Center for Church Music

“The Fragrance of Christ’s Presence”

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”  (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)

It has been a particularly rough season in central Indiana. A severe winter followed by a series of severe storms and even a year’s worth of tornados in one week! Many neighborhoods look worse for the wear and tear. The weather has brought a sense of chaos and stress.

And just like that, the lawns have greened out and the flowering trees (mostly dogwoods and redbuds) are in full flower, some for the first time. One notices it first looking out the window. But as soon as we step outside it’s the smell that is striking, the fragrance that assures that God is making all things new.

And so it is with your music ministry as you help spread the Gospel message in a very needy world. The Easter procession continues and it is a lovely, fragrant one, bringing hope and the healing of Christ to all it touches.  We each pray always that our ministry be an impactful one. The good news---it is already!

Barry Bobb

Director, Center for Church Music

Resource Room

• Books, magazines, recordings, the Schalk American Lutheran Hymnal Collection (541 volumes) and the ever-expanding archives of the original manuscripts of great American Lutheran composers & hymn writers.
• Liturgical Choir Music Library

Digital Initiative

• All of the volumes in the hymnal collection can be perused online at www.hymnary.org or from this website. See "Hymnal Collection Index."
• Many of the original manuscripts are accessible online at the Center’s website (including Manz, Schalk, Hillert, Pelz, Thoms, Busarow, Bouman and others...) See "Composer Manuscript Indices".

Website

• Devotions, interviews, profiles, essays, forums, ideas, an arts registry

Print publications

• Books and monographs in the Shaping American Lutheran Church Music series available through Amazon and Fortress Press

Encouragement of the next generation

• Hillert Award in Student Composition---open to any undergrad or graduate student at a Lutheran university or seminary in the United States
• Schalk Scholars
  • Creates awareness and access to current research in the areas of music and the arts
  • Provides stipends for research as well as publication and venues for presentations for these emerging scholars
  • Arts Registry
  • Contact information and samples from composers, visual artists, writers, designers, media artists.