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 The Verse
A monthly newsletter |
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The Hymn Society
in the United States and Canada
| June 2013
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Greetings!
We're busy taking care of all the final preparations to welcome you to Richmond for our annual conference. We have over 300 people already registered but there's still room for you! We can take your online registration without campus housing until July 8.
Walk-up registrations with off-campus housing will be accepted at the conference.
We have lots of news to share this month -- a new hymn contest, some happy news and sad news of members, and events you'll want to know about.
As we in the US look forward to celebrating Independence Day soon, I am grateful that our freedoms includes the freedom to worship as we desire, and I'm especially grateful that means we can sing heartily as we worship! I hope you'll join me in prayer for those around the world whose ability to express their faith is limited.
Meanwhile, keep singing!!
Deb
Deborah Loftis
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2013 Conference, Richmond, VA July 14-18
50 years ago, Vatican II contributed new voices to our revitalized congregational song.
Join us to explore how a rich cross-fertilization continues to inspire a new generation of writers.
Last days to Register in Advance
Register by July 8
After July 8, walk-up registrations will be accepted at the conference.
YUM!!
A real treat is in store --
Wednesday evening Ice Cream Social
sponsored by Hope and GIA Publishing Companies
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Conference Bookstore HUGE SALE
The biggest Hymn Society sale ever!
We are taking everything in our inventory to the conference bookstore and nearly all of it will be marked down drastically. This is your chance to add all the titles you've been wishing for -- and at tremendous savings!!! The University of Richmond has a post office right on campus, so you can also arrange to ship your treasures home.
We will also have back issues of THE HYMN available. Because of space constrictions and our plan to digitize the back issues, we are culling our holdings. You get the benefit!! Take what you need and make a donation to the Lovelace Scholarship fund --whatever you think is appropriate. But you have to be at the conference to take advantage of this offer. |
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The "Move" -- Update
The Hymn Society has moved, is moving, will move again.
This is certainly a summer of transitions! Remember that our phone numbers are still the same but they all ring to one phone! We don't know exactly when we'll move to our new, permanent location, but we are expecting that to happen sometime in August. When that time arrives we'll have a few days where you may have difficulty reaching us but we'll post information on the website so you'll know what is happening.
While our physical location will change, our mailing address will stay the same: 3400 Brook Road, Richmond, VA 23227. The new school that has purchased the property is allowing us to keep our present address as long as the offices stay in Richmond.
We'll let you know when we're unpacked and settled in the new offices.
Thanks for your patience in the transition!!
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The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology
will be launched at a special conference to be held in Bristol, United Kingdom on 19th and 20th October 2013. The new dictionary is the first successfully completed update of John Julian's Dictionary of Hymnology for over 100 years. There has been a significant contribution to this publication from North American authors, so it would be highly fitting to have among the delegates at the Bristol conference a good representation from across the Atlantic! The weekend promises to be a celebration of this monumental publication and all the people who have put so much hard work into it. For further information on the schedule, speakers and conference rates, please visit the conference website, where you can also register as a delegate:
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Upcoming Events
Community of Christ will present their new hymnal, Community of Christ Sings
with a conference entitled, "Peace, Justice, and Song" on October 17-19, 2013. John Thornberg will present the keynote address; John Bell, FHS, will lead worship and workshop sessions. Jane Gardner, Jan Kraybill, Lauren Hall, and Joey Williams who have worked to produce the hymnal will also lead portions of the event. Congratulations to all! The Hymn Society will showcase this new hymnal at the 2014 conference in Columbus, Ohio.
Holy Land Tour
Join Tony Alonso, Marty Haugen and Msgr. Ray West for an 11-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land, December 26- January 5. See the atached brochure for more information. brochure
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News of Members
Congratulations to Eileen Guenther, who was recently promoted to Professor of Church Music at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Guenther news release
Bruce Neswick, Associate Professor of Organ at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, has led several hymn festivals around the country this past year. Since September 2012, he has played and conducted at Stambaugh Auditorium, Youngstown, OH (for the Youngstown chapter of the American Guild of Organists); Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr, PA (for the Philadelphia chapter of the AGO); St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Chattanooga, TN; Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, IN; Glenview Community Church, Glenview, IL (for the Chicago and North Shore chapters of the AGO); Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Jacksonville, FL; and Christ Church Episcopal, Alexandria, VA.
We have just learned that in January, at the fifth "Word and Note" Conference, Plymouth Congregational Church, Wichita, Al Fedak and Mary Louise Bringle premiered a new hymn, "God is the Poet." To see the full text and read more about the conference, check out the attached article: Word and Note Article
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In Memoriam
We are saddened to learn of the passing of two of our members this month.
J. William Lamb, died on June 10, 2013 in Toronto, ON. It was at Bill's initiative that several people gathered to form a local chapter of the Hymn Society in Toronto, now the Southern Ontario Chapter of The Hymn Society. He remained an active member. Prayers are lifted for his wife, Gina, and their family. A memorial service is planned for July 4.
Donald P. Hustad, FHS, died on June 22, 2013 in Chicago, IL. Our prayers go out to his wife of over 70 years, Ruth, and to his entire family. A continuing mentor and encourager to his many students he continued to be active in writing and teaching in his retirement community. A memorial service will be held in about 2-3 weeks.
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Hymnology Course Available Online
The Hymn Society is sponsoring an online Hymnology course to be offered this fall through Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and taught by Dr. Deborah Carlton Loftis. It will be a three-credit, master's level course, in a course of study fully accredited by ATS. Students at any seminary or divinity school may take the course and transfer the credit to their home institution. Contact the Hymn Society office (1-800-THE HYMN) for more information on how to enroll. The class begins September 9, 2013.
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June 3, 2013 -- A Hymn Festival, "In Praise of the Trinity" was held at Community United Methodist Church, Slingerlands, NY, led by Brian Axford, piano, Iteke Prins, organ and George Smith, saxophone.
Lynn Anderson, Life member, and her husband, Tim, live in Colombia, South America and give frequent seminars in Spanish. They were in the States in January and were asked to give two seminars in English at the last minute before they traveled to Colombia.
Sunday, June 9, 2013 at Iglesia Alfa y Omega, Homestead FL
Saturday-Sunday, Jun 29-30, 2013 at Iglesia Biblica Faro de Luz, East Boston MA
Be sure to let us know of hymn festivals in your area. Send copies of the program to the office if available so that we can pass them along to others for planning ideas. |
Reviews of Hymn-Based Compositions
Wesley Roberts has submitted this months review of hymn compositions for the piano. Thanks, Wesley!
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Thanksgiving Day Idea
Hilary Fylstra wrote to suggest a new Thanksgiving Day custom: singing a hymn of gratitude and thanks while waiting for the turkey to finish cooking. She suggests that Hymn Society members would be excellent family song leaders to spread this custom!
If your family already sings while waiting for the Thanksgiving feast, perhaps you could encourage friends to take up the practice.
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| New Hymn Contest
The Liturgy and Music Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut is seeking submission of new hymn texts for a competition to select a new hymn to be used at our annual Diocesan Convention on October 25-26, 2013 in Stamford, CT.
The text shall be inspired by the theme of the Convention, "The Way of Jesus: Growing in God's Mission." The goal is to have a hymn that will serve as a unifying element throughout the convention itself and beyond through use in parishes.
The text should consist of 4-5 stanzas in a regular meter that can be paired with an existing hymn tune.
Authors shall suggest a tune from The Hymnal 1982 to accompany the submitted text; the Commission reserves the right to select a different tune for the winning submission. The tune shall be in the public domain.
The text should utilize inclusive, contemporary English.
Texts must be submitted as an e-mail attachment to Jody Wynn Rodiger at jrodiger@ctdiocese.org no later than August 25, 2013 at 11:59 pm.
The competition will be judged by members of the Liturgy and Music Commission in a blind reading of submitted texts. The judges reserve the right not to choose a winner if no submission is deemed of suitable merit.
A prize of $500 will be awarded to the winning text. All participants will be notified of the decision of the Commission by October 1, 2013.
For more information: https://www.ctepiscopal.org/Content/2013_Convention.asp#hymn
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| Continuing Hymn Contests and Searches
South Congregational Church United Church of Christ (South Church), Kennebunkport, ME, announces a contest for hymn writers. It carries a prize of $1000 for the winning entry. We are asking for a new hymn which speaks of the Church and it's ministry to the wider community, rooted in its history, responsive to the present and laying a foundation for the future. All entries must be postmarked by September 15, 2013. The judges will arrive at their decision by November 1, 2013. For more information see the attached pdf: South Church Contest
Dan Damon is seeking new songs for a forthcoming collection from Hope Publishing Company: At Your Altars (chants, refrains, and short songs) with a projected publication date of June 2014. The deadline for submissions is August 1, 2013. For more information see the attached file: Song search
The 2013 Macalester Plymouth United Church hymn contest will be a search for a new Advent or Christmas carol which speaks to the mystery and wonder of the Incarnation, and the coming of the One who brings justice, mercy and "peace to all on earth." As always, both new music and familiar music is welcome! For more information, call the church (651-698-8871) or visit the church website at www.macalester-plymouth.org. For more details, consult the attached pdf: Macalester Plymouth 2013
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New Presybyterian Hymnal, Glory to God
The Presbyterian Publishing Company is accepting pre-publication orders for the new hymnal to be released in fall 2013. For more information: Glory to God
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