Music and Liturgical Arts

Looking to join a group of UCC musicians?  Check out the United Church of Christ Musicians Association.  The UCCMA offers its members among other things a professional journal, a bi-monthly newsletter, regional professional development events, and a biennial national conference.  Membership is open to everyone.

Click here if you are looking for hymn suggestions for worship.  While the hymns suggestions are from The New Century Hymnal a simple search of your hymnal’s index will reveal whether or not the hymn is in your hymnbook.

Click here if you are looking for song suggestions from Sing! Prayer and Praise.  You’ll notice a variety of indexes, including one based on the Revised Common Lectionary.

Seeking a new music or arts position?  Check out the UCC Opportunities Database searchable by state and keyword.

Want help planning worship?  Check out Worship Ways and Sermon Seeds.  Worship Ways is also available in Spanish.

Can’t figure out where to find that hymn?  Check out this excellent website!

Looking for a new song for worship?  This blog provides a wealth of songs to select from based on the lectionary.  It now includes selections from Sing! Prayer and Praise.

JWPepper has an excellent choral anthem suggestion website based on the Revised Common Lectionary.  Go to the planning calendar, click on the date, and you’ll receive multiple recommendations!

How about images for worship?  The Vanderbilt Divinity Library has images available based on the Revised Common Lectionary.  After locating the lectionary passage, click on the “Art” link.  Please note the copyright citations, located on the information page for each image, and cite the sources as required.

Inspiration for worship can be found here.  How about exploring the African-American lectionary?  Follow Dr. Marcia McFee for creative ideas as well.

Need to compare different Bible translations?  The Bible Gateway has dozens of searchable translations.

Wondering about copyright issues and your local church?  Here are answers to commonly asked questions.  For more in depth information try The Music Publishers Association.

The Network of Biblical Storytellers has more information for you!  As does the UCC Florida Conference (suggestions for Liturgical Arts Resources).

Wondering what to pay your musician?  Check out this excellent resource from the UCC Musicians Association (UCCMA).  The UCCMA is a private UCC musicians’ organization supported by yearly dues.  Check out their website for more information.

Still wondering about compensation for the church musicians?  The American Guild of Organists also has some information for you!

 

Sing! Prayer and Praise™— the praise and worship song book developed by the United Church of Christ and published in 2009.  The song book features 217 songs of which about 100 are new!  Each song was selected with careful attention to theological and musical integrity, while keeping in mind the diverse nature of UCC congregations.  Order a copy of the pew edition of Sing! Prayer and Praise from The Pilgrim Press.  For more information go to the Sing! Prayer and Praise website.

Check the side navigation column for Sing! Prayer and Praise indexes.  Contribute your suggestions for the index of your choice!

The piano accompaniment edition is also available.  Order a copy here.

The New Century Hymnal on CD

The New Century Hymnal brought to life on a 35 CD collection!  Designed for congregational worship and personal devotion, this all-pipe organ (no singing) resource is now available.  The collection features every hymn in The New Century Hymnal, along with a musical introduction to each hymn.

(For verses in other languages, congregations are encouraged to substitute another language for an English verse.  Verses equivalent to the number of English verses for each hymn are provided.  Select hymns contain an accompaniment for an additional language verse.)

The New Century Hymnal on CD features United Church of Christ musicians playing United Church of Christ pipe organs.  Recordings were made live, on location in Cleveland, Ohio area churches.

The New Century Hymnal
A Pipe-Organ Accompaniment CD Resource for Congregational Worship and Personal Devotion
THE PILGRIM PRESS 

All 617 hymns from The New Century Hymnal are recorded here by UCC organists. These can be played in stereo systems, boom boxes, and automobile CD players.

Each of four CD cases contains a booklet with the hymn number, name, track, and play-time for easy use and worship planning.

For more information, click here.