O Sing of Christ
Some of you may be familiar with O Sing of Christ (LSB 362) by Stephen Starke – a wonderful Christmas hymn text that will be new to many, but coupled to the tune Forest Green (sometimes sung to O Little Town of Bethlehem). While listening to my Christmas iPod playlist, I came across a recording [...]
Heirs of the Reformation CD Set
Today the good folks at FedEx delivered one of two long awaited items I’ve had on preorder from CPH. Hot off the press is a “sequel” (for lack of a better word) to the 4 CD set Martin Luther: Hymns, Ballads, Chants, Truth. This next 4 CD set – Heirs of the Reformation – focuses [...]
Higher Hymnody: The Gifts Christ Freely Gives
Here’s a good article by Jonathon Kohlmeier over at Higher Things on hymnody. In particular, he takes a look at Kantor Richard Resch’s hymn “The Gifts Christ Freely Gives” (LSB 602) and comments on the gifts we receive in the Divine Service. Thanks Jonathon! A brief excerpt: Have you ever asked, “Why do we sing [...]
Hymn Boards and Their Use in Early Lutheranism
“Hymn Boards and Their Use in Early Lutheranism.” That sounds like the title of a dissertation on an obscure facet of Lutheran history. While I have no idea if anyone has actually researched the history of the hymn board, I did find a passing reference to it in my latest lunch time reading – a [...]
LCMS Approves 100 "Worship / Praise" Songs
In 2006, the LCMS through the Commission on Worship published its new hymnal Lutheran Service Book. Now it looks they have moved on to a new project – reviewing “worship and praise songs” for use in LCMS churches. According to a Reporter (official LCMS newspaper) article, 100 “worship and praise songs” have successfully made their [...]
Lutheran Hymnody Makes the Evening News
How often do you hear Lutheran hymnody on television? Not often. How often does it make the evening news? Almost never . . . that is until “Singing the Faith: Living the Lutheran Liturgical Heritage” was produced by the Good Shepherd Institute. I stumbled across the news story “Seminary Prof. Produces Music Documentary” at the [...]
+ Jaraslov Vajda – 1919-2008 +
The Concordia Publishing House website reports that Dr. Jaraslov Vajda died on May 10, 2008. I first encountered his hymns with the now familiar “Go, My Children, With My Blessing”. Some of us recently sang or read his Ascension hymn “Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels” (LSB 491) . The doxological verse to this hymn [...]
“There’s Just Too Many Hymn Stanzas”
How many times have you heard this: There’s just too many hymn stanzas? Or for that matter, how many times have you thought this on a Sunday morning? I remember as a teenager reading TLH #315. (While I haven’t been at a congregation that uses The Lutheran Hymnal for a few years now, I still [...]
Lutheran Devotions – The Disney Way
Is it possible to put Devotions and Disney in the same sentence and still be serious? Unfortunately, it has been done (by people in the LCMS, no less). Today (April 22, 2008) is the 10th Anniversary of a worship service held at the Oregon Pastors’ Conference (Northwest District LCMS) which my family has called the [...]
Te Deum at Kramer Chapel
While reviewing some discussion threads over at Wittenberg Trail, a comment by Susan reminded me of my first experience singing Stephen Starke’s paraphrase of the Te Deum – “We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God” (LSB 941). Susan wrote, “Go to Kramer Chapel and hear those men singing Starke’s Te Deum. When you can [...]
Kantor’s Reading List- Circ de Soleil -- From Church to Circus Pastor Peters
- Can We Still Call Ourselves the Church of J. S. Bach? Pastor Peters
- Pastoral Care Done by the Laity; Lay Work Done by the Pastor Pastor Peters
- Your Church May Not Be a Church If . . . Paul T. McCain
- What Makes Lutheran Worship Lutheran? Stephen R. Johnson
Share your thoughts . . .