2024 Good Shepherd Institute: “Through the Church the Song Goes On”

Registration is open for the 25th annual conference of the Good Shepherd Institute (GSI), which will be held November 10–12, 2024, on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), under the theme “Through the Church the Song Goes On.”

The 2024 conference will celebrate 500th anniversary of the first Lutheran hymns and the hymnals that followed. When Martin Luther made his first foray into the world of hymn writing and urged others to do the same, he could not have imagined the creative forces that he was unleashing!

Featured Speakers

Dr. Paul Grime, Dean of the Chapel at CTSFW, will reveal how Luther’s approach to congregational song was different from that of other reformers. He will further discuss how Luther set the stage for a rich hymnological tradition among Lutherans that would eventually affect all Christians.

Dr. Christopher Boyd Brown, Associate Professor of Church History at Boston University, will demonstrate how Lutherans quickly built on the foundation that Luther laid.

Dr. Lester Ruth, Research Professor of Christian Worship at Duke University, will trace the development of a new form of congregational song—contemporary praise and worship—a subject on which he is a leading expert.

The Rev. Stephen Starke, noted hymn writer, will explain why he and others continue the tradition of hymn writing today.

The conference will also include a choice of practical seminars as well as services, recitals, and our annual hymn festival.

For more information and to register, visit the GSI Conference page at ctsfw.edu/gsi.

GSI Art Exhibit

This year’s conference also includes the Fifth Biennial Exhibition of Sacred Visual Art, “Singing of Jesus Christ.” The exhibit, which runs from October 31, 2024, to January 31, 2025, features works of art inspired by selected hymns written by Luther from the 1524 hymn collection. For more information, visit ctsfw.edu/gsi-sacred-art.

Just Released! GSI Hymn Festival CD

Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), is pleased to announce the release of a new recording, “Alleluia, Sing to Jesus: Hymns at Concordia Theological Seminary.” The recording, available in audio streaming and CD format, features hymns from Lutheran Service Book recorded live at Choral Vespers and hymn festivals at CTSFW.

CDs are available at the CTSFW Bookstore:
https://bookstore.ctsfw.edu/alleluia-sing-jesus-cd-hymns-concordia-theological-seminary

To stream the recording: https://distribute.avid.com/share/MTAwMDAwNzQyNTg0

Can’t wait?! Enjoy two sample tracks from the CD including a sample of the title track “Alleluia! Sing To Jesus.”