Association of Lutheran Church Musicians
June 1, 2015 e-newsletter

Anne Krentz OrganGreetings! The "green" season of time after Pentecost has begun. I hope that your summer plans include opportunities for growth and learning, for relaxation and renewal. If you haven't yet finalized your plans, consider attending the ALCM biennial conference in Atlanta next month. It's going to be FABULOUS! Check out the website for details: http://www.livingvoice2015.org/

 

Wherever the summer takes you, I hope you find time to enjoy God's creation, to be fed and nourished in worship, and to re-energize for another program year.

 

Peace and blessings,

 

Anne Krentz Organ

ALCM President
Planning to attend this summer's conference in Atlanta?
Register today! Space is filling up!

In memoriam

At the 2013 biennial conference in Valparaiso, we remembered ALCM members who had died since the previous biennial conference. On Sunday, July 19 at the opening worship of the 2015 biennial conference in Atlanta, we will remember those ALCM members who have died since the 2013 conference. Please take a moment to review the names of those who have died in the past two years. If you know of other ALCM members who are not included on this list, please let us know, so that we can be sure to remember them at the opening worship. You can send an email to [email protected].

 

 
Election Results Are In!


The ALCM board of directors  is pleased to announce that Michael Krentz has been elected to the board as Director at Large and Kevin Barger has been re-elected Secretary/Treasurer. Michael will replace outgoing Director at Large Thomas Schmidt. The term of office for these two board members officially begins at the ALCM business meeting, which will be held over lunch on Tuesday, July 21st at the Atlanta conference.

 

Michael Krentz is a Lecturer and Director of Music Ministries/Seminary Cantor at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia; he is an Associate in Ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Michael received Bachelor, Master, and Doctor of Music degrees from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. He 
also serves as Director of Music/Organist at Christ Lutheran Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

 
Kevin Barger has served as the Director of Music Ministry at Epiphany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia since 1997. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Thiel College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to his work at Epiphany, Kevin is involved in the Virginia Leadership Program for Musicians (LPM) as a board and faculty member.

 

 
Membership Survey Results Available

 

A synopsis of last Fall's survey of ALCM members is available for your review. The synopsis has also been posted in the Member's Area of the ALCM website.

 

The purposes of the ALCM 2014 Survey were threefold: 1) to take a snapshot of ourselves to see what we look like in clearer focus, 2) to give us data about what we actually do in our work as church musicians today, and 3) to evaluate the present services that ALCM offers to its members.  

 
Sing to the Lord

"Sing to the Lord" is a collection of some ninety prayers and litanies written for choir rehearsals, appropriate for choirs teen to adult. Many of the prayers are in poetic form. The prayers are organized according to the seasons and the church year. The facing page of each prayer is blank, for personal and current concerns to be added. The prayers are easily adaptable for various occasions. All of the prayers emphasize music as God's gift and the choir's mission in spreading the Good News and giving all glory to God.

 

The book is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Westbow Press, retailing for $17.95. 

 

Congratulations!

ALCM member Tom Mueller of Tustin, CA was recently named by an international music magazine to its inaugural "20 under 30" list of prominent American musicians. Mueller, 29, and the only musician named from the West Coast, is a professor of music at Concordia University Irvine. The Diapason is an international music journal focusing on the organ, harpsichord, and carillon. Additionally, Mueller tours as a guitarist with The Muellers, a family bluegrass band. Mueller was selected based on technical skills, creativity, innovation, and career advancement as well as publications and compositions. For more information, visit here.