Rise, O Church

This powerful collection of essays by Paul Westermeyer is both prophetic and pastoral. Dr. Westermeyer pulls themes from Susan Cherwien's marvelous hymn "Rise, O Church" and challenges and encourages worship leaders to examine the influences on the church that come from modern day outside sources. Through the study of hymns both modern and historical, the author calls us back to a biblical perspective of worship. A "must read" for musicians and clergy.

This powerful collection of essays by Paul Westermeyer is both prophetic and pastoral. Dr. Westermeyer pulls themes from Susan Cherwien's marvelous hymn "Rise, O Church" and challenges and encourages worship leaders to examine the influences on the church that come from modern day outside sources. Through the study of hymns both modern and historical, the author calls us back to a biblical perspective of worship. A "must read" for musicians and clergy.

Paul Westermeyer is Professor of Church Music at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he also serves as Cantor and administers the Master of sacred Music program with St. Olaf College. He has taught at Elmhurst College and Yale University's Institute of Sacred Music, has served the church as a musician and pastor, and has been the President of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, Editor of its journal The Hymn, and in 2004 was named a Fellow. From 1991 until 1998 he was the national Chaplain of the American Guild of Organists. Westermeyer's interested have been at the intersections of music, theology, and worship. His books- The Church Musician, The Heart of the Matter, Let the People Sing, Let Justice Sing, Te Deum, and With Tongues of Fire- relate to those topics.