Worship Arts Apr May Jun 2023

ists

April – May – June2023

Photo Credit: Daniel Craig

A Note From the Editor

You didn’t read that wrong, and we didn’t change the name of our magazine; I simply embraced some creative license for this issue. The Fellowship of Worship Artists exists to cultivate and equip worship artists all over the country and around the world. We are blessed to do this work with you; and your National Board and staff, event design team, and regional leadership are working hard to continue living into what that means now and in the days ahead. Within the pages of this issue of WorshipArt(ists), you will find information about Music & Worship Arts Week 2023, the Florida Chapter Music Workshop, our National Board nominations, and more. It is an issue about the people who make this organization what it is (you!), the many folks working to make our national and regional events possible, and the options available to assist you as you continue your journey of making transformative worship experiences available in your churches and communities. With so much going on over the past nine months – our name change, new website, membership campaign, national event preparation, etc. – the pages of our most recent issues have been full of Fellowship news. In the July – Aug. – Sept. issue, we will be shifting much of this space back to worship resources. We welcome your feedback, and would love to hear from you regarding what you need as we head into the 2023-2024 church year. Please email us at info@thefellowshipowa.org with your suggestions, or to submit any resources you’d like to share with our members. Thankyou,

Cultivate. Equip. Worship.

Photo Credit: Daniel Craig

2

April – May – June Volume 68 Number 2

WorshipArts (ISSN08915288) is a publication to the members of The Fellowship or Worship Artists. The Fellowship’s Calling We are Christians embracing God’s artistic gifts to create world-transforming worship. OurValues Worship arts that lead to spiritual growth and faith formation. Relationships that lead to hospitality, fellowship, and nurture.

Viewpoints expressed and materials included in WorshipArts are not necessarily endorsed by The Fellowship.

Rights for reprinting articles in WorshipArts are retained by the individual authors. To get in touch with them, please contact the editor.

Contributions to WorshipArts , as well as ideas, are welcome and encouraged. Materials must be submitted by the 1st, two months prior to publication date (November 1 for January - February - March issue, February 1 for April - May - June issue, May 1 for July - August - September issue, August 1 for October - November - December issue).

In This Issue:

Fellowship Connections pg. 4

National Board Elections pg. 8

Music & Worship ArtsWeek pg. 20 Get all your details about the impact of Music & Worship Arts Week.

Resources and Reviews pg. 38

Graphics and Slide Packs pg. 45

Learn more about this new program offered to all Fellowship members.

Meet the nominees to serve on the 2023-2025 National Board.

Explore resources for church music programs of all sizes.

Pentecost, Trinity, and Peace With Justice Sunday resources.

3

Fellowship Connections Intentional Relationships for Worship Artists

Create Connections Today!

Fellowship Guides In our Guides program, new members sign up to be paired with veteran members and receive insight into the benefits of The Fellowship of Worship Artists. This one-year relationship will help new members learn of the professional and personal advantages available through The Fellowship. Please register today to be either a Guide, or to be “guided.” Fellowship Mentors Experience is the best teacher. The Fellowship is blessed with experienced members who are eager to share their successful ministries with their colleagues. The strength of The Fellowship has always been its support for each other. Please register to be either a Mentor or a Mentee. Fellowship Cohorts Join a discussion group to talk through important issues that are vital to artistic ministry. Meeting electronically, groups will talk through topics ranging from spiritual development to administration of large or small church programs. Please sign up and share your excellent ideas with your fellow Fellowship members.

Learn more or join Fellowship Connections today!

Photo Credit: Daniel Craig

4

Do you love to write? Do you have an idea for an article that would interest the readers of WorshipArts ? If so, we'd love to share it in an upcoming issue!

The WorshipArts Editorial Committee actively seeks a variety of articles and reviews in music areas (choral for all ages, piano/organ, instrumental, handbells), arts areas (dance, drama, visuals, technology), and worship areas (preaching, contemporary worship, spiritual formation, worship planning, liturgy). WorshipArts publishes four to six times each year, and deadlines are the 1st of the month, two months prior to publication date. For more information, or to view the submission guidelines, visit our website. 2022 - 2023 Editorial Committee • Erica Rushing, Editor • David Wiltse, Editor Emeritus • Sara Collins, Reviews Coordinator • Kathy Toole, Publications and Communications Coordinator (National Board) • Rick Wiltse, Advertising Coordinator

5

YOUR AD HERE

Advertise your business in the award-winning

Our lowered advertising prices will remain in 2023 to help our partners continue to recover from COVID

6

A Message From Our Executive Director

Greetings Fellowship Community, I pray this letter finds you in a healthy state of being. The last 18 months have come with many transitions, and the right individuals have led us through those times. I want to personally thank those who served on the Board for the 2021-2023 year. As we prepare to move ahead with our 2023-2025 board, we solicit your prayers as we journey towards the future of The Fellowship. In true transparency, there is a lot of movement within the United Methodist denomination, with one piece we know to be disaffiliation. All of us are impacted to some degree, but hopefully you have had a chance to view the video from The Fellowship leadership discussing our stance on such a heavy topic. But even amid uncertainty, it is paramount to highlight productive and joyful moments, and we have many to share: This year has started on such a high note for us! We are embarking upon some phenomenal events designed to take worship planning and execution to the next level. The clinicians this year are prepared to lead in a way like we’ve never seen before. Life truly breathes in the gift known as music for such a time as this. We are anticipating a move of God like never before. The time is now. Friends, this is not something you want to sit out on this year. In addition to curating high-quality events, we have implemented Fellowship Connections. God is the focal point of our work, and it is our desire to live fully into the Christian walk. A piece of that includes loving our neighbor and being present for one another. This new ministry enables us to embody our purpose – to be The Fellowship. We are safe space for those seeking not only worship resources, but to also have a community of like-minded individuals to journey through life with. Fellowship Connections provides three avenues of connection for Fellowship members. Those avenues are Fellowship Guides, Mentor Relationships, and Cohort Groups. We continue in our work on the national membership and brand awareness campaigns. Both campaigns are yielding good fruit as we are seeing new and returning members. Not only that, our name is reaching more individuals and families across the country. Enjoy this 2 nd quarter edition of WorshipArts . This was crafted with you in mind. I hope you enjoy each piece of this document! Hopefully these resources will richly bless you and your ministry! God has been and continues to remain faithful to us. For that, we are eternally grateful! This year holds so much promise, the best is yet indeed to come. Looking forward to what this year holds for all of us!

Blessings,

Rev. Dr. Camisha Chambers

7

National Fellowship Board 2023 - 2025 Nominations

8

2023 National Board Election Information

Members of The Fellowship will be electing new National Board members in May. The Nominations Committee has completed its work and submits the following report for consideration. Photos and biographies of each candidate are available in this email, on our website, and in the upcoming April - May - June issue of WorshipArts magazine. There is one modification of our process this year. Normally, the Nominations Committee is charged with nominating two candidates for each of the four elected positions: President-Elect, Vice President of Administration, Vice President of Community, and Vice President of Content. However, for the role of Vice President of Administration, the 2023-2025 Nominations team was unable to secure a second nominee. Therefore they present one highly-qualified candidate for that role. The Nominations Committee requested and received a Standing Rules suspension from the Executive Board, to allow them to only nominate one candidate. All other positions include two candidates. The nominations slate is as follows:

• President (Previously Elected) • Stephen Mitchell • Immediate-Past President (Previously Elected) • Nancy Farrington Executive Board 2023-2025

Nominated Officers

• President-Elect

• Vice President of Community • Josh Voiles • Thomas Williams • Vice President of Content • Sarah High • Tim Kennedy • Rev. Jennifer Pick • Trenton Teegarden • Vice President of Administration • Amy Youngblood

Voting is available now and will be closing in two days! You should have received an email last week from info@thefellowshipowa.org inviting you to vote. If you are a Fellowship member and you did not receive your email, please email us and we will get the link to you.

9

President-Elect Nominee Rev. Jennifer Pick

President-Elect Nominee Trenton Teegarden

Geographic Region: South Central Jurisdiction Current Ministry and Setting: New church start – Revive United Methodist Church in Azle, Tx. As an ordained woman who serves as pilgrim, priest, prophet and poet within specific communities in The UMC, I have let music and worship arts shape my identity as a leader of God’s people. I hold a M. Lit. in Biblical Studies through the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, an M. Div. through Drew Theological School, and am a current candidate for a D. Min. in Pilgrimage and Spirituality. Over the last 15 years, I have served differing ministries, including launching a new, inclusive church start with my co-pastor / partner in life, Rev. Todd Pick. I have worked on the 2009 and 2015 National Convocations and chaired Worship for the 2019 National Convocation. I have worked Music & Arts Week in 2013 and 2023. The Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for those who pour their hearts and souls into church leadership every day not only to fill their lives with the harmonies and grace found at all Fellowship events, but also to fill their toolboxes for ministry with fresh, innovative, creative, concrete, Spirit-driven visions for their specific contexts. As a nominee for President-Elect, I would seek to find new pathways for The Fellowship to meet the unimaginable challenges we face moving forward. With such broad experiences that evoke a wide vision for God’s work in the world, I whole-heartedly believe in conspiring with the Spirit to make that vision a reality.

Geographic Region: South Central Jurisdiction Current Ministry and Setting: Director of Modern Worship and Phkids Worship, Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, Little Rock, AR I currently live in Little Rock, AR, with my spouse, Jessie, and our daughter, Georgia, who is 3 years old. I am originally from Nashville, TN, and attended Brentwood UMC, where my calling into music ministry began. I attended Martin Methodist College on a music and soccer scholarship where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Church Music. During my time in Nashville, I held music internships at West End UMC and an interim youth choir director position at Christ UMC, in Franklin. I attended Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary where I obtained my Master’s Degree in Music Ministry while serving as the Director of Music at Granville Avenue UMC I have served as a worship leader and youth choir director for Bartlett UMC in Memphis, TN. I believe we exist as worship artists to proclaim the Gospel through the arts, to serve God, and to help lead our communities of faith in their spiritual gifts. We all have a voice to share and gifts to give, and The Fellowship exists as a community of support and care for each other as we live into our calls as worship artists. As President-Elect, I will work to enable all people to utilize their spiritual gifts to enliven worship, to support, encourage, and empower worship artists, and to affirm each member as we live into our call to the worship arts. I would be honored to serve as your President-Elect.

10

Vice President of Administration Nominee Amy Youngblood Geographic Region: South Central Jurisdiction Current Ministry and Setting: Director of Music and Worship Ministries, Stuttgart First Methodist Church, Stuttgart, AR My passion is to organize and empower individuals to develop their God-given gifts and to execute their task from start to finish. I believe that the foundation of leadership begins with building relationships that result in trust. I am a team player with an open mind to new ideas and possess the ability to organize a process to accomplish the task. All these gifts, with the help of our Creator, are what guided me in my past service to The Fellowship. If elected I will be a trustworthy, faithful servant to the task, ministries, and confidences of The Fellowship. I have held several positions on the state and national level. The positions where I have shown my greatest leadership capabilities were serving on the Design Team of the 2005 San Francisco Convocation and Chair of the Design Team for the St. Louis Convocation in 2007. For 32 years I have served in music ministry in Stuttgart, AR, where I have built a program of vocal and handbell choirs for ages 5 through adults. I received a Bachelor of Music from Millsaps College, Jackson, MS, in 1983 and a Masters of Church Music from Scarritt Graduate School, Nashville, TN, in 1985.

One site, thousands

of worship resources.

Zeteosearch.org is a collaborative project of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, and Hymnary.org. Funded by Lilly Endowment Inc.

11

Vice President for Community Nominee Josh Voiles Geographic Region: Southeast Jurisdiction Current Ministry and Setting: Director of Music Ministries, Trinity United Methodist Church, Birmingham, Alabama I have been a member of The Fellowship since 2014 and am delighted to be nominated for this position. The connections I have made at Fellowship events, like Music & Worship Arts Week and Convocation, are some of the most important and meaningful connections both in my career and personal life. For that reason, I would be delighted to work ensuring all members have many opportunities to form meaningful connections with other worship artists. At Trinity UMC in Birmingham, AL, I direct a choral and instrumental program with more than 400 participants of all ages and oversee traditional worship services.

Vice President for Community Nominee Thomas Williams Geographic Region: South Central Jurisdiction Current Ministry and Setting: Director of Music and Worship Arts, First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth, TX At First United Methodist Church, my main responsibilities are leading the chancel choir, handbells, and planning worship. I have completed a Master of Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with an emphasis in conducting and Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. I currently serve on the Greater Dallas Handbell board and on the Dallas Choristers Guild board. I have served The United Methodist church since 2002, from small satellite churches to large downtown locations and suburban churches. One thing is constant no matter the size of your ministry – people want to feel connected. I am very passionate about collaborating with neighboring churches in worship services, hymn festivals, or concerts. I believe my servant’s heart and enthusiasm for people would help me serve as Vice President for Community. I also believe that my experience serving in previous positions as Assistant Director of Music, Contemporary Worship Leader, Young Adult Ministry Director, and Confirmation Teacher gives me a well-rounded approach to help the upcoming generation of Fellowship members.

Learn more about our ongoing elections!

12

Vice President for Content Nominee SarahHigh

Vice President for Content Nominee Tim Kennedy

Geographic Region: Southeast Jurisdiction Current Ministry and Setting: Director of Music, Salem United Methodist Church, Columbia, SC I am thrilled to be nominated to the Fellowship’s Board as the Vice President of Content and I thank you for your consideration! In over a decade of music ministry experience, I have had the opportunity to hone my skills as a worship leader and choir director of ensembles ranging in size and age. In addition to my duties at Salem United Methodist in Columbia, SC, I also serve as the Choral Area Chair of the Fellowship’s Music & Worship Arts Week. My growth and experience in music ministry would have been impossible without the resources of The Fellowship, and I hope that my time in this position will allow me to help promote and spread the good news of our organization to others around the country and world. I represent a younger generation of The Fellowship and hope to broaden the organization by connecting not only those in my generation, but a full spectrum of ages, to the incredible resources and connections The Fellowship has to offer. If elected, one of my goals would be to broaden the reach of The Fellowship beyond those in the Methodist faith tradition and help cater our content to the entirety of Christ’s Church Universal.

Geographic Region: Western Jurisdiction Current Ministry and Setting: Director of Music and Worship Arts, Arvada United Methodist Church in Arvada, Colorado I have served Arvada United Methodist Church's (AUMC) for eleven years. In my position, I oversee all of the Arts Ministries of the church and collaborate with the pastors on curating in-person and on-line worship experiences. During the pandemic, this included a major expansion of our use of video for pre-recorded services, video communications, and livestream services. I also serve as the conductor of the Chancel Choir, Voces Sacris, Shabach Ensemble, and Gospel Gagas; and as Director of the Theater Troupe as well as Camp Director and Stage Director for the AUMC Summer Arts Camp, for which I write a new world-premiere children’s musical each year. In addition to my ministry at AUMC, I work in the Colorado Community as a Stage Director, Music Director, Performer and Teaching Artist as well as the Artistic Director for Loveland Opera Theatre.

13

The Fellowship of Worship Artists...

...believes that all are welcomed and valued at the table of Jesus Christ. Fellowship leaders are committed to creating a safe and affirming space for all people. Please take a moment to read more about what this means as we head into a new season with new leadership. Statement of Welcome – Adopted by The Fellowship on March 4, 2019 The Fellowship of Worship Arts is a community of diverse worship artists who are not of one mind on a wide range of theological and cultural issues. We acknowledge that we have been blessed by the gifts and presence of a variety of people. We covenant to uphold the sacred worth and dignity of all persons, without exception. We welcome all into membership and leadership in The Fellowship, including:

• persons with divergent theological and political convictions, even as we seek to emphasize our connectedness and unity in Christ;

• persons of all races, cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic conditions;

• persons at all places on the spectrum of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression;

• persons of various ages and life experiences, and persons who are differently abled.

Christ made no mistake in opening the table of grace to everyone. Therefore, our membership and its leaders commit to embrace one another with boundless compassion and affirmation so that the reign of God might be made known “on earth as it is in heaven.”

Photo Credit: Daniel Craig

14

Explore alternate voicings for choirs of all sizes and levels.

www.celebrating-grace.com

15

Disaffiliation Information

As conversations around the disaffiliation process continue, individuals and churches alike are asking deep and difficult questions about who they are, what they believe, and where they belong. The Fellowship is impacted by this transition process also, and we have had to ask the same questions. This is what we know: We are Easter people. And as Easter people, we know that Christ has overcome every boundary that exists in human hearts and minds. He has broken down every wall. Even death itself could not hold him. This is the Christ we worship. This is the solid rock on which we stand. As Easter people, we know what it is to exist in times of turmoil and heartache. We know what it is to question and to experience the fear of the unknown. We know what it is to grieve. We know what it is to wait. But we also know what it is to experience resurrection and new life. We know what it is to celebrate, to sing our praise, and to dance for joy. We know what it is to gather together in fellowship, and to look ahead to the future we never could have conceived of on our own. We know what it is to hope, and to have the conviction of things not seen. As Easter people, we know that God is with us always, and we know what it is to share that Good News with others. This is who we are. We are The Fellowship of Worship Artists.

16

A Message From The Fellowship Leadership

Christ made no mistake in opening the table of grace to everyone. All are welcomed and valued. As Christ as our model, The Fellowship commits to embrace one another with boundless compassion and affirmation so that the reign of God might be made known “on earth as it is in heaven.” not of one mind on a wide range of theological and cultural issues. We acknowledge that we have been blessed by the gifts and presence of a variety of people. We covenant to uphold the sacred worth and dignity of all persons, without exception. We welcome all into membership and leadership in The Fellowship.” The Fellowship of Worship Artists (formerly known as The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts) exists to provide resources, support, and spiritual renewal to all who lead worship. Our mission is to assist you in creating meaningful worship experiences that bring people into deeper relationships with God and with each other. The Fellowship’s foundation and history are firmly rooted in The United Methodist Church, and that connectional relationship continues. But The Fellowship is an ecumenical organization. The art of creating worship is not denomination specific, and neither are we. Our official Statement of Welcome expresses it this way: “We are a community of diverse worship artists who are

Photo Credit: Daniel Craig

To hear from Nancy Farrington, Camisha Chambers, and Stephen Mitchell about what disaffiliation means for members of The Fellowship, scan the QR code to the right.

17

18

The Florida Chapter of The Fellowship of Worship Artists has been blessed with the opportunity to spend a week every summer developing an interest in the details of worship, and cultivating the creative talents of the youth and adults who attend this workshop. When these followers of God leave at the end of the week, they leave better equipped not only to worship God, but to lead worship in their home churches. Workshop attendees are guided and led by a group of experienced clinicians who, in tandem with various other teachers and leaders, volunteer their time and come from across the state and country to bring their gifts to share. This year, our clinicians come from a variety of backgrounds.

Rick Holdsworth Advanced / Intermediate Handbells Clinician

Rev. Bryant Manning Vespers Pastor Rev. Manning is currently serving as the Director of The Wesley Foundation at Florida State University and Tallahassee Community College; as well as Trinity United Methodist Church. Rick is the Director of Music at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church in Sarasota, FL, and is the founding director of Ring Sarasota Handbell Ensemble.

To learn more about The Florida Chapter’s 2023 Church Music Worship , Foundations of Faith and Fellowship, as well as more information about these incredible clinicians, scan the QR code on the opposite page, or visit the The Florida Chapter’s website: www.floridafummwa.org Please direct any questions concerning registration to either:

Bryan Browning Youth Choral Clinician

Bryan is the Director of Music at Moore Haven Middle – High School in Moore Haven, FL. He also uses his gifts serving as the Worship Leader at First United Methodist Church in Moore Haven, FL.

Jeff Faux Adult Choral Clinician

Brian Dow, Workshop Co-Chair: pastorjbriandow@gmail.com

Jeff is the Director of Sacred Arts at First Presbyterian Church in Bonita Springs, FL, where he oversees a large program that includes ten vocal and instrumental ensembles.

Elaine McCreary, Registrar fl.fellowship.workshop@gmail.com

OR

A Florida Chapter Event

* Churches bringing Middle School Youth must provide a paid chaperone (see above) or pay the additional $50 per Middle School Youth Chaperone Fee.

19

Lake Junaluska, NC

21

Join Us at the Lake

Come away to the beauty and serenity of Lake Junaluska for time to catch your breath and be renewed. Join us at Music & Worship Arts Week (MWAW) 2023, a place where we experience community, fellowship, worship, and arts. We invite you to take time away to breathe in the air that is God’s presence with us and be filled with praise, promise and hope. Take this opportunity to be refreshed and renewed both spiritually and artistically, through the gift of God’s grace and peace, and the gift of our presence with each other. Come… Breathe this Breath of Life… After several years of constantly adjusting to new norms, and looking to the days ahead, this week together gives you the opportunity to be inspired by others, to renew or rejuvenate the passion which you have for worship arts, and to spend intentional, transformative time with other members of The Fellowship, and with God. It is an opportunity for you to use the gifts which God has given to you to bless others and be blessed by the music, dance, and design for which our members are so well know. It is an opportunity to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It is a time to worship!

June 18 - 23, 2023

22

Music & Worship Arts Week (MWAW) is a multi generational event hosted by The Fellowship of Worship Artists in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina at Lake Junaluska. This annual event is designed for worship leaders, musicians, artists, dancers, actors, and pastors of all denominations who seek education and renewal in a spirit of inclusivity and grace. We welcome all. MWAW offers participants the opportunity to work with and learn from renowned leaders in the fields of worship arts, make new friends and reconnect with colleagues, be renewed in a beautiful setting, and worship daily in creative and inspiring ways. Music & Worship Arts Week has been described as “one of the most palpable examples of God’s artistic gifts at work,” so if you haven’t already done so, we hope that you’ll take some time to learn more about this transformative event and make plans to join us at Lake Junaluska. Event highlights include: • Inspiring daily worship services • More than 50 afternoon seminar topics • Choral, dance, instrumental, and handbell concerts performed by children, youth, and adult participants • Organ and piano recitals

• Choral, handbell, and organ music reading sessions • Annual youth talent show (and more!) We have an exciting week lined up for you, as our Music & Worship Arts Week Design Team has gone above and beyond to bring in leaders from around the country who know how to make transformative worship happen in local contexts, as well as across broader communities. MWAW offers participants an incredible balance of engaging in worship, and learning how to most effectively create worship in today’s realities. There is something for everyone, and for those of (almost) any age:

“One of themost palpable examples of God's artistic gifts at work...”

Lake Junaluska – Waynesville, NC

23

Sunday, June 18

Wednesday, June 21 • Morning Worship • Rehearsals for Children, Youth, Choral, Handbell, and Dance Ensembles • Seminars and Instrumental Ensemble Rehearsal • Organ Recital

• Registration and Handbell Placement Auditions • First Rehearsals for Children, Youth, Choral, and Dance Ensembles • Opening Worship • Morning Worship • Rehearsals for Children, Youth, Adult Choral, and Dance Ensembles • Seminars and Instrumental Ensemble Rehearsal • Organ and Piano Recital with Frode Gunderson and Scott Montgomery of Orgiano Duo

Monday, June 19

Thursday, June 22 • Morning Worship

• Elementary Music Concert • Instrumental Ensemble Concern • Dance Concert • Handbell Concert

Friday, June 23

Tuesday, June 20 • Morning Worship • Rehearsals for Children, Youth, Choral, Handbell, and Dance Ensembles • Seminars • Annual Youth Talent Show

• Closing Worship

To learn more and register:

Photo Credit: Daniel Craig

24

Our youth and young adults are a gift from God, and we would like to encourage you to invite the younger members of your church to attend our transformative event with you this summer if they are interested in doing so. We are made better as an organization, and as worship artists by their presence and participation.

Breathing Life Into Worship Arts One of the things that makes Music & Worship Arts Week so impactful is the intentional inclusion of, and engagement with, our youngest worship artists. Our youngest participants breathe life into the worship spaces at Lake Junaluska, and they breathe life into the art of worship in our local churches and communities. We are blessed by their presence, their creativity, and their energy as we grow and serve together as worship artists. This intergenerational approach to the art of worship is a hallmark of The Fellowship of Worship Artists and can be seen not only in the wide age range of our Music & Worship Arts Week attendees (those who have completed kindergarten – 99+ years old), but also in the fact that we offer FREE registration to young adults (those who have completed their freshman year in college through those who are 25 years old). We invest in the future of worship arts by making this event accessible to any young adult who would like to attend. They breathe life into our event by adding their own experiences, passions, and gifts to our week together. Our young adults help prepare each evening’s worship service, and they help to engage the children who come to enjoy Music & Worship Arts Week each year, as well.

Photo Credit: Daniel Craig

Breathe Out...

Marianne Kim

Beth Judd

Haley Martin

Hannah Barker Nickolay

25

• persons of all races, cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic conditions; • persons at all places on the spectrum of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression; • persons of various ages and life experiences, and persons who are differently abled. Christ made no mistake in opening the table of grace to everyone. Therefore, our membership and its leaders commit to embrace one another with boundless compassion and affirmation so that the reign of God might be made known “on earth as it is in heaven.” Join us at Lake Junaluska to be included and inspired, resourced and renewed. Join us to cultivate and equip. Join us to worship.

Who Belongs at MWAW? Youdo.

Statement of Welcome Whether you are young or “young at heart”; new to The Fellowship or a long-time member; employed in full-time ministry or volunteer with your local church...you belong here. Whether you are an ordained pastor or a lay leader; an introvert or extrovert; get stage fright or don’t...you belong at Music & Worship Arts Week. No matter what denomination you represent or how long you have been answering your call to ministry through worship arts...you belong here. The Fellowship of Worship Artists is a community of diverse worship artists who are not of one mind on a wide range of theological and cultural issues. We acknowledge that we have been blessed by the gifts and presence of a variety of people. We covenant to uphold the sacred worth and dignity of all persons, without exception. We welcome all into membership and leadership in The Fellowship, including: • persons with divergent theological and political convictions, even as we seek to emphasize our connectedness and unity in Christ;

Breathe In...

SamOrdung

Jackson Nickolay

Rev. Jennifer Pick

Rev. Todd Pick

26

“ O Breath of life, come sweeping through us, revive your church with life and pow ’ r; O Breath of Life, come, cleanse, renew us, and fit your church to meet this hour. O Wind of God, come bend us, break us, till humbly we confess our need; then in your tenderness remake us, revive, restore, for this we plead. O Breath of love, come breathe within us, renewing thought and will and heart; come, Love of Christ, afresh to win us, revive your church in ev ’ ry part. O Heart of Christ, once broken for us, ’ tis there we find our strength and rest; our broken, contrite hearts now solace, and let your waiting church be blest. Revive us, Lord! Is zeal abating while harvest fields are vast and white? Revive us, Lord, the world is waiting, equip your church to spread the light. ”

All are welcome!

Music & Worship Arts Week is open to all musicians, artists, dancers, designers, technicians, clergy, laity, and all other worship artists who are passionate about creating transformative worship experiences. The Fellowship of Worship Artists is an ecumenical organization, and our Statement of Welcome is foundational to the way we design our events. We are made better by your presence and participation.

~ Bessie Porter Head

Come and be. Belong. Breathe.

David J. Stanley

Amanda Page Smith

Molly M. Stanley

Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Thompson

27

Meet Our Clinicians

Rev. Dr. Ronald Bell Worship Team – Preacher

Lynne Gackle Adult Choir

Ron Bell is passionate about emotional formation and the intersection of faith and mental health. In his current role with The Upper Room, Ron has been tasked with creating an Institute for Healing and Wholeness. This initiative will prioritize the mental health of pastors and leaders throughout the denomination. Ron has also served as both a new church plant pastor and also a pastor of an existing traditional church. He is an author, and a regular guest columnist for the Saint Paul Monitor. He has written articles for The Upper Room, UMNews.org, and has published articles in the Minnesota Coalition for Death Education and Support Quarterly Journal, among other publications. He has created an ongoing webinar series on trauma and empathy that he has led with several universities, as well as with numerous nonprofits and county agencies. Rev. Dr. Bell serves on many boards at the state and national level. He has a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Morgan State University, a master’s degree in Theology from Regent University School of Divinity, a doctorate degree in Ministry from Lancaster Theological Seminary, and has been certified in Trauma Response and Crisis Intervention from Rutgers University School of Social Work. Ron is an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Lynne Gackle is the Director of Choral Activities at Baylor University and holds the Mary Gibbs Jones Professor of Music Chair. She conducts Baylor Bella Voce, Baylor Concert Choir, teaches choral conducting, choral literature and serves as the Chair of the Ensemble Division. Previously, she was on the faculty of University of South Florida, University of Mississippi, and University of Miami. She received her education from LSU (B.M.E.) and the University of Miami (M.M./Ph.D.). Lynne is an active choral clinician and conductor. She has conducted all-state, festival choirs, and clinics in more than 30 states. Her choirs have also performed at American Choral Directors Association state, regional, and national conferences, as well as at the Music Educators National Conference Biennial Convention. Internationally, she conducted the Australian National Choral Association’s High School Women’s Choir in Brisbane, the Alberta Choral Federation’s High School Honor Choir in Calgary, the DoDDS-Europe Honors Music Festival Mixed Choir, (Wiesbaden, Germany), the Haydn Youth Festival in Vienna, the Association for Music in International Schools (AMIS) International Women’s Honor Choir in Beijing, China as well as Luxembourg, and the International Honors Performance High School Honor Choir at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia. For the past 20 years, she has served as guest conductor for various National Honor Choirs at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

28

Meet Our Clinicians

Rev. Quint Harris Copper Level Handbells

Bryan Ijames Senior High Choir

Quint Harris (D.M.A.) is the Director of Music & Arts Ministries at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church in Birmingham, AL, where he directs the Chancel Choir, Bell Choir, Youth Choir, and Children’s Choir, as well as supervises the music staff. In addition to his position at VHUMC, Quint is an adjunct professor at Birmingham Southern College where he conducts the Southern Chorale and teaches theory/ear training. He also served as Director of Music Ministries at Paradise Valley United Methodist Church in Phoenix, AZ. He holds a bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of Mississippi, a master’s in Music Education from the University of Alabama, and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Alabama. Throughout his career, Quint has enjoyed teaching and directing on the middle school and high school levels, as well as part-time and full-time church music ministry. Quint is a member of ACDA. He serves as Life-Long Committee Chair for the Alabama ACDA Board. Quint is also a member of The Fellowship and has severed in several positions including Membership Committee Chair.

Bryan Anthony Ijames, a native of North Carolina, is a doctoral candidate in choral conducting at the University of Michigan. Last year he served as the Assistant Conductor of the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club and had the opportunity to make his Lincoln Center Conducting debut at Alice Tully Hall, New York City. Bryan also serves as Chancel Choir Director at First United Methodist Church in downtown Ann Arbor. Prior to coming to Michigan, Bryan taught Secondary Choral Music Education in Central and South Florida for six years. Most recently, he served as the Director of Choral Activities at Park Vista Community High School. His previous conducting experience includes The Ebony Chorale in Palm Beach, Florida, and the Genesis Gospel Choir in High Point, North Carolina. In addition to conducting, Bryan regularly performs as a tenor soloist and is a former member of the semi professional ensemble Expressivo. Bryan holds Master of Music degrees in Choral Music Education and Choral Conducting from Mississippi State University and Eastern Kentucky University respectively, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Voice from High Point University. He is an active member of ACDA, NANM, NAfME, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.

4219

Meet Our Clinicians

BethJudd Bronze Level Handbells

Marianne Kim Organist

Beth Judd is retired from Music and Arts Ministry after 40+ years of conducting, singing, and ringing choirs for children, youth, and adults; overseeing Liturgical Dance and Art Gallery ministries and multiple concert series. Beth has been active with handbells most of her life, having attended the AGEHR National Convention in 1965 in Washington, DC, as a ringer. She began teaching at local, regional, and national events in the mid-1980s. She has served as Music Chairman and President of AGEHR (now HMA), as President of the Greater Dallas Handbell Association, Secretary/Treasurer for Area 9 AGEHR, Associate Conductor of the Dallas Handbell Ensemble, and the first conductor and artistic director of Concert Bells of Fort Worth. Beth continues as conductor and clinician for seminars, festivals, and denominational worship and music conferences, and conducted the 2015 East and 2021 West HMA Distinctly Bronze events, as well as the International Symposium in Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice Performance from Manhattan School of Music, New York City, and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Oklahoma. She has taught at several colleges and universities.

Marianne Kim is a Chicago-based composer, pianist, organist, and harpsichordist, known for her vibrant performances and compositions in a wide diversity of musical styles, such as classical, jazz, Broadway musical, R&B, gospel, traditional & contemporary church music, and more. As a soloist and collaborative artist, she often performs piano and organ recitals, chamber music, and jazz. Marianne enjoys sharing her skills and knowledge with many church musicians through workshops and seminars, and she taught jazz piano classes at Northern Illinois University. She joined the faculty of North Park University to teach Gospel Contemporary Piano in 2022. She has worked with the Ravinia Festival for several years and has over 400 published titles to her name. Born and raised in Korea, Marianne studied piano and composition at Pusan High School of Arts and earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition at Pusan National University and a Masters of Music in Jazz Studies and Organ Performance, with scholarships and prizes from School of Music of Northern Illinois University.

30

Meet Our Clinicians

Haley Martin Dance

Hannah Barker Nickolay Theatre in Worship

Haley Martin serves as the President of a non-profit dance ministry called EncounteredHeart, based in Harrisburg, PA. She has been a part of this ministry for seven years and has had many opportunities to teach and perform at churches, dance schools, camps, correctional facilities, conferences, and in partnership with other ministries. She loves using dance as a way to worship because dance can often communicate and express a story or emotion in a way that words cannot. Haley also believes that anyone can dance! Whether you have been dancing for a long time or are brand new to it, the Holy Spirit can move powerfully through you, and in you, through movement. Her favorite dance style is contemporary, but she's also done a variety of other styles including ballet, jazz, and hip-hop. Haley also loves to choreograph and teach people how to move in a way that is glorifying to God.

Hannah Barker Nickolay is a theatre artist, writer, and worship designer who is passionate about helping others engage scripture with curiosity and creativity. She has an M.Div. from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI, and a B.A. in Theatre from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. She is a member and co-founder of the liturgical arts company Wayfolk Arts. Hannah and her spouse, Jackson, work with churches and academic institutions to explore how the intersection between enactment and scripture can give vitality to the worshipping life of the church.

Photo Credit: Daniel Craig

31

Meet Our Clinicians

Jackson Nickolay Theatre in Worship

Rev. Jennifer Pick Worship Visuals

Jackson Nickolay is originally from the North Woods of Minnesota along the shore of Lake Superior, but has lived in Holland, Michigan for the last 6 years. He recently graduated with a Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary with a focus on Worship Design. He has a passion for living into the dual vocation of a minister and an artist and finds application for these callings in worship music, embodied scripture, theatre, and liturgical arts. He is married to Hannah Barker Nickolay and together with a group of friends they run a small liturgical arts ministry called Wayfolk Arts.

Jennifer Pick is an Ordained Elder currently serving a church in the Central Texas Conference. Through the years, Jenn has served congregations of all sizes and has a proven track record of growing churches and moving them toward a new vision of ministry, especially within the areas of creative worship, children’s ministry, and local community mission. Jenn fully participates in a multi-layered ministry that focuses on the local church but expands far beyond that setting. Knowing that many members in church learn best through visual culture, Jenn and her husband work to create engaging worship art centers that draw people deeper into the word proclaimed. Jenn has served as a worship coordinator for the School of Congregational Development, the National Church Planters Gathering, the Northern Jurisdiction’s Gathering for Millennials, and for national convocations of The Fellowship of Worship Artists (formerly The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts). As Co-Pastors, Jennifer and Todd enjoy consulting, writing, teaching, and shepherding the life of the people of God together in their church.

SamOrdung Young Adult Choir

Sam Ordung has been a regular attendee of Music & Worship Arts Week since he was 15 years old. His time at the Lake has evolved into assisting in developing the young adult program and the evening prayer services. Away from the lake, Sam is a coach, a chaplain, a dad, and a husband. He is currently pursuing ordination in the UCC.

32

33

Meet Our Clinicians

Rev. Todd Pick Worship Visuals

Amanda Page Smith Youth Choir

Todd Pick is an Elder in The United Methodist Church, serving in the Central Texas Conference. He is a pastor, painter, and poet. He is also an award-winning graphic designer who views artistic expression as a vehicle for proclamation and prayer. He has created stage visuals for many United Methodist conferences including General Conference 2012 and 2016, national convocations of The Fellowship, and Music & Worship Arts Week at Lake Junaluska. Todd holds a Master of Divinity from Drew Theological School where he was artist-in residence, adjunct faculty, and was twice awarded the Hoyt L. Hickman Award for Liturgical Studies. He has been commissioned by churches to create paraments, banners, and logo designs; as well as to lead workshops on visual arts in worship. His art and poetry have been featured in Magnet Magazine and he has contributed articles to WorshipArts. Todd and his wife, Jennifer, enjoy a partnership in life and ministry. They are co-pastors together and enjoy writing, planning worship, and leading workshops and retreats.

Amanda Page Smith currently serves as the Parish Choir Director at Christ Church Methodist, and the Lower School Music Teacher at The Buckley School for boys in New York City. She previously served as Director of Children’s Music at the Brick Presbyterian Church and School in NYC. Ms. Smith holds an M.M.E. from Westminster Choir College, a B.M. in Vocal Music Education from St. Olaf College, Kodály Music Education certification from New York University, and Music Together Certification. Amanda writes for Growing in Grace curriculum and leads workshops and festivals through the USA. She was named an “Outstanding Choir Leader” by Choristers Guild in 2006. She has several publications to her name related to children and early childhood music.

Photo Credit: Daniel Craig

Meet Our Clinicians

David J. Stanley Orchestra

Molly M. Stanley Orchestra

David J. Stanley works as a teacher and musician to champion public music education, affirm regional identity, and promote community. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Furman University and has served as Director of Bands at William Fleming High School in Roanoke, Virginia. Currently he is a doctoral conducting associate in the Music Department at the University of Georgia. David completed work toward his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in May. His service to the Hugh Hodgson School of Music has also included work to foster coalitions and partnerships for actionable antiracism, justice, and engagement. In conjunction with his master’s degree, he worked to join musicians across the school to present “Appalachian Spring: Music Exploring Regional Identity and Race,” alongside an exhibit at the Georgia Museum of Art. David currently serves as Interim Director of Music for Oconee Street United Methodist Church in Athens, GA, where he and wife, Molly, are active members.

Molly M. Stanley is the Academic Advisor for the Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia. She is an experienced music educator having taught middle school orchestra in South Carolina and Virginia before moving to Georgia. Her wide range of experience includes Suzuki violin, elementary strings, middle and high school orchestra, and children’s ministry. Molly received the Master of Education in Educational Psychology from the University of Georgia. Her undergraduate degree is in Music Education from Furman University. A native of Waynesville, NC, and raised in the First United Methodist Church, Molly remains connected to her hometown and Lake Junaluska. She continues her work in church music as a choir member and violinist and attended Music & Worship Arts Week as a child, and has been a staff member for several years. She and husband, David, are members and active in the music ministry at Oconee UMC in Athens, GA.

34