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Making the Most of CW21 | Johnold Strey

Johnold Strey

Making the Most of CW21

The Christian Worship suite offers a wealth of resources for planning worship. Intended for pastors, musicians, artists, and altar guilds, this presentation covers a variety of themes to help worship planners: seasonal best practices, how to introduce new music, balancing variety with comfort, recognizing the capabilities of differing congregations, and creating festive worship for festival days. Consideration will be given to a wide variety of parish sizes and circumstances.

Bio | Johnold Strey

Pastor Strey served congregations in California for 15 years and as the Arizona-California District’s worship coordinator for a decade before coming to Crown of Life in Hubertus, Wis., in 2016. He earned a master’s degree in worship and church music from Santa Clara University in 2009. He has served on the School of Worship Enrichment team and on the hymnal’s rites committee and is the author of Christian Worship: God Gives His Gospel Gifts (NPH).

The Story of The Service | Johnold Strey

Johnold Strey

The Story of The Service

Each generational hymnal brings familiarity and change to public worship. Christian Worship: Hymnal is no exception. The familiar flow and content of the tried-and-true Lutheran liturgy is presented with adjustments and adaptations for a new generation. Johnold Strey, a member of the hymnal’s rites committee, will share the story behind The Service—the discussions, debates, and decisions that ultimately led to the shape of the liturgy in the new WELS hymnal. This workshop also provides useful background information for Pastor Strey’s new Bible class called A Look at the Lutheran Liturgy from Northwestern Publishing House.

Bio | Johnold Strey

Pastor Strey served congregations in California for 15 years and as the Arizona-California District’s worship coordinator for a decade before coming to Crown of Life in Hubertus, Wis., in 2016. He earned a master’s degree in worship and church music from Santa Clara University in 2009. He has served on the School of Worship Enrichment team and on the hymnal’s rites committee and is the author of Christian Worship: God Gives His Gospel Gifts (NPH).

Christian Worship: Foundations | Jon Zabell

Jon Zabell

Putting Christian Worship: Foundations to Work

Commissioned in connection with our hymnal project, Christian Worship: Foundations offers 19 chapters by eight WELS pastors on topics such as music, art, liturgy, creativity, and outreach. Special attention is given to discussing the features of our new hymnal’s orders of service. This workshop will introduce participants to Foundations and offer resources for studying and discussing it in their local settings. In connection with this volume, Prof. James Tiefel writes: “I’ve now read Foundations twice, once quickly and once slowly. I am amazed again and again how excellent this book is! I wish I had owned it before I started teaching at the seminary!”

 

Bio | Jon Zabell

Pastor Zabell chaired the executive committee of the WELS Hymnal Project and served as managing editor for Christian Worship: Foundations. From 2011–2023 he chaired the WELS Commission on Worship. Jon and his wife, Julie, live in Green Bay, Wis., where he serves as pastor at St. Paul and first vice president of the Northern Wisconsin District.

CW Psalter | Dale Witte

Dale Witte

Using Christian Worship: Psalter in K-8 Classrooms

Christian Worship: Psalter (NPH 2021) is the first Lutheran psalter to contain multiple musical settings of all 150 psalms along with the complete text of every psalm. It is so much more than just a source for psalm variety in the liturgical worship service. CW Psalter is an invaluable musical and devotional resource to have in every Lutheran elementary school classroom and household. This presentation will explore 17 different ways to use CW Psalter in every grade level, from strengthening thematic units in early childhood, to fostering musical literacy in the middle grades, to finding the Christian’s voice during the tough times of life in the upper grades.

Bio | Dale Witte

Dale currently serves as fine arts department chairman, choir director, and music educator at Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Fond du Lac, Wis. He is one of the founding members of LIME, Lutheran Institute for Music Education, which seeks to aid WELS teachers and schools in strengthening their music education programs. From 2014–2021 he served on the WELS Psalm Committee, which researched, reviewed, and edited over 5,000 psalm settings to produce Christian Worship: Psalter (NPH 2021). Dale holds a Master in Church Music degree from Concordia University Chicago (1997); is a member of WCDA, ACDA, NAfME, ALCM, and WMEA professional organizations; and is an active church music composer.

Still Considering or Struggling | Bryan Gerlach

Bryan Gerlach

Still Considering the New Hymnal, or Struggling with Introduction?

This session is for people from congregations that haven’t yet adopted the new hymnal and for those who feel that introduction has not gone so well. It offers an overview of features, shares some interesting back stories on various decisions and hymns, and answers questions raised by attendees.

Bio | Bryan Gerlach

Rev. Gerlach served parishes in Texas and California before becoming WELS’ first director for worship in 1996, the year of the first national worship conference. He has been involved in planning every conference since 1996 as well as with introduction plans and resources for both the 1993 and 2021 hymnals. In addition to seminary training, he holds the Master of Church Music degree from Concordia University Chicago. He regularly plays organ in two Milwaukee-area churches.