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

Greetings, cherished colleagues!  
 
As we start the new program year (or continue recent starts), I'm struck by how similar our routines likely become. Where we had some freedom of schedule during the summer, that is replaced with a proscribed schedule of rehearsals and weekend (and sometimes weeknight) services. Right now our energy is (hopefully!) high, but will almost certainly wear down a bit as the fall turns to winter and beyond. My wish and hope for all of us is that we can continually find the fire, through the Holy Spirit, that directs our work with purpose, integrity, and even enthusiasm!
 
While the fire is still newly lit, I encourage you all to read the Addendum to the Statement on Worship and Music (see the article below from Tom Schmidt), and send any comments on to the committee, even if it's just a hearty, "Well done!"
 
Blessings and peace and energy be yours as you lead and guide the music and worship life in your congregations. Soli Deo Gloria!
 
Julie Grindle
ALCM President-Elect 
 
"Called to Be a Living Voice"
A new document to lead ALCM into the future

ALCM Logo with baton For over a year and a half the ALCM Board of Directors has been discussing how our organization might more fully serve its members and better provide the kind of support, networking, inspiration and learning that our members can use. In January 2014 President Anne Krentz Organ challenged the board to review the Statement on Music and Worship that ALCM adopted in 2003. She asked board members whether we need to revise or replace it in light of the tremendous changes in the field of church music that have taken place over the past 25 years. Answering her challenge the board decided to take a survey of our members to get a clearer idea of who we are and what we do, and a Statement Committee was set up to revise the 2003 document or write a new one.

The Statement Committee produced a draft of a new document, "Called to Be a Living Voice," informed by the results of the 2014 survey. It was presented to the ALCM members attending the national conference in Atlanta in July 2015. The Statement Committee now commends this draft to all ALCM members for your consideration and comments.  We believe that this new document is an important addition to our 2003 Statement on Music and Worship. We believe that it more specifically describes who we are and what we are called to do as church musicians. And we believe that it will be a valuable planning tool as we seek to serve our members in the future.

We invite you to read it carefully and share your comments with the Statement Committee (email tschmidt@aol.com). The committee will spend the next year receiving comments and working on revisions. A final version of this document will be presented to the membership at the 2016 regional conferences for adoption.
WE NEED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE! ALCM is an organization of fellow musicians working together to share the gospel message through music in the Lutheran churches. "Called to Be a Living Voice" is a statement that has important ramifications on the kind of organization ALCM will be in future years, and we will all benefit if you lend your voice to this process.

Statement Committee:
Thomas Schmidt, chair
Lorraine Brugh
Sarah Hawbecker
Valerie Lefever Hughes
Paul Weber

 
ALCM Business Meeting Minutes

ALCM's constitution requires that a business meeting of the organization be held every two years at the biennial conference. This year's business meeting was held in Atlanta on July 21, 2015. Minutes of the business meeting are available for your review.
ALCM Board Meeting Synopsis

The ALCM board met in Atlanta prior to the beginning of the biennial conference. Here is a synopsis of that meeting:
  • Plans are well underway for exciting regional events in 2016. Regional budgets are due in October for consideration and planning with the budget.
  • Reviewed the new statement draft regarding who we (ALCM members) are and what we believe. Statement shared at the business meeting in Atlanta and feedback requested from all members. Members continue to be encouraged to submit their thoughts.
  • Rejoiced in the news that our Board and Development Team Members have together committed more than $10,000 in contributions to the Annual Fund.
  • Looking for opportunities to celebrate and promote ALCM's 30th anniversary in 2016.
  • Seeking to draft guidelines for weddings and funerals that can be utilized by all members.
  • Reviewed how redistribution of work has been going since the resignation of the executive director. We will continue to monitor and will be further reviewing our organizational structure at the January Board meeting.
  • Exploring the possibility of a change to a fiscal year that does not coincide with a calendar year to make tracking and planning easier for our organization.
  • Heard reports from our denominational representatives of plans and events for the upcoming year. We will incorporate information for all denominations as we are able in various publications throughout the year.
  • Expressed appreciation for the work of Nancy Raabe and her team for the In Tempo publication. It has been very well-received!
  • Expressed appreciation to ALCM conference chair David Ritter, and to Scott Weidler and our ELCA partners for their work in preparing for the Atlanta conference.
Thrivent Choice Dollars Benefit ALCM

From the Development Committee:

Are you a member of Thrivent Financial? If so, do you know that Thrivent has a program through which you can designate where some of Thrivent Financial's charitable outreach funds go? ALCM is on Thrivent's list of approved organizations, and last year Thrivent members directed $3,815 to ALCM.
 
So, if you are one of the people who directed dollars to ALCM, thank you! If you are a Thrivent member who has not done this, you can find out more information here: https://www.thrivent.com/making-a-difference/living-generously/thrivent-choice/
 
Then, it's a simple online process to help ALCM in this way!
 
Purchasing music for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany?
Have some last-minute purchases for your fall music program?
Check out Augsburg Fortress' special offer for ALCM members:

Bonhoeffer

The Crossing choir, conducted by founding director Donald Nally, will open its 10th Anniversary Season with three performances of Thomas Lloyd's acclaimed choral-theater work, Bonhoeffer.
 
Based on a libretto compiled by the composer from the letters of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his fiancé Maria von Wedemeyer, performances will be on Saturday evening, 
September 12, 2015 at Union Theological Seminary in New York, and Sunday September 13 in two afternoon performances at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral.
 
The Philadelphia Inquirer said of The Crossing's premiere of Lloyd's work in 2013, "Sometimes you just don't see a significant piece coming...While it effectively airs many philosophical questions that keep your mind busy long after the performance, it is never weighed down by them, and is rich in musical substance." The Crossing is the 2015 triennial Chorus America award winner as the top professional choir in the Unite States.