Hymn Festivals

Lift Up Your Hearts HymnFest: Singing the Story 

A Hymnfest is a wonderful way for your congregation to experience worship in song and prayer using the hymnal, Lift Up Your Hearts. Faith Alive Christian Resources is providing support to worshiping communities across North America to host Hymnfests. This is a no-cost way for you to use the new resources available and plan a meaningful worship service for your congregation. You are encouraged to combine with other churches in your area to plan and carry out your hymnfest. Some churches have also invited the local school choir(s) to participate. It’s a great time to try some new songs and styles, as well as incorporate your favorites.

Who is participating?

The opportunity is open to any Christian church or worshiping community in the United States or Canada. Over 70 worshiping communities in North America have already participated. Click on a highlighted Church name in the list of Previously Held Events to see a copy of their Order of Worship.

Why is this happening?

To promote singing the story of God and God’s people through vibrant congregational song and participation of all ages.

The 852 songs in Lift Up Your Hearts provide you with music from various styles and several periods of church history. In addition there are 123 readings and prayers.

What are the requirements?

The HymnFest must:

• be a public worship event free of charge (perhaps a Sunday or mid-week service)
• feature congregational singing following the guidelines provided using songs from Lift Up Your Hearts
• be planned by a team from the church or greater worshiping community

What does the support include?

• two copies of the hymnal Lift Up Your Hearts for the planning team (yours to keep at the completion of the hymnfest)
• a Lending Library (up to 70 copies of the hymnal) for use at the Hymnfest and/or purchase afterwards. Free shipping and instructions will be provided.

Email us at hymnal@crcna.org for more details.

Singing the Story: HymnFest Guidelines

To get started, choose a date and email hymnal@crcna.org.

To aid you in planning your Hymnfest we will send two complimentary copies of Lift Up Your Hearts. The organization of songs in the hymnal is listed on the Contents page found near the beginning of the hymnal. The 852 songs in this new hymnal will allow you to select songs or hymns from several styles and periods of church history, including songs from contemporary songwriters, classic hymns, and a variety of cultures and contexts around the world. Lift Up Your Hearts also contains 123 readings or prayers that can be woven into the service.

We encourage you to look for creative ways of “Singing the Story of God” such as focusing on one theme or dimension of the grand story of salvation.   For your hymn festival, we suggest selecting hymns or songs (along with readings or prayers) that tell God’s story from creation to new creation. Looking at the hymnal outline, one approach may be to choose one song from of the first 7 sections, substituting or including others from the hymnal as you wish. We also urge you to try at least one or two songs that are from a different genre or style than your regular worship experience. Please see the bulletins/programs from many previously held Hymnfests. Click on a highlighted Church name in the list of Previously Held Events to see a copy of their Order of Worship.

Check the Song tab for additional resources on each song in the hymnal.

We will send you a Lending Library of up to 70 hymnals to use for your Hymnfest (more can be sent upon request). The shipping costs will be covered by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You will be permitted to sell the hymnals at a reduced cost of $20.00 per copy. We will coordinate the shipment and use of the Lending Library with you.

Please send us a copy after the festival for our records – we’d love to see your worship experience.
 
Email us with any questions you may have at hymnal@crcna.org. We will be happy to assist you.

Events Calendar

Upcoming Events:

Previously Held Events: