This session will explore how the Church Fathers and Fathers of the Reformation saw suffering and how they sought comfort in the Psalms. Attendees will walk away with a better awareness of God’s use of suffering and how the Psalms are a resource of comfort and endurance. The attendees will be able to use these resources for their own comfort and for the comfort of their flock.

Bio:

The Rev. Michael Frese graduated from Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE), Seward, Neb., in 1997 (B.A.) and from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW) in 2002 (M.Div.) and in 2004 (S.T.M.). He has served as parish pastor (sole pastor, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Adell, Wis.; associate pastor, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Ind.), military chaplain (active Army 2006–2013; Air National Guard 2013–present) and in the LCMS Office of the President in Church Relations (2022–present).

This session recording is from the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music held July 9–12, 2024 in Seward, Neb. For more information on the Institute, please visit https://resources.lcms.org/worship-planning/2024-institute-on-liturgy-preaching-and-church-music-resources.

Morning Prayer Venite from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. Setting by Paul Soulek.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Worship ministry aims to nurture a culture of confessional faithfulness, artistic excellence and integrity in the presentation, distribution and reception of God’s life-giving gifts in Word and Sacraments. This ministry seeks to develop and deepen an understanding and love for the Lutheran heritage in Christian worship, and promotes the Lutheran Service Book as the core worship resource for the LCMS while also identifying and encouraging the many musical treasures and gifts that the Holy Spirit continues to pour upon the church. For more information: lcms.org/worship/institutes ; lcms.org/worship

Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Even though the piano has more uniformity in sound than an organ with its many colors of stops, there are still many ways to create variety and draw out the meaning of the text when playing hymns on the piano. Whether you’re principally a pianist, or an organist who occasionally finds yourself at the piano, this session will provide you with various techniques to enliven your piano hymn accompaniment.

Bio:

Christopher Evatt has over 20 years of church music experience and is currently serving as director of parish music at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Edmond, Okla., where he oversees the traditional music program. He is principal organist and pianist, directs the choral and handbell ensembles and spearheaded the installation of a new 4-manual Walker organ in 2023. He regularly composes and improvises for services and has led Reformation Day chorale sings and music reading instructional sessions for the congregation. Dr. Evatt received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music and studied organ with John Ferguson, Judith Hancock and Malcolm Matthews.

This session recording is from the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music held July 9–12, 2024 in Seward, Neb. For more information on the Institute, please visit https://resources.lcms.org/worship-planning/2024-institute-on-liturgy-preaching-and-church-music-resources.

Morning Prayer Venite from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. Setting by Paul Soulek.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Worship ministry aims to nurture a culture of confessional faithfulness, artistic excellence and integrity in the presentation, distribution and reception of God’s life-giving gifts in Word and Sacraments. This ministry seeks to develop and deepen an understanding and love for the Lutheran heritage in Christian worship, and promotes the Lutheran Service Book as the core worship resource for the LCMS while also identifying and encouraging the many musical treasures and gifts that the Holy Spirit continues to pour upon the church. For more information: lcms.org/worship/institutes ; lcms.org/worship

Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Improvisation can be scary for the organist who hasn’t done it before, but it doesn’t have to be! This session will present techniques you can use to incorporate organ improvisation into your service playing, whether you’re a natural improvisor or not. We’ll look at hymn playing, hymn introductions and liturgical accompaniment.

Bio:

Christopher Evatt has over 20 years of church music experience and is currently serving as director of parish music at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Edmond, Okla., where he oversees the traditional music program. He is principal organist and pianist, directs the choral and handbell ensembles and spearheaded the installation of a new 4-manual Walker organ in 2023. He regularly composes and improvises for services and has led Reformation Day chorale sings and music reading instructional sessions for the congregation. Dr. Evatt received his Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music and studied organ with John Ferguson, Judith Hancock and Malcolm Matthews.

This session recording is from the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music held July 9–12, 2024 in Seward, Neb. For more information on the Institute, please visit https://resources.lcms.org/worship-planning/2024-institute-on-liturgy-preaching-and-church-music-resources.

Morning Prayer Venite from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. Setting by Paul Soulek.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Worship ministry aims to nurture a culture of confessional faithfulness, artistic excellence and integrity in the presentation, distribution and reception of God’s life-giving gifts in Word and Sacraments. This ministry seeks to develop and deepen an understanding and love for the Lutheran heritage in Christian worship, and promotes the Lutheran Service Book as the core worship resource for the LCMS while also identifying and encouraging the many musical treasures and gifts that the Holy Spirit continues to pour upon the church. For more information: lcms.org/worship/institutes ; lcms.org/worship

Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

When considering Who it is that comes before us in the Divine Liturgy, Whose place it is, Whose altar, Whose Word and Sacrament, something is called out of us also. Reverence is the respect and awe that fills our hearts with love, tunes our minds in attention and finds expression in the outward acts that comprise the conduct of the service. This session will reflect on how we do what we do in the Service of the Sacrament and why. We’ll pursue reverence, not as stuffy or robotic, but as the conduct befitting one standing on holy ground.

Bio:

The Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Boyle has served on the faculty of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), since 2022. He teaches homiletics, catechetics, Hebrew, Pentateuch and prophets. He studied at the University of Michigan (B.A., 2005), CTSFW (M.Div., 2009) and the University of Toronto (Ph.D., 2019). His dissertation was titled “The Real Presence of Christ in Scripture: A Sacramental Approach to the Old Testament.” He served as senior pastor of Grace and Trinity Lutheran Churches, Wichita, Kan., from 2010–2022. He is currently writing the Concordia Commentary Series volume on Psalms 51–100 for Concordia Publishing House and teaches regularly for Seminario Concordia El Reformador—República Dominicana. He and his wife, Nicole, are blessed with five children: Ana, Claire, Gabriela, Micah and Brigit.

This session recording is from the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music held July 9–12, 2024 in Seward, Neb. For more information on the Institute, please visit https://resources.lcms.org/worship-planning/2024-institute-on-liturgy-preaching-and-church-music-resources.

Morning Prayer Venite from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. Setting by Paul Soulek.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Worship ministry aims to nurture a culture of confessional faithfulness, artistic excellence and integrity in the presentation, distribution and reception of God’s life-giving gifts in Word and Sacraments. This ministry seeks to develop and deepen an understanding and love for the Lutheran heritage in Christian worship, and promotes the Lutheran Service Book as the core worship resource for the LCMS while also identifying and encouraging the many musical treasures and gifts that the Holy Spirit continues to pour upon the church. For more information: lcms.org/worship/institutes ; lcms.org/worship

Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

The two people that congregations depend on most to lead them in worship are, unfortunately, all too often at odds with each other. What should we know and do, as pastors and church musicians, in order to work together well? What can we learn from examples of successful (and unsuccessful) musician-pastor teams? Whether you have a file full of horror stories or have always had a perfect relationship with your colleague, this session will help to renew your zeal for working together to the glory of God in your parish.

Bios:

The Rev. John M. Berg is the associate pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in Sheboygan, Wis. He previously served as pastor at Concordia Lutheran Church and Student Center in Vermillion, S.D., and Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Kenosha, Wis. He also serves as the chairman of the Board of Regents for Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Mequon, Wis. Pastor Berg received his Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theology from CUW and Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW). Pastor Berg and his wife, Kathleen, have six children and two grandchildren.

Sam Eatherton has served as a kantor in Lutheran churches and schools for 28 years, teaching music to children and adults and leading congregational singing from the organ. His research interests include singing in the Early Church, the Lutheran heritage of church music and children’s musical education and leadership in church. His compositions for organ and choir are published by Concordia Publishing House.

This session recording is from the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music held July 9–12, 2024 in Seward, Neb. For more information on the Institute, please visit https://resources.lcms.org/worship-planning/2024-institute-on-liturgy-preaching-and-church-music-resources.

Morning Prayer Venite from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. Setting by Paul Soulek.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Worship ministry aims to nurture a culture of confessional faithfulness, artistic excellence and integrity in the presentation, distribution and reception of God’s life-giving gifts in Word and Sacraments. This ministry seeks to develop and deepen an understanding and love for the Lutheran heritage in Christian worship, and promotes the Lutheran Service Book as the core worship resource for the LCMS while also identifying and encouraging the many musical treasures and gifts that the Holy Spirit continues to pour upon the church. For more information: lcms.org/worship/institutes ; lcms.org/worship

Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

The Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music is a multiday worship conference, presented by LCMS Worship, designed for musicians, pastors, teachers, artists, and Christians of all vocations engaged in the unique sphere of Lutheran worship. Thoughtful speakers draw us into the Scriptures and their proclamation. A barrage of presentations and workshops on wide ranging topics, some fresh, some perennial, help us grow in knowledge and hone our craft. Above all, we experience the inestimable value of gathering with fellow Christians for inspiring, Christ-centered worship, proclaiming the Gospel in Word and song.

This podcast brings home selected recordings of the presentations, workshops and services from LCMS Worship Institutes so the Church can get a taste of the experience, benefit from excellent teaching and look forward to future Institutes.

The Worship Institute gives a glimpse of what we don’t see: the One, holy, catholic and apostolic congregation that can’t fit into a single balcony or church. That vision always inspires us, and the Word of God in all its richness prompts us to bring our excellence and our effort to bear. We do it for the sake of the increase of faith and love which His Word bestows. But God’s Mission is where you live and work with your people. It happens when you invite a child to sit on the organ bench next to you, when you help the short boy reach the taper to the tall candle, when you show a young child how to fold the linen, when your preaching is directed at hearts that are known, by the bedside and in the pulpit, and whenever you gather to sing. That’s where the Word of Christ dwells richly among you as you teach and admonish one another, singing songs and hymns and spiritual songs.

Morning Prayer Venite from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. Setting by Paul Soulek.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Worship ministry aims to nurture a culture of confessional faithfulness, artistic excellence and integrity in the presentation, distribution and reception of God’s life-giving gifts in Word and Sacraments. This ministry seeks to develop and deepen an understanding and love for the Lutheran heritage in Christian worship, and promotes the Lutheran Service Book as the core worship resource for the LCMS while also identifying and encouraging the many musical treasures and gifts that the Holy Spirit continues to pour upon the church. For more information: lcms.org/worship/institutes ; lcms.org/worship

Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.