Brehm Center

Newsletter - August 2006

Note from the Director

Greetings to each of you from the Fred Bock Institute of Music, under the banner of the Brehm Center for Worship, Theology and the Arts, at Fuller Theological Seminary. That IS a mouthful, and you can imagine how often I’ve said it since landing in Pasadena in March 2006 – trying to explain who I am, what I’m doing, and how things fit! It’s a great place to be, and I look forward to explaining it all many times and spreading the great vision of the Fred Bock Institute of Music. What a privilege and what a challenge!This is the first of what I plan will be a monthly update from the Institute about what is currently happening. I would certainly encourage you to keep up with things between newsletters by checking the Institute website at www.FredBockInstitute.org. For you musicians, there are several small things to think about in your ministry there, a link to a valuable music/worship website put together by a friend of mine, and an article that I wrote about convergence in music ministry. If you just want to know what’s going on in my head, there’s Jubal’s Jottings – my blog, for your amusement and comments!

Fred Bock was an amazing individual. He stood for so many right things relating to music and worship, and he lived out those principles well.It is such an amazing thing for me to stand for those same things with Fred through this Institute bearing his name. Mary Lou and I are so blessed to enjoy the support of Lois Bock and her family, Bill and Dee Brehm, and the many kind and supportive people in the Brehm Center family – especially Fred Davison, our Executive Director. We are grateful to all of them! The call to this ministry is life changing for us, and by God’s grace, we intend to live it out well.
Please continue your prayers for the Fred Bock Institute of Music! Have fun clicking around this newsletter to see what’s going on!

Blessings to you,
Ed

Sad Times, Great Song

Song quiz for the month! Martin Rinkart was a Lutheran pastor in the little city of Eilenberg, Germany during the 30 Years’ War. Refugees streamed into the walled city of Eilenberg for protection. The Swedish army (nothing against the Swede’s here!) sealed off the gates to the city, leaving famine, disease and a lot of fear inside the walls. The pastors of the city, including Rinkart, were left to care for the sick and dying. Rinkart was the last of the pastors to survive, and as a result ended up conducting as many as 50 funerals a day!

The Swedish army finally demanded a large ransom from the city. Rinkart went out to negotiate with the army himself, and the hostilities were soon ended.(Count on the Lutheran pastor to negotiate with the Swedes!) Knowing that there would be no healing without thanksgiving, Rinkart wrote a hymn for the people of Eilenberg – and one source says it was a table blessing for his remaining family.

What is the title of the lyrics that he wrote? One hint…in German it begins, "Nun danket alle Gott." That’s a lot of help, huh?

Click HERE for the answer!

Mitchell Hymnal Collection Received

What is 75 feet long, and 6 shelves high? No, it’s not a record sized boa!It’s the Robert H. Mitchell Hymnal Collection that is newly in place in the McAlister Library at Fuller Theological Seminary. This past spring the Mitchell Collection was officially accepted from the Mitchell family in memory of Dr. Mitchell, who was a long-time church musician and educator. It is one of the largest collections of its kind…9,000 volumes, most of which are hymnals of all shapes and sizes! Approximately 1,200 of the books are non-English hymnals – from 210 countries. Among the rare books in the collection are a 1562 Genevan Psalter, editions of the Sternhold and Hopkins Psalter (1615, 1640, 1739, 1776), and five editions of Newton’s Olney Hymns, which had the lyrics for Amazing Grace in a hymnal for the first time. It is truly amazing! Once it is cataloged, there will no doubt be other treasures found. It is a wonderful resource! Thank you to the Mitchell family!

New Classes Being Taught This Fall

One of the roles of the Director of the Fred Bock Institute of Music is to be an adjunct professor at Fuller Seminary to teach some classes each year relating particularly to music, theology and faith, as well as topics involving worship leadership. Ed Willmington will be teaching the first two of these classes beginning next month. Here are the brief summaries of those classes – for those who want to get a head start or just read for the fun of it!

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MUSIC IN WORSHIP: HISTORY, PRACTICE, AND THEOLOGY

DESCRIPTION: This course is intended to be a survey of how music has been used in the church as a means of declaring the message of God in the world and an expression of faith. Students will be guided through historical periods, trends, styles, controversies, and varieties of musical media from past to present. The course will aid the student to consider the theological issues relating to the use of music in worship.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: The goals for this course are that students will

1. learn of the rich musical heritage of the Christian church at worship;
2. acquire evaluation skills (musical and theological) for determining appropriate use of music in worship; and
3. be spiritually prepared for ministries relating to the use of music in worship

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Music has long been a primary means for faith expression throughout church history, even predating the church. Music has also been a misunderstood and controversial art in the life of the church that deserves attention by those involved in ministry. Every minister will likely be called upon to assess the role of music in the life of the church at some level, either individually or for corporate purposes. The course will attempt to create a backdrop from the past that allows for a balanced theology of music ministry in the present, with attention given to the particular tradition of each student.

REQUIRED READING:

• Best, Harold M. Music through the Eyes of Faith.HarperSanFrancisco, 1993.
• Johansson, Calvin M. Music and Ministry: A Biblical Counterpoint. Hendrickson, 1984.
• Westermeyer, Paul. Te Deum: The Church and Music.Augsburg Fortress, 1998.
• Wilson-Dickson, Andrew. The Story of Christian Music: From Gregorian Chant to Black Gospel. Augsburg Fortress, 2003.

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MUSICAL WORSHIP LEADERSHIP PRACTICUM

DESCRIPTION: This course will be an interactive experience for planning, leading, and evaluating corporate worship, particularly from the standpoint of the musical leader. There will be personal and group experiences in the process of planning and leading worship, including journaling of worship experiences, creating materials for corporate worship, principles for working with volunteers, all combined with an emphasis on spiritual formation and pastoral and theological principles of worship leading. Students will be encouraged in the use of a wide spectrum of worship styles and resources, in addition to evaluating their use for specific purposes within sacred settings. Maximum benefit for this course will be received by the student who is an active music leader in a worship setting.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) learn of the broad musical heritage of the Christian church at worship, (2) acquire evaluation skills (musical and theological) for determining appropriate use of music in worship, (3) grow in their musical leadership skills in Christian worship, and (4) be spiritually prepared for ministries relating to the use of music in worship.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Corporate worship is a basic part of the spiritual life for Christ followers. The world of worship ministry is in need of God-focused, balanced, qualified, effective, skilled, and creative leaders. A mentoring ministry can make a steady and needed impact on local churches and other ministries of present and future generations. The goal of this course is to engage the hearts and souls of men and women who are called to be worship leaders, encourage the development of their personal character and professional skills, and commission them to lives of effective ministry.

REQUIRED READING:  Two of the following will be read (or viewed) per quarter:

• Beach, Nancy. An Hour on Sunday.  Zondervan, 2004.
• Giglio, Louie. Worship: That Thing We Do. (DVD).
• Leading the Church’s Song. Augsburg Fortress, 1998.
• Leisch, Barry. The New Worship. Baker, 1996.
• Morgenthaler, Sally. Worship Evangelism. Zondervan, 1995.
• Zschech, Darlene. Extravagant Worship. Bethany House, 2002.

One book from a list designed to guide personal spiritual formation, such as
Willard, Dallas. Renovation of the Heart. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2002.

One of our Students

Meet Scott Blasco, obviously one of our cooler students! Scott is originally from Michigan, so he is enjoying wearing those sunglasses all year long in Pasadena! – and not slipping, sliding and shoveling either! Scott is a really talented musician, with a background as a guitar player in a rock band, as well as being a serious percussionist. So, if you’re ever in need of an electric guitar and timpani piece duet, Scott’s the guy!

Scott has a B.A. in Music Theory and Composition and Music History from Calvin College, and a M.M. in Composition from Western Michigan University. He is currently enrolled at Fuller in a M.A. in Theology degree program, studying Theology and the Arts.

Scott is married to Tracy Young, who is also a Fuller student in the same degree program! They take mostly the same classes – and share textbooks! That’s one way to save money! Scott and Tracy have been involved with the Arts Concerns committee on the Fuller campus, and will co-chair that important student group this coming year. Pray for Scott and Tracy as they continue their studies.

After Fuller, Scott is thinking about moving on for a doctoral degree – so there’s another reason to pray for him!

Prayer

Almighty God, when I seek You in humility,
You respond in majesty.
So let this be the pattern of my prayer:

That I will first seek to understand You,
Then seek to be understood by You;

That I will first seek to know Your concerns,
Then seek to make my concerns known to You.

I pray, Lord, that You will always find in me a listening ear –
That I will be one in whom You can entrust the secret of Your kingdom.

Amen