Last week, I visited Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA to celebrate the installation of their new Schoenstein pipe organ. Doug Brown, the seminary’s musician, had the creative idea to bring the instrument into relationship with music of the Global Church, so we found thoughtful and playful ways to integrate the organ into music from Indonesia, Argentina, South Korea, the Philippines, Brazil, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe. He also played a rousing solo organ piece by Nigerian composer Fela Sowande.

A video of the service is below and here’s the order of worship.

The seminary choir sang beautifully and contributed solo voices and instruments, including ukulele and aleatoric pentatonic improv. And Mike Ramsey was a sensitive percussionist and collaborator. These sorts of creative challenges are a gift and I’m grateful to Doug and the seminary (sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Worship) for the invitation to join them. And thanks to local Hymn Society friends who worshipped with us, too!