1999

This hymn festival focused on multilingual and global worship, including the Lord's Prayer in Spanish, Nkosi, Nkosi from South Africa, Kyrie Eleison from Ghana, Halelua! Pelo Tso Rona from South Africa, Khudaya, rahem kar from Pakistan, a greeting of peace in an Asian Manner, and prayers from Ghana, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Peru, and Mexico.

Be reconciled all you who enter here–parents and children; husbands and wives; believers and those who cannot believe; Christians and their fellow Christians.

This plenary session examined recent hymns in 12 different categories: Knowledge of an Incomprehensible God, Creation, Wisdom, Sin and Grace, The Suffering God, Jesus Christ, The Holy Trinity, Praise and Worship, Dignifying the Common Life, Social Justice, The Church, and Global Awareness.

Several practices in Christian worship remind us of our baptism. The entire season of Lent is not first of all an extended meditation on the suffering and death of Jesus, but rather a preparation for or remembrance of our baptism. The declaration of pardon following the prayer of confession is, in many churches, read by the pastor from the baptismal font, a reminder of the grace that is sealed to us in our baptism. Several denominations have developed "remembering your baptism" services. In some of these services, worshipers are invited to physically touch the water of the baptismal font as reminder of their baptism.

This morning we invite you, to experience that renewal as you remember the promises claimed in your baptism.

Two compiled handouts outlining their respective worship services, including all hymns.

"To lead the people in song is at once simple and complex. It is a marvelously varied affair. It may mean leading a small congregation in an unaccompanied unison line, or it may mean leading a large assembly with choirs, bands, and orchestras in polyrhythmic and polytonal complexity. Men or women can do it, and those with the most creative capacities will never cease to be challenged by it. It encompasses the simplest amateur expression and the most perfect possible professional performance. It is for the part-time amateur and the full-time J.S. Bach. And it is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do."

--Paul Westermeyer, The Church Musician, rev. ed. (Augsburg Fortress, 1997)

A newspaper advertisement for the 12th Calvin Symposium on Worship.

On campus flyers advertising the Twelfth Symposium on Worship and the Arts, and the Art In Worship Exhibit, which attempts to enlarge the vision of the worshiping community of Christ, to stimulate arts created to enhance the worship experience, and to provide resources for future enrichment of our congregational spaces.

The Calvin Symposium on worship and the Arts aims to bring together worship leaders and planners, pastors and youth leaders, artists and musicians from many church traditions to engage in worship, fellowship, learning, and discussion around preaching, drama, organ and choral music, worship, visual art, and congregational song.

The conference program is both ecumenical and Reformed, both principled and practical, both appreciative of a heritage and open to contemporary expression.

A mailer for the 12th Symposium on Worship including contact information for the Symposium and featured presenters.

A short schedule for the 12th Symposium on Worship, including a list of events and leaders.