Greetings,
Welcome to this newsletter highlighting resources for worship planning and leadership. There are many existing and new resources from the ELCA and our partners. Don't forget to visit ELCA.org/worship and click on "Worship Resources" for a library of liturgical and formational resources for use in your context. You might find something new (or new to you) and share it with others who help plan worship in your context. Blessings as we approach Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent.
In peace,
Deacon John E. Weit
Executive for Worship |
|
"For What Shall We Pray" (formerly "Prompts for Prayers of Intercession")
For over a year ELCA worship has offered weekly prompts "Prompts for Prayers of Intercession" to nourish your congregation's prayer life. Many of you have consulted this resource and offered helpful feedback in a November 2022 survey. A post by Melissa Bills, project coordinator, describes how this weekly blog, to be renamed "For What Shall We Pray" beginning in Lent, can be used more widely. Weekly blog posts will continue on the ELCA Worship Blog and the ELCA Worship Facebook page. For additional resources for crafting intercessions, visit this annotated list. |
Readings for the Assembly (Emended) is available for provisional use
Readings for the Assembly was first published in the mid-1990s and presented the Revised Common Lectionary texts in a version emended from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. While these texts are still available, the provisional Readings for the Assembly (Emended) is newly available to subscribers in downloadable PDFs from the Sundays and Seasons Library. A helpful blog post from Augsburg Fortress provides further information about this emended version, including a link to additional background and principles. Content will be added to the Sundays and Seasons Library in quarterly installments. |
Sundays and Seasons
As you plan ahead for Holy Week and the Easter season, several options — including readings scripted for multiple voices for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Vigil of Easter — are available on sundaysandseasons.com in the library under "Seasonal Rites for the Three Days." Seasonal texts, including "Thanksgivings at the Table" and "Thanksgiving for the Word" are available under "Seasonal Worship Texts." |
|
|
Assembly Song Companion to All Creation Sings
In February this companion to All Creation Sings is available for purchase from Augsburg Fortress. This accessible manual gives the context, origins, and character of the texts and tunes in All Creation Sings as well as practical guidance for musical leaders. |
|
|
|
|
Call for Songs for the Global Achtliederbuch
In 1524, Martin Luther published his first hymnal, the so-called Achtliederbuch. It documented what was sung in the young congregations of the Reformation movement. To celebrate the 500th anniversary of this hymnal, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) will release a hymnbook in 2024 titled Of Pilgrimage, Freedom and Belonging - A Global Achtliederbuch. It will contain music, prayers and blessings expressing the hopes and visions, from a global perspective, of being Christian in the Lutheran communion. The collection will stem from the seven regions of the LWF, and new arrangements and settings of Luther´s chorales will be included as a shared global heritage. Learn more about this project and how you can contribute to this work at https://www.hymnsandrites2024.org/ |
|
|
|
|
Worship Resources: International Women's Day — March 8
Each year on March 8, people around the world commemorate International Women's Day, dedicated to celebrating women's achievements throughout history and across nations. Worship resources are available to mark this day on a Sunday close to March 8. Learn how the ELCA is opening new paths of learning and leadership for young women from our global companions through the International Women Leaders program. This year, IWL is extending an invitation to all congregations to highlight International Women's Day in worship and to share a generous gift with the International Women Leaders program so that together we can educate women leaders around the world. |
|
|
Music that Makes Community
MMC is excited to offer an array of new programs in the new year, including in-person, online and multiaccess offerings throughout North America. Join them online on Mondays for "Morning Grounding," as well as its Intergenerational Worship Webinar on March 8. You are invited to join a pre-conference workshop at the 2023 InterGenerate Conference on June 12. Access the 2023 calendar on MMC's website to register for upcoming in-person, online and multiaccess programming. |
|
|
Finding Our Rhythm, in The Fullness Of Time Institute of Liturgical Studies — Valparaiso University April 17-19
Register now to receive early-bird rates (through Feb. 25).
|
Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival June 25—July 23 Valparaiso University, Ind.
Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM) is the nation's premier faith-based music academy for high school students (completed grades 8-12). Students come together from all over the country to immerse themselves in joyful music-making and build a supportive and welcoming community, living together on a Lutheran college campus. During the day students receive advanced musical instruction through large ensembles (festival choir, band, and orchestra), chamber music, private lessons, and elective classes (such as handbells, composition, church music, jazz, conducting, musical theater, music therapy). In the evening students attend recitals, evening prayer services, and social events with their friends. A half-session (June 25—July 9) is also available. To learn more, watch this LSM Overview Video or go to lsmacademy.org/program. Consider nominating a student and help connect young musicians to LSM. |
|
|
What • Wondrous • Love Philadelpha, Pa., July 4-8
|
Resources from the Center for Church Music
Established in 2010 at Concordia University Chicago, the Center for Church Music is a place where one can tap into an expansive online (or on-site) library of resources and perspectives on the music and art of the church with a focus on a Lutheran context.
From this link, one will find conversations on various topics in church music including a recently featured video conversation about a fine arts camp for elementary-aged children. The video conversation considers the how-to's, benefits, and joys of such an event and offers a free, 30-page, downloadable PDF on how to get started. |
|
|
|
|
| As we consider our relationships with Jewish neighbors, the new resource “Preaching and Teaching ‘With Love and Respect for the Jewish People’” explores challenging topics with lectionary selections and Bible passages to inform Christian preaching and teaching so that they respect the integrity of Jewish tradition and avoid anti-Jewish interpretation of New Testament texts. |
|
|
|
|
|
|