Music, Liturgy, and the Arts

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hymns

Rematching Tunes and Texts

  • by liturgyandmusic
  • Posted on November 28, 2016November 29, 2016
  • The Weekly Word
Picture of hymn in hymnal

Denominational hymnals contain many wonderful texts that we do not sing on a regular basis—texts that might amplify and enrich the appointed scriptures, giving worshippers fresh insights into the nature of God and God’s work […]

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Thanks Be to God!

  • by liturgyandmusic
  • Posted on November 22, 2016November 22, 2016
  • The Weekly Word
Autumnal display

What better way is there to give thanks to God for all God’s good gifts than to sing? To quote our faculty consultant in liturgy, the Rev. Dr. James Farwell, the default mode of liturgy is […]

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Ask Ambrose: Hymn-Anthems for Advent

  • by liturgyandmusic
  • Posted on October 20, 2016December 30, 2019
  • Ask Ambrose
Advent wreath candles

Q: I have a small church choir and am looking for hymns that would make good anthems for choirs. Can you please help? A: You will be please to know that, as a hymn expert, I, Ambrose, […]

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To Sing or Not to Sing Communion Hymns

  • by liturgyandmusic
  • Posted on October 17, 2016October 17, 2016
  • The Weekly Word
People receiving Communion

Recently, CLM director Ellen Johnston did some crowd-sourcing on the Episcopal Church Musicians Facebook page, asking the following question: “Tell me about communion hymns in your parish. Do people sing them? If not, why is […]

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Ask Ambrose: What Do Those Numbers Mean?

  • by liturgyandmusic
  • Posted on August 3, 2016December 30, 2019
  • Ask Ambrose
Two students look at a copy of The Hymnal 1982.

Q: What do the numbers at the bottom of hymns mean? What about the words in italics? A: The numbers (87.87.D, for example) denote the meter of the hymn. In this example, it means that […]

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Alternatives to the Gloria in excelsis

  • by liturgyandmusic
  • Posted on July 6, 2016July 15, 2016
  • The Weekly Word
VTS Seminary choir singing

In the Episcopal rites for the Holy Eucharist, following either the Collect for Purity or the Opening Acclamation (if the Collect for Purity is omitted in Rite Two), the Book of Common Prayer allows for […]

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Ask Ambrose: Alternatives to the Sequence Hymn

  • by liturgyandmusic
  • Posted on April 16, 2016December 30, 2019
  • Ask Ambrose

Q: Our previous Music Director had a book full of Gospel Acclamations to use with an alleluia chant, which we did instead of a sequence hymn. Do you know of an Episcopal resource for this? A: […]

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Testimonials

In planning morning liturgies for the Deep Calls to Deep initial week-long Residency, Ellen Johnston created worship that was sensitive to the needs and emphases of our program. Our evaluations after the residency indicated how important daily worship was to the Preaching Fellows in nurturing their spirits and enlivening their bodies. We are thankful to Ellen and to Music, Liturgy, and the Arts for helping us get our program off to a good start.

- The Rev. Leslie Chadwick, Program Coordinator for Deep Calls to Deep

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