August 26, 2018 (Holland Lectures) | C. Michael Hawn
Holland Lectures 2018
“The Faith We Sing: Singing and Shaping Belief in the 21st Century Church”
with C. Michael Hawn
C. Michael Hawn is one of our nation’s leading experts in hymnology and world music. Now a Richmonder, he recently retired after 25 years from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, as University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Church Music and director of the Sacred Music Program. Previously he taught at two Baptist seminaries for a total of 15 years. He leads festivals and publishes extensively in the area of hymnology, is the USA Editor for the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology, and writes a weekly hymn studies column entitled History of Hymns. A student of global Christian music, Hawn has conducted research and taught in over 40 countries. In addition, he has sung extensively as a countertenor and is a recovering accordion player.
Singing is in the DNA of most Christian traditions. While not unique to Christian communities, congregational singing is certainly part of the identity of Christian worship. Not all of the other great religious traditions integrate the people’s song into their communal gatherings. One might even go as far as to say that participation in congregational singing is one measure of the health and vitality of a church. This is not about musical proficiency or that better congregations sing more in tune; it is in terms of the range of congregational song that connects a local congregation with its heritage, its community, Christians ecumenically, and the needs of the world. You’re invited to join Hawn for four Sunday sessions in August and explore what it means to shape our belief through song.
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