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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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January 2016
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Greetings!
I hope that 2016 is off to a great start for you!
We have BIG news!!
Registration for our summer conference is open now on our website!
Check out the exciting program. Spread the word to your friends and colleagues so they can join us, too. Remember, if a group from one church or school registers together, there is a discount.
As usual, there are many things going on to keep the staff busy on your behalf! We have two regional events coming up in the next six weeks and more in the planning stages. We're sponsoring a research project on a Romanian hymn writer and we've brought back our Occasional Papers: Carlton R. Young's plenary address from New Orleans will be published electronically on our website later this spring. It's exciting to be a part of so many engaging projects. From the scholarly to the practical, we're providing resources for congregational song to a wide audience. Thanks to each of you for all you're doing!
Keep in touch and keep singing ---
Deb Deborah Loftis
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Lifting Hearts - Joining Hands - Raising Voices: The Campaign for The Center for Congregational
S ong
2016 is the final year of our campaign to endow The Center for Congregational Song. We've been able to begin on many of our dream initiatives, but there's so much more we could do if funds were available.
Have you made a gift yet? If you made a pledge, are you up to date on your giving? This is a good time to review and make sure you are following through to help us succeed in this campaign.
Thank you for your commitment and participation and support!
Together we can accomplish much to encourage, promote, and enliven congregational song.
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2016 Annual Conference in Redlands, California ONLINE REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!!REGISTER NOWIntroducing Opening Hymn Festival Leader Kenneth Nafziger  Kenneth Nafziger is professor of music at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA. He is also artistic director and conductor of the annual Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival (Harrisonburg, VA) and of Winchester Musica Viva (in Winchester, Va.). Ken has been closely involved with recent Mennonite hymnals. He was music editor of Hymnal: A Worship Book (1992), editor of its accompaniment handbook, and assistant to the editor of Sing the Journey (2005) and Sing the Story (2007). He is active in the United States and Canada as a guest conductor, workshop leader and clinician. He co-authored a book, Singing, a Mennonite Voice, which was released in 2001. His article, "A Short History of Mennonite Hymnals," has been attracting attention on Facebook in recent days! Visit The Hymn Society Facebook page or click this link: http://mennobytes.com/a-short-history-of-mennonite-hymnals-presentation-by-ken-nafziger/ In addition to his hymnal editing, Ken is a richly gifted song enlivener. Conference regulars will remember that he led Morning Prayer each day during our 2013 conference in Richmond, VA. He will surely get our conference off to an inspiring start!
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George Black Scholarship Recipients The George Black Scholarship provides a year of Hymn Society membership to a student studying at a Canadian college or university. The recipients for 2016 are:
Rebecca Jess from Knox College, University of Toronto
Joy de Vito from Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo Congratulations to these students and thanks to their nominators, Sarah Travis and Kenneth Hull.
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Hymnals Available
Presbyterian Church of the Eternal Hills, Tabernash, CO has 150 "The Worshiping Church" Hymnals in excellent shape to donate. The church will pay reasonable shipping costs within continental US to any church that could use these hymnals. Smaller orders considered as well.
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Hymnal Collection Available
Nada Fuqua has a collection of 73 hymnals in English and a couple in German, dated 1814 to 1906, for which she wishes to find a good home. She has an inventory which she can send to anyone who is interested. Ms. Fuqua will sell the collection and cover the shipping for $100, and she will donate the money to The Hymn Society. She notes that there are several volumes of the Sacred Harp and Southern Harmony shaped note tradition and some earlier of the pre-Civil War period which might be purchased separately. Please contact her directly.
anonjr@aol.com
270-886-9890
3310 Cox Mill Rd., Hopkinsville KY 42240
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Amazon Smile Remember that you can support The Hymn Society each time to buy books and products through Amazon. Enter the site through Amazon Smile, register The Hymn Society as your charity, and then enjoy your purchases even more, knowing that a percentage will come to us as a result.
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Reviews of Hymn-Based Compositions
Thanks this month to Ginny Chilton for reviews of handbell music. Reviews
If you'd like to write some reviews of hymn-based compositions, please contact Robin Knowles Wallace rwallace@mtso.edu
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Hymn Society Hymn Search
As part of The Hymn Society's ongoing commitment to the enrichment of congregational song and in anticipation of the 2016 conference "Formed in Faith, Shaped by Song" the Executive Committee has announced a search for a theologically rich hymn or song that engages the theme of the role of congregational singing in faith formation. The winning entry will be premiered at our 2016 conference in Redlands, California. An effective entry in this hymn search will address how singing as a part of a faith community shapes faith through various stages of life. The prize for the winning entry will be $500. Submissions must be received in The Hymn Society office by May 15, 2016. See the attachments for the full announcement, guidelines and entry form.
Announcement Guidelines Entry Form |
Continuing Hymn and Psalm Contests
Reformation -- 500th Anniversary Search
"We are searching everywhere for poets," shared Martin Luther in a letter to a friend, "so that the Word of God may be among the people also in the form of music" (AE 49:68).
Centuries later, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is looking for rising, talented writers too! Our hymn competition in honor of the Reformation's 500th anniversary is your opportunity to create a brand new hymn text that will bless the Church around the world. Join the ranks of Reformation hymn writers Martin Luther, Paul Speratus, and Elizabeth Cruciger with an original entry that reflects the historic purpose of Christian hymns: a proclamation of the Word, teaching the faith, and praise to God.
Fairmount Presbyterian Church, 2757 Fairmount Blvd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 announces a Hymn Writing Competition for a new hymn (text and tune) to celebrate its 100th anniversary in October 2016. The hymn text and tune must be original, suited for praise and celebration for a centennial worship service. A cash prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the winner (author-composer) or equally divided between an author and composer team. The hymn will be premiered on Sunday, October 23, 2016. Submissions must be e-mailed or postmarked by May 1, 2016. Contact: Robert Moncrief, Minister of Music and Organist, at Rmoncrief@fairmountchurch.org or 216-321-5800 (ext.135).
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News of Members
Alisa Clapp-Itnyre has a new book, British Hymn Books for Children, 1800-1900 now available at http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9781409454304
There are also website materials which can be accessed at
Delores Dufner's new collection of 55 hymns, Criers of Splendor, will be ready to present at the Hymn Society conference in Redlands, CA. Delores reports, "As usual, many of my texts are set to public domain tunes, but I'm pleased and honored to include a number of new tunes by Hymn Society composers Ben Brody, Michael Guimont, Amanda Husberg, Thomas Keesecker, Sally Ann Morris, Iteke Prins, and Sam Young."
Peter Irvine presented on "The Genevan Psalter: Hymn Book of the Huguenots," at the meeting of the National Huguenot Society in Springfield, Illinois on October 10, 2015.
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Upcoming Events
January 16, 2016 - Lynn and Tim Anderson, who live and work in Colombia, will lead a Spanish Hymn Festival in the Miami area at Iglesia Bautista Bethel, 3805 W. 8th Ave., Hialeah, FL 33012 at 6:00 pm. Telephone: 305-557-1723 or 786-553-1797.
January 31, 2016 - "Light Dawns in a Weary World Psalms and Hymns of Praise and for Peace Made in Michigan" a festival featuring authors/composers born in or living in Michigan, will be presented at St. Adelbert's Basilica, 654 Davis Ave., NW, Grand Rapids, MI at 7:30 pm, led by Emily Brink, FHS, liturgist, and Bob Batastini, FHS, choir director. Peter Kurdziel, organist and music director. Writers or composers featured in the festival include: Bruce Benedict, Mary Louise Bringle, James and Marilyn Biery, Ray Haan, David Haas, Roy Hopp, Ken Medema, William Rowan, Greg Scheer, Adam Tice, and Larry Visser. The festival is co-sponsored by The Hymn Society and the Grand Rapids Chapter of the AGO.
February 27, 2016 - The Southern Ontario Chapter of The Hymn Society will welcome Dan Damon, distinguished writer, composer, theologian, and clinician, to speak on "Justice in Hymnody" at Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto. The event is co-sponsored by the Department of Continuing Education of Emmanuel College.
February 27, 2016 - "Singing with the Spirit," a workshop featuring national and local clinicians with tracks for pastors, music ministers, worship leaders, and keyboard players and a closing hymn festival, will be presented at Vienna Baptist Church, 541 Marshall Road, SW, Vienna, VA. CJ Redden-Liota is Music Minister at the church and host for the event. For more information, contact Brian Hehn brian@thehymnsociety.orgApril 2, 2016 - "Children Sing the World's Faith" an all-day event for children's choir with hymn festival open to the public at 3 pm. Brian Hehn will be the clinician. Location: Bon Air United Methodist Church, 1645 Buford Rd N Chesterfield, VA 2323. Contact Andrea Baxter for more information. abaxter@trinitylansdale.com April 4-6, 2016 - the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America) is hosting a conference for worship leaders at Valparaiso University in Indiana. Delores Dufner, OSB, FHS has been commissioned to write a hymn for the event, and to be one of the plenary speakers, along with Paul Westermeyer, FHS and Don Saliers, on the theme: Bearing God's Creative Word to All the World: Vocation and Worship. The commissioned hymn is "Who Is the Neighbor" (inspired by the Good Samaritan story), which has been set to music by St. Paul composer Mark Sedio.
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