The contemporary/traditional dichotomy that came to exist in the last few decades of the 20^th century has caused discomfort and even emotional pain among many worshipers, church musicians, and pastors alike. The effects of these “worship wars”—as they came to be known—will likely last for decades to come. Much has been written about this topic, but perhaps examining it under the lens of social capital—the shared values that enable groups to trust each other—can provide some insight into how to move beyond the dichotomy.

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“Sometimes our only song is weeping, our only sound a gasping breath . . .” (ACS 1050)

This is the first line of a new hymn in All Creation Sings, the upcoming worship supplement from Augsburg Fortress, found in the subsection “Lament.” Along with other new hymns in All Creation Sings, and their siblings in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, they are powerful source material as we grieve widespread sickness and death, old inequalities and fresh injustices. Hope itself can seem lost.

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Sometimes you fall in love with a hymn the very first time you hear it. “In Sacred Manner” by Susan Palo Cherwien is one of those for me. It’s included in All Creation Sings, the supplement to Evangelical Lutheran Worship coming in November 2020, and one reason I’m so struck by this text is that it suggests our relationship with creation should include learning from nature, not just inviting creation to join our song.

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This music goes well with the lectionary texts for Sunday, August 30, and does not require a choir: 

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The following music pairs well with the lectionary texts for Sunday, August 23, and does not require a choir or other large ensemble: 

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This music resonates with the lectionary texts for Sunday, August 16, and can be done without a choir or other large ensemble: 

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The following music goes well with the lectionary readings for Sunday, August 9, 2020, and does not require a choir: 

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During the virtual music clinic that Augsburg Fortress hosted last month, clinician Christopher Aspaas mentioned two websites. The first was this slide deck presenting preliminary findings of an aerosol study of a singer and various instrumentalists. The study examined the aerosols emitted while the singer talked and sang and while the instrumentalists played their instruments, including a clarinet, a horn, a flute, and a trumpet. Findings and recommendations included a confirmation of the need to wear a mask at all possible times, especially while speaking or singing, and the need to ensure that each musician is at least six feet away in every direction from any other person.  

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Editor’s note: We asked Chad Fothergill, author of the recent Worship Matters handbook Sing with All the People of God, to write about how the book might still be useful given recent guidance surrounding group singing. This is what he wrote. This post also appears on the Prelude Music Planner Blog.

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This is a challenging time to work in church music. Choir plans have been scuttled as a result of public health guidelines and we are working with new methods of connecting with one another. Many are streaming music from home as part of online worship services. To assist with this, Augsburg Fortress is extending through July 31, 2020, its temporary permission for worshiping communities to include Augsburg Fortress administered liturgical text and liturgical music copyrights in a livestream or podcast. Read more about this in our landing page.

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