Tag Archive for: music

633 – Music Ministry in a Pandemic

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This week the WELSTech featured interview focuses on pandemic music ministry blessings and challenges. Martin and Sallie geek out a bit with their picks of the week, the WELSTech community buzz is around Chromebooks and texting solutions, and we share details about an upcoming “Back to School” webinar by WELS Lutheran Schools and Christian Family Solutions.

The interview and discussion:

Making Worship Music from a Distance – Lisa Uttech, Music Director for Christ the Lord, Brookfield, WI, and Kristen Koepsell, Music Coordinator for Cross of Christ, Boise, ID, share their experiences with congregation and school music during the COVID-19 event.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

  • WELSTech Google Group discussions
  • Remote Learning Must Haves from Trox
  • Back to School Webinar – CLS and Christian Family Solutions are partnering to host a webinar for all WELS teachers and leaders on Tues., July 21 at 1:00 p.m. CST. The focus of the webinar will be preparing for the unique social/emotional needs and stresses of our teachers and students in today’s context based on God’s promises to be with us in all things. Register to reserve your seat!

Featured videos/online course:

Hands on with PowerToys for Windows 10

Next time:

Summer interviews on pandemic ministry continue

Get involved:

Footsteps To The Cross Illuminated – Koine

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Most of us have walked the 40 days of Lent many times over the years. The symbols, songs and traditions of this seasonal observance remind us of the grace and sacrifice of Jesus, our savior. The repetition is a welcome reminder, but like all repetition and traditions, we might, at times, run the risk of becoming numb to the message because it is so familiar.

One way to renew our love for Lent and it’s timeless message is through the unique presentations of the message. I was lucky enough to experience one of those “presentations” a few years ago by Koine, a Lutheran worship band formed in 2003. Their “Footsteps To The Cross Illuminated” concert is not your typical set-based performance. Rather it is a mixture of song, video, animation, and the word sewn together to bring an emotive, if not inspiring look at Jesus’ journey made on our behalf.

Koine is offering this “musical journey from the Mount of Transfiguration to Mount Calvary” this Lenten season. If you live in the southeastern Wisconsin area there are many opportunities to experience the “illumination.” If you can’t attend in person, they have their 2014 presentation available on YouTube.

So if you think a Lenten reboot might be in order, check out Koine’s Footsteps To the Cross Illuminated!

See All Ministry Resources

068 – Spending A Smarter Summer

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This week on the WELSTech podcast we gear up for summer with loads of options for personal learning, and we conclude our interview with WELS musicianary Mike Westendorf.

The discussion:

Summer Learning – Gail Potratz, our monthly guest host and Technology Coordinator at Emanuel in New London, WI, joins the conversation with Martin and Sallie, and we look at all the possibilities for learning something new this summer, including face-to-face and online, traditional and via your Personal Learning Network (PLN).

  • Summer classes from
    • Martin Luther College
    • Wisconsin Lutheran College
    • Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary
  • Online learning opportunities
  • Pull your PLN all together on a custom page using
  • Summer reading recommendation
  • Join Gail at the zoo
    • Milwaukee Digital Media Conference

The interview:

Mike Westendorf(18:22) Music With A Message – Martin and Sallie continue their discussion with WELS musician Mike Westendorf about the maturity of a Christian artist into a musicianary.

Picks of the week:

The contest:

WELSTech Desert Island Picks Contest(47:47) Top 5 Desert Island Software Picks

  • Send us the five software titles you wouldn’t want to live without – free or fee, desktop or Web 2.0, anything goes
  • Get us your list via your favorite WELSTech communication channel – e-mail us, leave us a voice mail (414-375-2334), send us a message on facebook or twitter – just get us your top 5 picks!
  • One random entry will receive a $25 gift certificate to the WELSTech store (cafepress.com/welstech)
  • Deadline for entry is Sunday April 26, 2009 @ 11:59 p.m.
  • Listen to WELSTech Episode 069 on April 29th to find out if you are the winner and to experience a virtual desert island of software picks

Community feedback:

  • (49:17) The #WELSTech Twitter conversation this week featured
    • Jason Schmidt from Gethsemane in Omaha, NE shared a link to another video captioning web site, this time for YouTube videos – CaptionTube
  • John Shoosmith from Redeemer in Yakima, WA
    • Reports that the video hosting and captioning site discussed in our last episode, dotSub.com, allows for 300 MB video uploads which is more than adequate for typical sermons
    • Added a new page to the WELSTech wiki (welstechwiki.wels.net) with coaching on video angels, lighting and more – Video Taping Guide
  • Additional WELSTech wiki updates include
    • New pages capturing the WELSTech listserve discussions on Office Suite and Server software
    • Discussion on calendar software
  • Check out the WELSTech listserve archive for discussions on Moodle and Martin’s call for church technology plans
  • Brian Preuss shared a link to a free, open-source, Linux-based church management software application, ChurchInfo, www.churchdb.org

Coming up on WELSTech:

(1:04:32) Episode 069 – The contest results are in, and we share our listener’s list of desert island software picks.  You’ll want to tune in to find out if you are the lucky winner of a $25 WELSTech store gift certificate. Enter to win by April 26th!

  • Production note: Due to scheduling conflicts, this episode will have a later-than-normal release time.  Look for it by noon on April 29th.

The featured artist:

(1:06:20) This week we close with WELS artist Michael Schroeder (www.michaelschroeder.com) – The One from his CD titled Fuel For The Soul

Get involved:

067 – Geeking Out In Sallie’s Kitchen

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This week the tech talk on the WELSTech podcast centers around group collaboration, the world of the independent Christian artist, and a geeky kitchen dream come true.

The discussion:

Group Effort Web 2.0 Style – Martin and Sallie revisit Clay Shirky’s book Here Comes Everybody and focus on chapter 5, “Personal Motivation Meets Collaborative Production”, as they explore the power of one of the core Web 2.0 tools, the wiki.  Listen for ideas on how you can use a wiki in your congregation or school.

  • Wikis in Plain English by CommonCraft
  • Episode 034 focused on wiki tools
  • Sample church ladies organization wiki – hosanna.wetpaint.com

The interview:

Mike WestendorfIndependent Christian Artist (18:22) – WELS musician Mike Westendorf joins Martin and Sallie to talk about getitng started in the music business, the recent CIA Summit for independent Christian artist and the role technology plays in music today.

The tidbits:

New technology showcase (38:30)

  • The “new” Friend Feed – beta.friendfeed.com

Picks of the week (42:25)

WELSTech Desert Island Picks ContestContest – Top 5 Desert Island Software Picks (47:47)

  • Send us the five software titles you wouldn’t want to live without – free or fee, desktop or Web 2.0, anything goes
  • Get us your list via your favorite WELSTech communication channel – e-mail us, leave us a voice mail (414-375-2334), send us a message on facebook or twitter – just get us your top 5 picks!
  • One random entry will receive a $25 gift certificate to the WELSTech store (cafepress.com/welstech)
  • Deadline for entry is Sunday April 26, 2009 @ 11:59 p.m.
  • Listen to WELSTech Episode 069 on April 29th to find out if you are the winner and to experience a virtual desert island of software picks

Community feedback (49:17)

  • Check out the WELSTech listserve archive for a balanced discussion of fee vs. open-source software for school computer usage
  • David Schumann from Peace in Janesville, WI shared his success with recycling old hardware with Linux
  • The #WELSTech Twitter conversation this week included
  • John Simonson from Good Shepherd in West Bend, WI suggested incorporating a call to action link on church sites – “Why join?” or “Why attend?”
  • Dan Schoeffel from St. Paul’s in Onalaska, WI shared a link to their Drupal members only site – members.stpaulsonalaska.org
    • We discussed Drupal in a episode 047 and have a page on the WELSTech wiki dedicated to Drupal
    • Take a sneak peek at the new Drupal-based WELS.net – beta.wels.net
  • David Savatski from WELS Missions added a presentation tips section to the WELSTech wiki
  • Greg Letiecq shared a “He Is Risen” video clip. Find it on the WELSTech wiki, posted using drop.io/welstech.

Coming up on WELSTech (1:04:32)

  • Episode 068 – It’s time to make plans for a summer of learning.  Gail Potratz will join us to discuss a multitude of opportunities for personal enrichment.  And we’ll wrap up our interview with Mike Westendorf.

The featured artist:

This week we close with WELS artist Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com) – Prelude to Praise from his newest CD titled Color Through the Gray (1:06:20)

Get involved:

Episode 032 – Aug 13 2008

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This week WELSTech listeners will hear about several impressive Web 2.0 discoveries Sallie found at a recent conference.  Also Martin and Sallie talk with Pastor Bryan Gerlach from WELS Commission on Worship about the forthcoming Electronic Editions of the Christian Worship: Supplement.

The discussion:

The interview:

  • Pastor Bryan GerlachThe Electronic Editions of the Christian Worship: Supplement (23:19) – Today Martin and Sallie talk with WELS Administrator for Worship, Pastor Bryan Gerlach, about the electronic resources that are going to be available to support the Christian Worship: Supplement.
    • Purchase the Accompaniment and Electronic Edition of the Supplement from Northwestern Publishing House (available Fall 2008)
    • OneLicense.net
    • Worship resources for the Supplement
    • Worship the Lord newsletter – Issue #30 focuses on the Electronic Editions of the Supplement

The tidbits:

  • Picks of the week (35:41)
    • Online file conversion – YouConvertIt.com
    • PC application launcher with a Mac feel – RocketDock.com
  • WELS.net feature (41:48)
    • WELS Campus Ministry – www.wels.net/jump/campusministry
      • Directions devotions
      • Lightsource magazine
      • Word on Campus podcast
      • Sign up for free Meditations & Forward in Christ subscriptions
  • Of interest (44:06)
    • WELS Web Hosting with FinalWeb
      • Features and links for getting started – www.wels.net/jump/webhosting
      • Online user community – www.wels.net/jump/wnuwebhosting
  • Community feedback (46:39)

The featured artist:

  • We close with music of Wisconsin Lutheran College’s Revelation music ministry (www.revelationwlc.com) – Such Joy from their We Walk By Faith CD (53:10)

Get involved:

Episode 024 – Jun 18 2008

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This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie review several tools for web-based information collection. Then they shift gears and talk with Jeffrey Clark about creating and using computer-generated midi music for worship.

The discussion:

The interview:

The tidbits:

  • This week’s picks (35:21)
  • WELS.net feature (43:33)
    • Streams Podcasts – streams.wels.net/podcasts
  • Of interest (46:15)
    • Parents Crosslink chat – Death and children
      • Tuesday, June 24 @ 8 p.m. CDT
      • www.wels.net/jump/chat
  • Community feedback (47:01)
    • Do you have an effective solution for printing your church or school calendar? Join the discussion on the WELSTech listserve.

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of Revelation (www.revelationwlc.com) – Via Dolorosa from their CD titled Once For All (48:20)

Get involved:

Episode 020 – May 21 2008

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This week Martin and Sallie share some basic how-to information for getting started in the world of web video streaming. Also you’ll hear about one teacher’s adventure in the world of music technology.

The discussion:

  • Web Streaming – The high point of streaming video services for WELS is graduation season. So what better time of year for Martin and Sallie to discuss the variety of hardware and software options for streaming and share their recommendations for getting started.

The interview:

  • Dale WitteMusic Technology (16:49)- Dale Witte, Choir Director at Winnebago Lutheran Academy (WLA) in Fond du Lac, WI, joins Martin and Sallie to discuss what he’s teaching in music technology class and how it is supplying the church with “virtual” musicians.

The tidbits:

  • This week’s picks (37:07)
  • WELS.net feature (46:23)
    • Worship Helps – www.wels.net/jump/worshiphelps
  • Of interest (47:57)
    • Upcoming live events – WLS graduation and call services
  • Community feedback (48:44)

The featured artist:

  • This week we close with the music of Kevin Loersch – Mary Did You Know from his CD titled O Holy Night (52:18)

Get involved: