Music and Worship Conference Blog 2011

I was invited to be part of the eighth Music and Worship Conference at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, March 24-26, 2011. To see the photos I took of my time there go to this link: http://www.wallawalla.edu/campus-life/spiritual-life/gallery/music_and_worship_conference_2011. Here are the updates that I posted to my Facebook (with a few additions):

Thursday: Great start to the Conference with Roberta King ethnomusicologist from Fuller Seminary. The worship was awesome -- eclectic: traditional hymn singing, African singing, and contemporary praise and worship - all sung with gusto! This morning I walked around and took pics of the campus, and walked into town to see my friend Nic Bikichky. Bumped into a bunch of my former students throughout the day. They are having a potluck for me on Sabbath.

Friday: A great day: My Plenary presentation on "Multicultural Worship: Melting Pot or Fruit Salad?" was well very received, so was the full-classroom workshop later. Had a lovely supper at my friends, the Johnston’s (which included a fruit salad with mangoes, and they didn't know the title of my presentation!). A blessed concert which included the University Singers, the Black Deliverance Mass Choir, the Praise and Worship team, and "The Foundations" a program of songs of our Faith and history composed by a non-Adventist duo. Day ended with a mango from Michelle Itschner.

Sabbath: The day started off with a powerful sermon by Hyveth Williams. And then I went to the black church on campus...AND, did we have CHURCH! Seminary Chapel was packed! Praise and Worship lifted us to a higher level; Terrance Taylor wooed us with his Spirit-filled solo; Eddie Hypolite knocked the Word out of the park! My WWU students had a potluck for me. Particpated in a great Q&A session with the other presenters to end the conference. I'm in Chicago tonight at my cousin Rudi and his wife Maria.

Sunday: WOW! We had Church again at Trinity UCC in Chicago! The music ministry (congregants and professionals) was so filled with the Spirit! If you are in Chicago, visit. But first read the section on AA worship in my book “Diverse Worship” to minimize initial critical thoughts and reactions. I was in the last row of the balcony, but the Pastor found me and gave a public welcome and gave Walla Walla a boost (mentioning it was in Bugs Bunny!). I couldn’t take pics - new rules since the Obama/Wright debacle.