As I was filing away some of the Lenten and Easter music, I realized Paul Manz’s Varied Hymn Accompaniments for Lent and Easter got a lot of use this year. I particularly appreciate that these collections are accessible for organist and congregation alike.
Yearly Archives: 2010
Seeing Christ in Word and Sacraments
Seeing is believing. Those were the words Thomas essentially said when the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas had not seen, so the skeptic in him did not believe. As I reread the Gospel lesson for this past Sunday (John 20:19-31) I am reminded that we do see Christ in Word and Sacraments and there receive all the benefits of His death and resurrection — forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. We hear the Word read and preached. We put on the baptismal waters that made us His. We touch the bread of life that was wounded for us. We taste the blood of Christ poured out for us. Like Thomas, our faith is strengthened by the word of the Lord and we respond with a joyous “My Lord and my God!”
Easter Joy!
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! A blessed Easter to you all.
“Joy to the Heart” by K. Lee Scott is one of my all time favorite Easter anthems. (The piece starts 39 seconds into the video). After that, you’ll find an Issues Etc show with Pastor Will Weedon discussing the piece and an organ setting of Christ Has Arisen, Alleulia (LSB 466).
March Resources
Today’s post is a mixed bag of several resource items that have caught my eye over the last few weeks.
HIS VOICE
The Good Shepherd Institute has recently published the bi-annual edition of their newsletter “His Voice” that focus on resources for pastoral theology and sacred music. In it you’ll find information on the next GSI conference (and the creative way they came up with the topic), book/article recommendations from John Pless, choral recommendations from Kantor Kevin Hildebrand, and music/article recommendations from Daniel Zager.
Model Theological Conference – Worship MP3
Two months ago the LCMS held its Model Theological Conference on Worship. While I wasn’t there, I enjoyed reading the insights of conference participants via Southern Lutheran Kantor, Fine Tuning, Liturgy, Hymnody, and Pulpit Quarterly Book Review, and Necessary Roughness.
The LCMS Commission on Worship just posted the MP3 files of the conference speakers on their website. While certainly not a substitute for being there, these MP3s do allow for greater distribution and review of the topics. Yet another opportunity for exploration.