Synodical Hymnfest Set for Sunday

Delegates to the Christian Reformed Synod 2013 and members of many congregations will be joining in song on Sunday evening, June 9 at the Calvin College Chapel for a HymnFest featuring songs from the new hymnal, Lift Up Your Hearts.

Co-hosted by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, the CRC’s synodical worship committee and Woodlawn CRC, the Song Festival starts at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.

It will also be webcast live as part of  CRC Communications coverage of Synod 2013, which opens on June 7 in the Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin.

Lift Up Your Hearts was released last month after several years of work. Featuring many old favorites, dozens of Psalm settings and a range of contemporary songs, it serves as the  new hymnal for the CRC as well as for the Reformed Church in America.

The Song Festival will promote singing the whole story of God and God’s people through congregational song and participation of all ages, including an inter-generational choir led by John Witvliet, says a news release from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.

The choir is open to everyone, 10 years and above. Music will be easy to learn and from the printed hymnal page. Rehearsals will be held Thursday, June 6, 7:30-8:45 p.m. in the Calvin Seminary Chapel and Sunday, June 9, 3-4:30 p.m. in the Calvin College Chapel.

Notify Diane Dykgraaf by email at [email protected], or phone 616-224-0727 if you plan to participate. Please indicate if you are an adult, youth, or child, and what part you sing.

Besides broadcasting the Hymnfest, CRC Communications will offer a full range of webcasts, starting with the opening session of synod at 8: 30 a.m. on Friday, June 7. That session will begin with worship, a welcome from Calvin College president Michael Le Roy, election of officers, and approval of committee assignments.

There will be no plenary session webcasts Friday afternoon or evening, as delegates will be meeting in their advisory committees.

On Saturday morning, there will be a brief plenary session starting at 8:15 a.m., including morning worship and appointment of synod committees.

Sunday's morning's worship service takes place off campus at Roosevelt CRC and will not be webcast.

Following the webcast on Sunday and, beginning Monday, there will be webcasts of morning, afternoon, and evening plenary sessions throughout the week.

Morning sessions are scheduled to begin with worship at 8:15 a.m. Afternoon sessions are scheduled for 1:15 p.m. and evening sessions are currently scheduled for 7 p.m local time (EDT).