to the congregation (of either group). Therefore I select Spanish songs that are fairly short, folklike and simple in construction (not too rhythmically tricky!), yet engaging in a way that makes people want to sing them. The main problem will be with the Spanish textual elisions, but these come more easily with repetition. Another possibility is to do the reverse: sing familiar hymns from El Himnario Presbiteriano that are already part of our Anglo Saxon/German tradition, but translated into Spanish. At first we tried singing one English verse out of the hymnbook, then one Spanish verse off a separate bulletin insert, but this proved cumbersome. I have found it worth the time to print out on my computer the melody line of the hymns, underscored with both the English and Spanish texts. Hymns can be used again in future services, of course, so in time this effort at producing “lead sheets” becomes less of a burden. There are some real beauties to be found in the Spanish repertoire. Our congregation has been surprised how accessible and enriching this music can be. And there’s nothing like music to draw people together, for music has that magical ability of transcending language barriers. If you have any questions or comments, you may contact me via email: [email protected]

New Features and Updates for VERSION 5.0 (to be released 15 Nov 2007)

1) Updated Liturgical Calendar 2) New Daily lectionary related to the Revised Common Lectionary 3) “Invitation to Christ” 4) *Call to Worship year A

(*for PAM Members and Subscribers to CTW)

...and other new software enhancements Version 5.0 will be shipping in November. Order by October 31, and SAVE 25% on the software! You will receive the current Version 4.9, and then recieve all updates for the coming year with your subscription.

Did you know that Amazon.com will make donations to PAM? If you click through the Amazon.com links or from our website or search through the Amazon.com search on the PAM website, any purchases you make will have a percentage donated to PAM. This is for any item, not just our recommended resources. Visit the resource section of the Professional Concerns area of the PAM website today.

www.pcusa.org/pam Fall 2007 page 

Pre-Release Sale!!! Order Now and Save 25%!!! Version 5.0 will be shipping in November. Order by October 31 and SAVE 25% on the software price! If you order now, you will receive the current Version 4.9, and then you will receive all updates for the coming year with your subscription. Sale Pricing: $251 for PAM members - includes 1 license Non-discounted price is $305 $268 for Non-PAM members - includes 1 license Non-discounted price is $325

( The discount is on the software price only and not on the license fee.)

Visit the PAM website for more details and to order online

www.pcusa.org/pam

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From the President continued from page 1

this program more supportive to the membership. One of the stated purposes in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians is to “work toward fair and just employment practices in the PC(USA).” At the request of the executive board a proposal has been initiated in the Pittsburgh PAM Chapter regarding this topic. The letter calls for either a revision of the Form of Government portion of the Book of Order, which is currently being scrutinized by a task force, or an overture to General Assembly. If you have interest in helping to further this cause in your presbytery should it take the form of an overture, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. I will be glad to keep you up to date as this proposal progresses. I extend special appreciation to Craig Dobbins and Roberta Jones and their committee for the fine work produced thus far.

World: Forming Faithful Communities.” It is not too late to attend this sure-to-be-wonderful opportunity. Please see details in this issue. Other servants who deserve our sincere thanks are outgoing executive board members-at-large, Bonnie Husler and Mary Baber Reed. Both women served the membership well and made lasting contributions. We welcome new membersat-large for the Class of 2010, Karl Zinsmeister and Debi Eisenhour, who attended their first meeting filled with enthusiasm and a willingness to make their own contributions. The board has decided that the Regional Network, formerly called “PAM Reps,” will undergo a restructuring process to make it more useful to local areas. A Membership Task Force was appointed during the summer meeting, and has already come up with many great ideas. I will be sending a letter to the present representatives in the near future, outlining the new program. We give thanks for their faithful willingness to be a vital conduit between PAM and the church musicians in their communities, and we are excited about making

I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1 Thank you all for sharing your talents, Janet Loman

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PAM Board Highlights - July 2007

Photo of PAM’s outgoing Executive Board members from left to right include Mary Baber Reed, and Bonnie Husler.

by Vicki Fey, Past-President

The PAM Executive Board was back in Louisville at the Presbyterian Center in July, conducting business and leading worship at the Center. Below are a few highlights: •

welcomed new board members Debi Eisenhour and Karl Zinsmeister; thanked out-going board members Bonnie Husler and Mary Reed for their service to PAM

•

heard reports from Joe Small (Theology, Worship, & Education) and Sue Lutz (Board of Pensions)

•

celebrated Kim Long’s recent appointment to the worship faculty of Columbia Theological Seminary and her continued employment and commitment as editor of Call to Worship

•

•

approved a new nomination process, dividing the country into three regions by Synods, thus assuring a more equal representation on the Executive Board received conference reports

•

affirmed our commitment to the LPM program and the Church Music Institute

•

held meaningful discussions on worship

Your Executive Board works hard for you, the members. We welcome suggestions and questions any time!

PAM’s current Executive Board and office staff from left to right: Mary Lou Stevens, Creston Parker, Michael Morgan, Vicki Fey, Sue Mitchell-Wallace, Alan Barthel, Janet Loman (in front) Scott Miller (in back), Roberta “Robbie” Banks (in back), Beth Thompson (in front), Karl Zinsmeister, Debi Eisenhour, Charles Ryu. Not pictured: Ken Courtney, Sheila Robinette. Fall 2007 page 

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Online Publishing Becomes a Reality by Walter & Carol Schurr

ChurchMusicOnDemand.com went live this summer with 29 new titles for the Christmas season, and there’s something for everyone—music for organ, for choir, for instrumental ensembles. Church Music on Demand is digital delivery at its best. It’s not a way to order music and get it a week later by US mail. It’s a way to put it in your choir’s hands today. It’s a simple concept. You can look at the music online and listen to it. Then you can buy the pdf files, print the music master, and make the copies. Need it for tonight’s rehearsal? You can have it immediately. And with each purchase, you receive a license to print and maintain the number of copies you buy. The concept was conceived by Dr. Walter W. (Billy) Schurr, composer and Director of Music at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona; the website was developed by Andy Hieb and Rhys Daunic of dtek digital media. For the past couple of decades, Dr. Schurr has composed or arranged possibly more than half of what his choirs sing, and most of the organ preludes and offertories he plays each Sunday. “Quite frequently the anthem you want for a particular topic simply doesn’t exist,” he says, “or what is out there is not very good. So I write it. And I always write for my choirs’ voices so they can make a good choral sound.” Over the years, other directors and organists have requested copies of his music, but the process of running off hard copies and shipping them became time consuming. “Digital delivery” was the natural solution. The website opened with Christmas music because it’s Dr. Schurr’s favorite season, and he has an abundance of Christmas titles. “The 29 titles we started with are just a tip of the iceberg,” he says, somewhat ruefully. There are dozens more, as well as music for Lent, Easter, various holidays, and general purpose. In the coming years, more of these will be offered on the website. Organists will find that the organ pieces are not your typical concert showpieces. “I write ‘service music’ not concert pieces.” Schurr goes on to explain, “Organ music in worship needs to be no more than 2-3 minutes long to appeal to your average listener and to fit well into a worship service. For anything Fall 2007 page 10

longer, you’d better have a good reason or something pretty special to say. And people like music with a tune they can remember.” What about the sound files on his website? Are they live recordings? “Some of them are,” he says. For those that aren’t, Schurr uses computer-generated voice samples. So when you listen to some of the anthems, you won’t hear words sung in the sound file. “They sound a bit odd when you first listen to them, but since I didn’t have recordings, I decided it was better to use the voice samples than to just pound them out on the piano.” Most of the organ sound files you will hear on the site are digital samples of the Baylor University organ. In the future, Schurr plans to record some of the organ pieces himself, because “it’s cumbersome to program instructions for tempo changes, shading, and dynamics.” What tools does he use? “Finale™ for music notation. And GigaStudio™, Vienna Symphonic Library™, Spectrasonics Symphony of Voices™, and several others.” Dr. Schurr is currently working on the next installment for the website: his piano accompaniments to ‘classic’ praise songs—those that have stood the test of time. “Accompaniments in books are fairly tame,” he says. “To really lead the congregation, you need to add ‘fill’ just as a band would. And many organists don’t know how to do that.” Schurr believes that all organists need to learn the technique if they want to stay employed in the 21st century church. He goes on to say that many churches could avoid hiring a band if the organist could lead adequately from the piano. Dr. Schurr has been invited to teach a workshop on this subject at the AGO Region IX Mid-Winter Conclave in Tucson next January. The name of the workshop? “Crossing the Bar.” Why that title? Go to for the answer. When asked to identify the most unique aspect of his website, Dr. Schurr says, “other than the digital delivery? It’s that customers can listen to the whole piece, not just a selection, and look at the entire score, including all the parts— not just a page or two. That’s the only way to know if a piece is suitable for your choir or your instrumentalists.” Digital delivery—it’s a concept whose time has come.

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2007 Conference Update

PAM Certification PAM is delighted to announce the latest recipients of PAM Certification. Both of these PAM members earned their certifications in the spring of 2007.

PAM West Worship & Music Conference

October 17-20, 2007 Dallas, TX - Preston Hollow Presby. Church Theme: “From Water to the World: ...Forming Faithful Communities”

Michael Morgan, CCM Fairburn, GA

Conference Leaders include: Rev. Dr. Glaucia Vasconcelos Wilkey, Rev. Dr. Kimberly Long, Rev. Dr. Carl P. Daw, Jr., David Eicher, Ken Cooper, Judy Melson, Terry Price, Rev. Marney Wasserman, Hal Hopson, Bryan Bierbaum, Annette Albrecht, David Davidson This conference has not occured yet, and there is still time to be there. Although the deadline has passed to get your registration to Louisville, you may still show up at the conference and register on site. It is really going to be a great conference. Don’t miss it. For conference information call the conference directors: David Batchelder 972-596-215 and Martha Hopson 972-250-172. For lodging information call the Holiday Inn Select in Dallas at 1-800-972-2518. The full brochure is available on the PAM website, but note that the phone number for the Holiday Inn Select is correct above, but not in the printed brochure.

Brenda Fairbanks, CCM Greenville, SC

Certification is an important step in professional development and recognition within the church. The Presbyterian Association of Musicians hopes that all pastors and sessions will encourage musicians to work toward achieving this goal. The vision is that musicians will work toward obtaining certification that they might be recognized personally, professionally, and as an integral voice in the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA.

Plan Your Music for Lent, Easter, and Spring!

Montreat Worship & Music Conference 2007 Attendance: Week 1 562 Adult 28 Young Adult 138 Youth I 18 Youth II 13 Children 1,010 Total

Winter 2008

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Week 2 675 Adult 5 Young Adult 19 Youth I 18 Youth II 10 Children 1,193 Total

*ANUARYTH *ANUARYTH *ANUARYTH *ANUARYTH *ANUARYTH *ANUARYTH *ANUARYTH &REE %VENT


2EGISTERONLINEAT AUGSBURGFORTRESSORGMUSICCLINICS

Westminster Worship & Music Conference 2007 Attendance: 118 Adult 11 Young Adult 39 Grade 7-12 8 Grade 3-6 5 Age 3 - Grade 2 181 Total

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Three unique conferences that will nurture, enlighten, and motivate those who plan and lead worship.

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Worship & Music Conferences Summer 2008

visit

www.pcusa.org/pam

Montreat, June 15-20 and June 22-27, 2008

Theme: “Christ Be Our Light: Advent through Epiphany”

for more details Montreat, NC (two identical weeks)

Director: David VanderMeer Conference Leaders include: Ted Wardlaw, Kimberly Bracken Long, Eric Nelson, Bradley Ellingboe, Phillip Shoultz, Faye Timmer, Ken Cowan, Michael Burkhardt, Mary Louise Bringle, Beth Watson, Daniel Otu, Kerri Lynn Nichols, Christine Yoder, Ellen Phillips, Amanda Lower

Westminster, July 6-11, 2008

New Wilmington, PA

Theme: "God’s Love Shattering the Darkness:Advent, Christmas, Epiphany” Director: Judy Bond Conference Leaders include: Scott Haldeman, Liturgist; John Ferguson, Routley Lecturer and Service Organist; Tom Trenney, Adult and Chamber Choirs; Keith Hampton, Gospel and Youth Choir; Julie Scott, Children’s Choir; Kathryn Sparks, Dancer/choreographer

PAM West, July 17-19, 2008

Little Rock, AR

Theme: "Song, Silence, and Sacrament - Giving Voice to All Our Sighs” Director: Bryan C. Bierbaum Conference Leaders include: Dr. Martin Tel (C.F. Seabrook Director of Music, Princeton Theological Seminary), Alan Barthel, Darlene Bergman, Mary Ibis, and others

The PAM Mission Statement

Worship is the human response to God’s grace and infinite love. It is central to the life of Christ's church. Music is one of the integral elements of our worship. Acting on these convictions, the Presbyterian Association of Musicians energetically promotes and teaches the language of faith through worship so that all of God's people, young and old, are vitally involved in singing, praying, proclaiming, and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

(adopted February 1998)

For more information contact The Presbyterian Association of Musicians 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 40202-1396

Phone: 1-(888) 728-7228, ext. 5288 Fax: (502) 569-8465 www.pcusa.org/pam email: [email protected]

Offering leadership in the areas of worship, music, the arts, and professional concerns

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Joyful, Joyful: 6 Festive Postludes for Organ

Resource Reviews

Albert L. Travis Morningstar, MSM-10-591

Come Join the Circle

Lesson Songs for Peacemaking Paulette Meier w/arrangements by David Archer and a Children’s Chorus led by Lois Shegog

Review by David Coleman Al Travis offers this new collection of postludes on familiar hymns from Morningstar Publishers. Included are rhythmic and articulate settings of Ellacombe, Hymn to Joy, Italian Hymn, Llanfair, Monkland and Nun Danket alle Gott. The pieces are 2-3 minutes in length and all make wonderful additions to worship services or recitals. Some are quite effective as extended hymn introductions. This is exciting and accessible music for the organist and congregation. Suggested registrations are for an instrument of threemanuals, but each work may be easily adapted to a modest two-manual organ. Recommended.

Review by Debi Eisenhour This CD is a project about peace, aimed at helping children resolve conflicts and build healthy relationships. Paulette Meier, a social-emotional learning specialist and peace educator in elementary schools (who is also motivated by a deep sense of justice from her Quaker faith), creates music that teaches strategies for communicating and understanding in fun and upbeat songs. I liked the sound of the CD right from the start. The first cut, “Come Join the Circle,” begins with drums and a cappella children’s voices, very African in style. The rest of the tracks are comprised of a variety of styles including Rap, Blues and Country. The production is nice and clean, and the vocals are warm and inviting for use in a group setting. The extensive use of children’s voices on most of the songs makes it more authentic for singing along. Other tracks that stood out were “Cool Cooperation,” a rap with a great sing-along hook; “Listen,” that catches the ear with a nice bass line and makes you want to listen; “The Strategy Wheel” that uses Caribbean rhythms for teaching how to stop and think through choices. There are other teaching aids available with this CD. It includes seven instrumental sing-a-long tracks for use in performance, and the music is available in a songbook with notated melody lines and guitar chords. Meier also has a website with testamonials and more information at www.lessonsongs.com. “Come Join the Circle” has been given the Parents’ Choice Approved Award, a Children’s Music Web Award and selected as a “Parent’s Pic” by Parenting Magazine.

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing: Variations for Organ on Nettleton Albert L. Travis Morningstar, MSM-10-590 Review by David Coleman

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Also a new release from Morningstar, Al Travis complements the familiar tune Nettleton with an engaging set of variations. Following the stately Chorale are three quiet variations, each demonstrating a variety of timbres and colors. Variation 2 is a sparkling dialogue between two contrasting 4’ flute stops. The fourth and final variation is a vibrant toccata with rhythmic chord patterns soaring over strong melodic lines in pedal octaves. If the variations are played through in their entirety, an interesting alternation between duple and triple meters occurs. Five minutes in length and of moderate difficulty, this piece is a wonderful addition to service and recital literature. Recommended.

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PAM Chapter Report

PAM Chapter News

Pittsburgh Chapter Choir Festival

Pittsburgh Chapter learns “What the Protestant West Can Learn from the Orthodox East About Worship”

by Barbara McKelway

The Pittsburgh Chapter held its annual choir festival as an Evening Prayer for Pentecost Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. at Southminster Presbyterian Church. Richard Pinkerton, host Music Director was the choir director, Christopher Pardini of Shadyside Presbyterian Church was the organist, and the Reverend Dr. Daniel Merry, the host pastor. Choir members from ten churches participated in the massed choir. The Southminster Ringers bell choir were also a part of the service. Readers for the lessons were host clergy and members of the Pittsburgh PAM Executive Board. The service followed the Order for Evening Prayer. Anthems sung by the choir were Psalm 103 – Joseph Willcox Jenkins, Every Time I Feel the Spirit – arr. William Dawson, If Ye Love Me – Thomas Tallis, Anthem for Pentecost – Hal Hopson, and Pentecost – Oskar Lindberg. Bridges: A Verse Choir Reading for Pentecost – Joint Office of Worship (UPCUSA and PCUS), 1979 by Selma D. & Robert E. Reinovsky was read by the choir. Hymns sung were Come, Holy Spirit, Our Souls Inspire; Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us; Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song; Spirit of the Living God; and Come Down, O Love Divine. Also included in the service was a Litany for Pentecost. Those attending a reception following the service expressed their thanks and appreciation for a meaningful service.

by Wilberta Pickett

On March 17, 2007 on a sunny spring day, the Pittsburgh Chapter met at the East Liberty Presbyterian Church for their annual M & M (Minister and Musician) breakfast, hosted by The Rev. Dr. Richard Szeremany, to hear The Rev. Dr. John P. Burgess, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary share three visits to Russia: his family’s experience of spending a sabbatical year living and worshiping in St. Petersburg in 200-2005, two more months in the summer of 2006, and two weeks just prior to our meeting, with nine PTS students at a monastery deep in the forest riding all day in a wagon across the snowy, very cold tundra, and then walking across the three-miles

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Barbara McKelway 352 Hawthorn Court Pittsburgh, PA 15237 12-366-513 [email protected]

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Linoleum block prints by Elizabeth Steele Halstead. Reprented by permission from Visuals for Worship, © 2006, Faith Alive Christian Resources.

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wide frozen Volga River to get there. Burgess reported a sense of Russian Orthodoxy as both fascinating and oh, so foreign. It was Christian, but so different from our Christianity. Coming back to the USA, he said, they all saw their American Protestantism in a different light - filled with both shame and pride. While they were more appreciative of their own tradition, they began to ask probing questions about not only what was gained by the Reformation but also what was lost. The Orthodox have a profound sense of the Holy. Their worship is infused with the holiness of God seen in the beauty of God.

blocks away, they stop and cross themselves. At entry, they make sign of cross again, men remove hats and ladies put on scarves to move into God’s space. They light candles, silently

Compared to casual Americans who only stand when The President walks into a room, the Orthodox stand in reverence when they come into the presence of God. stand and pray or move about to kiss the icon of the day’s honored saint. This is so different from Americans who engage in social fellowship to begin worship. For the Orthodox they prepare to enter a holy space and time where people, bishops and martyrs are present. Going to church is to get a glimpse of Heaven with the presence of the saints, which is not so different from Protestants. Calvin’s understanding of the Lord’s Supper is similar to the Orthodox: hearts are lifted up and transported into Heaven. The book of Revelation is never included in the lectionary in Orthodox worship because the entire liturgy is a dramatic enactment of the book of Revelation which is instructive and interpretive of what happens in worship - to be lifted up and transformed. The beauty of this holiness requires preparation to receive and then move out into the world. Most important to prepare is the sacrament of Confession. It is not done in confessional boxes as in Medieval Catholicism. For the Orthodox Confession is half public and half private, done in the church before Sunday

...riding all day in a wagon across the snowy, very cold tundra, and then walking across the three-miles wide frozen Volga River to get there. Through burning candles, the incense, the icons, is a beautiful expression of God’s holiness in the people’s response of awe, reverence and wonder. For the Orthodox everything is transformed. All of time is baptized in holiness - every day of the year is a feast day or a saint’s day - day to remember those who guarded holiness. The seasons of the Church year are marked by feasts and fasts. This is the time of the “Great Lent,” or “Great Fast.” The fast is severe -no meat, milk, eggs, and in the monasteries no oil, and fish only on weekends. Part of this is to accommodate for shortage of food, but used to prepare selves to enter Holy Week and Easter. Time is transformed: the rhythm of the week leads to the Sunday liturgy, which is two hours long, no pews, and takes great effort, standing, to do the liturgy, “the work of the people.” Compared to casual Americans who only stand when The President walks into a room, the Orthodox stand in reverence when they come into the presence of God. Space is transformed: sanctuary is conceived as a Temple where holiness of God is concentrated. We need practice to focus on the presence of God. The building and liturgy help us do that. As people in Russia come to church, two, three

Calvin’s understanding of the Lord’s Supper is similar to the Orthodox: hearts are lifted up and transported into Heaven.

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worship, which the priest sets up. He stands with a Bible and a cross, and he remains standing as people come up and whisper confession to him, and he responds. The public sees, but does not hear.

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The Orthodox recognize that Protestants do more to live out the Gospel. The Orthodox tend to get stuck in holiness and the trappings of the liturgy, but they do that all to prepare to go out and do what is required. Icons are not only those pictured on the church wall, the people, too, are icons who need to be seen in each other as those who bear holiness and the beauty of God. This calls for acts of healing and reconciliation. Holiness is not just experienced inside church walls, but is a reality as people live a holy life in the world.

Questions to Protestants:

1. Have we lost something about the holiness of God? When we celebrate are we so casual, so focused on the church as a social club? We as Protestants have indeed lost something profound about holiness. 2. Do we really prepare ourselves for worship? for Lord’s Supper by engaging in prayer, fasting, and devotion? Or do we treat Lord’s Supper as a ritual? a family meal? This is so easy to do, doesn’t cost us much.

Linoleum block prints by Elizabeth Steele Halstead. Reprented by permission from Visuals for Worship, © 2006, Faith Alive Christian Resources.

We are challenged by the Orthodox to worship more fully: Do we know how to go into the world, see others as icons? see God in every

For the Orthodox, worship takes work, it is not a ten-step program. time and space? For the Orthodox, worship takes work, it is not a ten-step program. Every day is a particular day on the church calendar, and in their culture, people prepare to enter that holy space. They do not share the superficial American drive in most market driven corners where people do not ask how to be faithful to the tradition, but how can we get more people? This is not the end all of worship. It is how you invite others in, how you worship, how you relate, all in context of the tradition. In the Q & A period following, these points were made • Active participants in Russian congregation is small - 25%, huge impact of Communism. • There is not a history of evangelization - one Fall 2007 page 16

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is born into the Christian culture. Today there is a new emphasis on missiology and youth work. There is great tension between youth who want contemporary (i.e., liturgy in vernacular!) and priests who resist. Emphasis on tradition is to take great care of precious inheritance. To them the Western “experiential” (using chants, incense, etc.) is playing with tradition, not respecting it. They see Protestants as promiscuous with holy things. If we do use ancient things of the church, it should be for a better reason than “visual culture.” For Orthodox, worship is a way of immersing self in the whole theology and tradition of the church. There is an intentional trend today away from Russian composed liturgical music. The Russian Orthodox think the composed music shows influence of West, is not in their tradition. There is a concern to recover worship as participatory, the work of the people, the music is much simpler, it is Byzantine chants, doesn’t require highly trained choirs. Composed music is used occasionally but they are getting away from 18th and 19th century music. Most famous Russian icon on display in

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Moscow, shows OT story of 3 angels, Abraham, Sarah. Every icon is based on historical event where holy presence of God

In contrast to Roman Catholic practice, the Orthodox Virgin is always with child, never by self.

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litany form the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, which is normally sung. There was a beautiful rhythm in the language, portraying profound prayerfulness prayerfulness.

Other Published Works of Interest What Czech and East German Protestants Can Teach Us, John Burgess, The Presbyterian Outlook, November, 12, 2001 A Protestant Family’s Journey into Russia and Orthodoxy: Looking for the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, John Burgess, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; Jan. 2006

is made eminent, expresses spiritual truth to change us, invite us to be in communion with God and each other in harmony. A central icon on the iconastasis (the screen) A Year With the Orthodox, John Burgess, is Christ the Savior, the world ruler, who died Presbyterians Today, April 2006 yet lives as the victor over death, who rules us all. Second major icon is the Virgin. In contrast to Roman Catholic practice, the Orthodox Virgin is always with child, Linoleum block prints by Elizabeth Steele Halstead. Reprented by permission from Visuals for Worship, © 2006, Faith Alive Christian Resources. never by self. She is revered not in own right, but as one privileged to bear the Christ child. There are over 500 different icons of Virgin and Child., beloved yet cautious in delivering emotion. They convey a sense of Mary’s tenderness, mercy, love. There is spiritual truth in every truth: Mary is preeminent Christian, preeminent example of what it means to live as a Christian - the example to everyone of the privilege of bearing Christ to the world. Difference in reading scripture: West expresses emotional content as we read, while the East read flatter to let the essence come through and let the Holy Spirit help each one to interpret.

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Some Attitudes Never Change

an excerpt from The Stanza, Vol. 27, No. 2, page 1, The Hymn Society A newsletter prepared by the Lutheran Hymnal Project of The Lutheran Church MIissouri Synod has noted that the following item was recently included in the Texas District supplement to the Lutheran Witness: “Please! NO more new hymns. What’s wrong with the inspiring hymns with which we grew up? When I go to church, it’s to worship God, not be distracted with learning a new hymn. Last Sunday’s was particularly unnerving. While the text was good, the tune was quite unsingable and the harmonies were quite discordant.” This letter was written in 1890, and the hymn that elicited the complaint was “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

PAM Newsletter Goes Digital This issue of the PAM Newsletter is the first to be offered as a digital version instead of a hardcopy version. Many of you have signed up to opt for the digital version, and chances are that you recieved your digital version about a week prior to others recieving it in the mail. If you have not yet signed up for the digital version, you can go to the Newsletter page of the PAM website and download this version to see how the digital version could work for you. By saving trees, postage, and printing costs, this is one way that PAM can help the environ ment as well as our costs. By opting to receive the digital version of the news letter, you will recieve an email with the link to download it on your schedule. This method was chosen so that your email inbox will not have to deal with large files, and it will still work for those of you that don’t like to receive attachments due to security. To begin receiving the emails for the digital version, simply email Creston Parker at [email protected] to make sure we have a valid email address in your file.

$ FREE $ MONEY?

$$ $ $ $ $ $ Q.

Are you planning an educational worship and music event in your community or presbytery?

Q.

Would a PAM Seed Money Grant help to make this possible?

A.

PAM is committed to supporting your efforts!

Please read about previous events in past issues of the PAM newsletter. The description of those events may help you formulate your own! The Guidelines and Application Form are avalable on the PAM website at www.pcusa.org/pam in the “Professional Concerns” area of the menu. Questions? Please contact Mary Lou Stevens at [email protected] or (908) 953-9809.

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Classified Advertising USICIANS

We only accept classified advertising of interest or service to our members. We will not run ads for alcohol or tobacco products, ads that solicit funds for organizations or groups not related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), or political ads. All ads must be approved by the editor and be in good taste. Ads must be received by the Newsletter editor by the deadlines below. Classified ads that include anything other than text will be priced according to regular ad rates.

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RATES Classified Ads (50 words or less, text only) $50.00 Send classified ads to:

LabOra Capella

Creston Parker c/o Presbyterian Association of Musicians 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 0202-1396

Now included with LabOra Worship software

email: [email protected] fax: 502-569-865

PAM Newsletter Submissions • • • • •

Write and edit music MIDI Import / Export functions Transpose music Excellent graphics Save / print / play your music

Do you have an upcoming event? Have you recently held an event or been to one? Send us your announcements, your event reports, your comments, your suggestions. The PAM newsletter is your tool for communicating to other members. Send your submissions to the PAM National Office.

For more information contact the Presbyterian Association of Musician’s National Office 1-888-728-7228 xt 5288 [email protected]

www.pcusa.org/labora

Presbyterian Association of Musicians 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 0202-1396 email: [email protected]

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Presbyterian Church (USA) Presbyterian Association of Musicians 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 0202-1396

Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Louisville KY Permit No. 1215

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2007 Fall PAM Newsletter

PAM National Office:

Presbyterian Association of Musicians 100 Witherspoon Street Louisville, KY 0202-1396 Website: www.pcusa.org/pam Email: [email protected] Phone: 502-569-5288 Toll free: 1-888-728-7228 xt 5288 Fax: 502-569-865 LabOra Website: www.pcusa.org/labora

Executive Director: Alan Barthel

[email protected]

Digital Media Director and Executive Assistant: Creston Parker [email protected] Administrative Assistant: Sheila Robinette

[email protected]

In this Issue:

• Joint Services with a Hispanic Congregation • 2007 PAM Board Election Results • Overview of the 2007 Update to PAM’s Worship & Music Planning Software • Online Publishing Becomes a Reality • Resource Reviews • Protestant West and Orthodox East Worship

Coming in the Christmas Issue

• Summer Conference Details • Summer Conference Scholarship Details

Newsletter Editor: Creston Parker [email protected]