Worship March 2021

Resources and Events

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March 2021


Dear siblings in Christ,

We are about to enter our second Holy Week in pandemic times. We likely could not have imagined that this year’s celebration of Palm/Passion Sunday, the Three Days, and the Resurrection of Our Lord would still take place apart from our gathered communities or transformed to look, feel, and sound quite different. Yet this is where we are. God in Christ meets us here just as he did for those at the tomb, who thought all seemed lost. As hymn writer Brian Wren has remarked, “Darkness is the cradle of the dawning” (ACS 1096). We have seen in this year that our processions have moved into marches for justice, that our footwashing has meant tending the sick, that our looking toward the cross points us to identify with all those who suffer violence at the hands of those in power. It is an interesting juxtaposition that the church marks the Annunciation of Our Lord right before Holy Week this year (March 25). Into a time of lament comes the promise we read in Luke 1:26-38. The angel’s voice tells Mary, “Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God.” (1:30). With the incredible news that the Holy Spirit will do this, Mary says yes to the angel’s words.

John Bell in the hymn “No Wind at the Window” describes the scene this way:

“No payment was promised, no promises made;
no wedding was dated, no blueprint displayed.
Yet Mary, consenting to what none could guess,
replied with conviction, ‘Tell God I say yes.’” (ACS 906)

The plans we have had for all our celebrations in church, family, and community have rarely materialized as we expected this year. Much is still unknown. Yet with Mary, we can move into this Holy Week and Easter empowered by the Holy Spirit and in trusting God’s “yes.”

Peace in Christ,
Deacon Jennifer Baker-Trinity
Program Director for Worship Resources


All Creation Sings

Revisit the February All Creation Sings Overview Webinar.

Pew, Accompaniment, and Leaders editions are available for purchase. Introductory pricing for the Pew edition is available until June 15, 2021.

The All Creation Sings website includes videos of selected hymns and songs, recordings of Setting 11, several blog posts, and a resource to support introducing ACS in synods and congregations.

ALCM
Worship Resources at ELCA.org

Thanksgiving for the Word prayers for Easter and the Time after Pentecost are available in PDF and Word formats.

In response to the statement from the Association of Asians and Pacific Islanders of the ELCA, resources for a Day of Lament against racism are available in PDF and Word formats. Many congregations will mark this day on March 21; however, any date may be chosen as appropriate for your context.
Worship Resources



Worship in the Home
Worship in the Home” is available weekly on the ELCA Worship blog. You are encouraged to worship as you are able in homes on Sunday and throughout the week. If you don’t have Evangelical Lutheran Worship at home, a copy can be purchased through Augsburg Fortress’ web store, or perhaps your church might set up a lending library for home use. In addition to Sunday worship resources, resources for Daily Prayer are available, including simplified forms of Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer as well as table prayers.




Recently featured in the Worship blog

The Work of Lamenting Racism in All Creation Sings

Singing at the Vigil of Easter with All Creation Sings

 
 

Resources and Events

ALCM 2021 Webinar Series
“Don’t Dumb It Down for Children (or Adults),” Friday, March 26, 2 p.m. (Eastern time)

Join Rae Ann Anderson as she presents an informative webinar to introduce or remind you of tools and techniques to help children be the best they can be and to create the quality musical offering they deserve to experience. See ALCM Webinars for more information and for registration.

ALCM Virtual Easter Hymn:

"Jesus Christ Is Risen Today," arranged by Kevin J. Hildebrand, features over 1,900 singers and instrumentalists. Use this link to download the hymn beginning Thursday, March 25. This video is available for all to use, with all copyright restrictions waived.
ALCM
Music that Makes Community

Are you on Facebook? Join the MMC community by liking its page. For other resources and events, go to the MMC website.
congregational song
Institute of Liturgical Studies 2021 Virtual Seminar Series

The third and final seminar will take place Tuesday, April 13, at 1 p.m. (Eastern time) with guest speaker Gail Ramshaw.

More information and registration are available on the ILS website.
2021 Virtual Seminar Series

Worship resources from Augsburg Fortress

Feb Product 3
Music Sourcebook and
Worship Guidebook for Lent
and the Three Days Set
Feb Product 4
Holden Prayer Around
the Cross and
Singing Our Prayer
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