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 The Verse
A monthly newsletter |
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The Hymn Society
in the United States and Canada
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June 2014
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We've packed the bookstore, proof-read the program booklet, ordered the tote bags, assigned housing, set the catering menus . . . . . you'd think we have a conference coming up!! Sherry, Elizabeth, Kelly and I leave in one week to finalize the last details in Columbus. We have a wonderful group of registrants --and we SO close to breaking the attendance numbers for 2013. Who will put us over the 343 tally? That person will win a $100 gift certificate to the conference Bookstore.
If you haven't registered, you have just a few hours left to do so online and perhaps you'll win the prize! Actually everyone who comes to Columbus will be a winner because there'll be so much to enjoy, learn, and take back home with you.
Come and join us if you can!!
Till then, keep singing!
Deb
Deborah Loftis
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2014 Conference in Columbus, Ohio
Online Registration closes July 1!
After July 1 we will accept walk-up registrations at the conference
Follow this link to go directly to registration Register 
Registration available
online and in the Winter issue of The Hymn
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Nominations for Executive Committee
The following nominees will be presented for election to the Executive Committee at the Annual Meeting July 16, in Columbus. Photos and biographical sketches will appear in the Spring issue of The Hymn which members should receive shortly. Geoffrey Moore - President Elect Kirk Hartung - second term as Treasurer Swee Hong Lim - Director of Research Sipkje Pesnichak - Member at Large We are gathering nominations for Executive Committee openings to be filled in July 2015 for the following positions: Secretary Member at large We also would appreciate suggestions for persons to serve on the Editorial Advisory Board for The Hymn and persons to write the Hymn Interpretation and Hymn Performancs columns in The Hymn. If you wish to nominate someone for office, please contact them to obtain their permission. Send nominations and your suggestions for EAB and contributors to The Hymn to Geoffrey Moore gcmoore@flash.net |
Need a Ride to the Conference from Chicago?
I will be driving alone from the Chicago suburbs to Columbus for next month's Conference. If you know of anyone who needs a ride to and from Columbus from the Chicago area, please have them contact me. Scott Powell, CPCU, AIC Vice President, Educational and Technical Services Property and Liability Resource Bureau 3025 Highland Parkway, Suite 800 Downers Grove, Illinois 60615-1291 Phone 630-724-2226 Fax 630-724-2260 Email: spowell@plrb.org |
 Lifting Hearts - Joining Hands - Raising Voices This summer, we're trying to increase the number of our members who are participating in our fund-raising campaign with a slogan entitled, "O For a Thousand" Wouldn't it be amazing if we had 1000 of our members paritipating in the campaign -- giving at whatever level is right for each one? We've had very generous donors to the campaign so far, but they make up a very small percentage of our membership. We'd like that percentage to be higher, especially when we go to outside foundations and individuals. Those potential donors need to know that our own membership has invested in the plans for the future. You've made a commitment to the present with your membership dues. Won't you consider investing in the future by contributing to our campaign to build our endowment and facilitate The Center for Congregational Song? You can give online securely at our website by clicking on the Donate tab and selecting the second option for contribution type: The Endowment Fund: "Lifting Hearts - Joining Hands - Raising Voices: The Campaign for The Center for Congregational Song" Make sure you're one in a thousand!!
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| News of Members
Delores Dufner, OSB, FHS will will be zooming around the country this summer. She'll have to depart our annual conference in Columbus early in order to be present at the NPM annual convention in St. Louis where she will receive NPM's Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented at the Pastoral Musicians' Breakfast on Thursday morning, July 17, by St. John's Anthony Ruff, OSB, who is a member of the Board of Directors.
The 2015 AGO Regional meetings will feature several Hymn Society members. Thomas Troger will deliver the keynote address for The Northeast Region meeting in New Haven, CT. Mary Beth Bennett is one of the artists featured at the Mid-Atlantic Region, meeting in Pittsburgh. Kelly Dobbs-Mikus will be a workshop leader at the North Central Region meeting in St. Louis.
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Hymn-based Compositions
Our reviews for June are submitted by
Helen Skuggedal Reed (organ) and Fred R. Coleman (choral). Many thanks to these friends! Organ reviews
Choral reviews
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Invitation to Visit Brazil
The First Independent Presbyterian Church of São Paulo, Brazil is extending an invitation to American Choirs willing to come to Brazil in a fraternal visit to join in the services to be held in commemoration of 150 years of its founding by American missionaries. The church will host choir members offering room and board. The commemoration services are to be held Thursday March 5th, Saturday March 7th and Sunday March 8th 2015. Choirs may sing in English or Portuguese and translation may be provided when needed. For further information please contact João W. Faustini at jowifa@aol.com
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A Special Invitation from Choristers Guild
Hymn Society Members and Friends - If you work with children's or youth choirs, or would like to develop a children's choir program in your church or school, we invite you to consider attending the Choristers Guild Institute, an ecumenical summer certification program for Directors of Young Singers in Churches and Church Schools. The certification process is designed to strengthen directors' musical and pedagogical skills and to equip them to effectively integrate children in worship. Successful graduates of the three-summer program receive Choristers Guild "Certified Director of Young Singers" Certification, a valuable and respected professional credential, and become part of a close and supportive nationwide network of Institute alumni.
The 2014 Choristers Guild Institute will be held July 20-26, 2014 at Wingate University, near Charlotte, NC. For more information and to register, visit www.choristersguild.org/institute or call 1-800-CHORISTER.
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Fanny Crosby Request
The office received the following request:
I am totally blind, college educated, relatively newly saved, and very interested in Fanny Crosby. I am seeking anyone who is an expert on Fanny Crosby or someone who portrayed or portrays her? I am eager to try my hand at my own portrayal, especially from the perspective of a blind person. Thank you.
Camy Valente, Skype ID camval11
em1jco@comcast.net
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Great Hymns of Our Faith - DVD
Rod Hoek, from George Whitefield College in Capetown, South Africa, sent notices to all the Hymn Societies around the world advertising a benefit DVD of a hymn event in 2012. Proceeds from the DVD help to train women and men across Africa in ministry. For more information and to order this professionally produced DVD, see the attached flyer. DVD Flyer
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New Contests
Call for Hymns on Labor and Faith Faculty from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, and leaders in a growing faith and labor movement are preparing a collection of songs suitable for use in churches, union halls, and at actions that highlight the focus on the struggles, hope, and agency of working people and their communities. Included will be recent hymns on this theme that speak to the labor situation today. Entries should be submitted electronically to Michael Hawn mhawn@smu.edu by October 31, 2014. The first place entry will receive $500. The second place entry will receive $300. The judges will choose other texts, along with the winning texts, for inclusion in the song collection. The original texts should be paired with well-known public domain tunes from the United States that may easily sung in a variety of venues including public gatherings and marches as well as in worship gatherings.
More information
Psalm Contest
Church of the Servant invites congregational songwriters to submit a Psalm-based song to its 2014 COS New Psalm Contest. The winner will receive a $500 award. There is no entry fee and the contest is open to all. Submissions must be emailed or postmarked by October 1, 2014. More information
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Continuing Contests
Macalester-Plymouth United Church in St. Paul, MN announces the nineteenth annual international contest for English language hymn writers. The 2014 contest will be a search for a hymn text that celebrates God's presence in current social changes and changes in the church. It carries a prize of $500. All entries must be postmarked by December 31, 2014. For more information, view the attached flyer.
Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, is pleased to announce its first Church Music Search, a contest for composers and authors. This annual and international search calls for the creation of congregational hymns, choral anthems and orchestral music that engage and exclaim liberal Christian theology and associated themes. Each year a different musical category and theological theme will be selected to resource Pullen and other theologically-liberal congregations with artistic and meaningful church music.
The 2015 search is for an SATB choral anthem suitable for adult choirs with keyboard accompaniment (organ or piano). Other optional instrumental parts may be included. The text of the anthem should express the meaning and celebration of Easter from a theologically-liberal viewpoint.
An award of $1500 will be given to the creator of the winning selection (or divided equally between author and composer). Though the Pullen Music Ministry will retain the right to print and use the winning selection in perpetuity, copyright will remain with the creator(s) and a publisher will be sought for the winning composition.
Entries are submitted electronically and will be accepted through February 1, 2015. Find submission guidelines and enter at: www.pullen.org/musicsearch .
For additional information contact Larry E. Schultz at lschultz@pullen.org.
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Upcoming Events
September 23-25, 2014 -- Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA will host: Faith in Our Music: Many Voices, Diverse Chords, Common Hopes. This three-day conference will combine diverse worship experiences with interesting, relevant workshops to help pastors, musicians, worship committees, and anyone who loves music to experience the wide varieties of music for worship.
The conference features John Bell, from the Iona Community in Scotland; Amanda Powell, expert in global music; and Warren Cooper, who in well-known for spiritual jazz music.
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Recent Events
April 27, 2014 - Bon Air Presbyterian Church in Richmond, VA dedicated their copies of the new Presbyterian hymnal, Glory to God, with a service entitled "Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord." Steve Henley is Organist and Director of Music. June 14, 2014 -- Sacred Harp composer Raymond Hamrick, of Macon, GA turned 99 and celebrated at an all-day Sacred Harp singing held in his honor at the civic center in Roberta. Until a few weeks prior to that date, he was still repairing watches at Andersen's Jewelers in downtown Macon. Read more of the story here: http://www.macon.com/2014/06/14/3149855/at-99-the-old-clockmaker-looks.html#storylink=cpyHarry Eskew, FHS, sent the information to us to share.
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2015 British Conferences
There are two conferences in England in 2015 that you may want to attend. It's not too early to plan international travel, so here are the details.
The joint meeting of our Hymn Society with HSGBI and IAH will be held at
Robinson College, Cambridge. The conference will begin with registration on Sunday, 26th July 2015 with the Conference programme beginning on Monday and concluding on Friday 31st July. It is anticipated that there will be at least one optional outing day on Saturday, 1st August. The Conference theme will be: Hymns in Liturgy and Life. Revd Michael Garland is convening the group which will be organising the Conference. Details
The third biennial conference of Christian Congregational Music: Global and Local Perspectives will be held at Rippon College Cuddesdon, Oxford on August 4-7, 2015. Details
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