Planning 91

James Abbington on Planning Henry “Hank” Aaron’s Funeral Music

Although news coverage of public figures’ funerals often focuses most on speakers and eulogists, music is crucial. James Abbington thought pastorally while planning music for baseball star Henry Aaron’s homegoing.

May 11, 2021 | 7 min read
Kate Williams on the Coronavirus and Sacred Music

When COVID-19 forced churches and schools to go virtual, GIA Publications helped church music ministers and music educators adjust. Some digital adaptations are here to stay because they help connect music ministers, worshipers, and music educators.

May 11, 2021 | 8 min read
Angelique Havenga and Marnus Havenga on Lament, Community, and Ubuntu in the Dutch Reformed Church of Stellenbosch, South Africa

In this episode, pastor-theologians Angelique and Marnus Havenga share with Maria Cornou about what they are learning about pastoring and serving the community as a whole in the Dutch Reformed Church, located in city-center of Stellenbosch, one of the most unequal towns in the country of South Africa.

April 5, 2021 | 36 min listen

Paul Turner on Presiding Artfully at Mass

In his new book, Ars Celebrandi, Paul Turner writes that “a well-prepared and celebrated liturgy is the church’s best response to crisis.” He offers fresh principles for how a priest’s presiding style can help the faithful participate more actively in the Mass.

March 18, 2021 | 3 min read
Lee Hardy on Housing, Justice, and 91

Completing a grant project on faith communities and affordable housing convinced Lee Hardy that justice and worship are internally linked. That’s why he says worship services should include housing justice, and Christians and congregations should advocate to change unjust systems.

March 1, 2021 | 6 min read
Faith Communities and Safe Dwelling Places

Philosopher and author Lee Hardy noticed derelict buildings near his church for decades before realizing that faith-based communities have valuable resources to address the affordable housing crisis.

March 1, 2021 | 7 min read

2018 JJ Thiessen Lecture #2 - Praise Beyond Cliché and Other Practices of Transfigured Cruciform Engagement

Violence, Injustice, Trauma, and the Ordinary Practices of Christian 91 in a Social Media Age, a 3-part lecture series with Dr. John Witvliet

February 11, 2021 | 1 min video
J. Todd Billings on Embracing Our Mortality

Unless we are very ill or old, many of us avoid thinking about our deaths. J. Todd Billings’s new book, The End of the Christian Life, explains that remembering our mortality and learning to die well will give us a more profound view of true Christian resurrection hope.

January 19, 2021 | 7 min read
Creation’s Sabbath

Economic lockdowns and pauses during the coronavirus pandemic offer glimpses of a renewed world. Despite COVID-19’s horrific effects, Christians can choose to reframe their lives in light of the sabbath rest that God intends for all creation.

January 5, 2021 | 8 min read

Six Earthkeeping Conversation Tips

Since Christians disagree on climate change, you may think it’s best to agree to disagree. But these six tips can help you find common ground for taking positive action. It all starts with conversation.

January 5, 2021 | 9 min read
Matthew Kaemingk and Cory B. Willson on Work and 91

Many of us feel guilty for thinking about work during gathered worship. We don’t see a connection between what we do in worship and what we do at work. But a new book on work and worship describes biblical worship practices that help workers reclaim their place in the priesthood of all believers.

December 3, 2020 | 9 min read
3 Songs about the Lord's Return / 3 Cantos sobre el retorno del Señor

Carlos Colón demonstrates and talks about three songs about the Lord's Return, as part of the series "Songs from the hymnal / Cantos del himnario Santo, Santo, Santo / Holy, Holy, Holy.'"

July 22, 2020 | 3 min video