I have a secret…. Shh!!!… I like playing funerals. Well, let me qualify that statement. It’s not that I find them enjoyable, but I have always felt a special place of privilege there, and I experience an element of satisfaction in helping a family prepare for a funeral of a...
Summer is always a great time for getting away from the usual tasks of the week and taking some study leave or professional development time. Now that most programs are up and running again after a pause during the pandemic, here are a few events that you might want to...
As the world around us changes, so does our use of language. Although we have some common images and words that we use often in “church-speak,” we are all becoming more aware of how our language can aid inclusion, honour diversity, and assist with striving for equity and justice. If...
While searching for materials for handbells, I stumbled upon a wonderful series of educational videos produced by the Ontario Guild of English Handbell Ringers (OGEHR). The first ones I saw were on mallet practice and technique, and the others on weaving bells. They were led by Rob Cairns (Streaming, Handbell...
Do you wish to incorporate more liturgical dance into your worship services? Here’s an idea aimed at children, but it can be used with anyone. Over the last few years, the Rev. MiYeon Kim and a team of people have created a YouTube channel of children’s dance videos called UnitedWeDance-UCCan...
Since we are discussing extemporaneous prayer in this issue (Gathering - Lent/Easter 2023), how does a musician extemporize? There is a grand tradition of improvisation by musicians in the church. Many denominations around the world list “improvisation” as a desired skill on the church musician’s job posting! Improvisation is useful...
This issue is all about numbers. Musicians use numbers all the time, such as for time signatures, bar numbers, page numbers, intervals, top-40 charts, to name a few. And I’m sure if you’ve worked in any denomination long enough, you memorized many of the hymn numbers. There are even songs...
This Lent-Easter 2023 issue (Year A) explores extemporaneous prayer. According to the Oxford Canadian Dictionary, extemporaneous means “spoken or done without preparation.” Sometimes, as artists, we extemporize, too, don’t we? In music and some other art forms, this is called improvisation. Improvising means composing or performing on the spur of...
Professor James F. McGrath is the Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Language and Literature at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Over the last several years, he has been compiling instrumental compositions that are related to biblical scripture. You can find an article about his research and a list...
In past issues of Gathering, we have been featuring hymns from various cultures from Voices United. This began with Loraine McKenzie Shepherd’s lists of the cultures she catalogued, and then we continued compiling some more lists. In the Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2022-2023 issue, we were planning to feature hymns with a German...
