To all Units of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement: Christian greetings with Ephesians 5:19.
We trust that this finds you richly enjoying the blessings of the Lord. The purpose of this circular is to promote and solicit the support of the Units of the General Conference for the project, Music and the Protestant Reformation, to be held on November 10-12, 2017, in the SDA Reform Movement churches around the world.
Considering that the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation is celebrated in 2017, the General Conference Music Committee has developed a program to re-emphasize the importance of the historical principles that should govern music in worshipping God.
The proposed program is as follows:
- Friday night, a special theme titled “Music and the Reformation: The Historical Context,”
- Sabbath morning, a special theme for the Divine Worship hour, entitled "Musical Principles of the Protestant Reformation,"
- Sabbath afternoon, a special study entitled "Hymnology: Luther and Bach,"
- Sunday night, a special theme entitled "Music in the Protestant Reformation: From Luther to Today.”
These meetings are intended not only for musicians but rather for the entire Reform community, including visitors and interested persons—and this should be a special occasion of fellowship with music and interaction among the believers.
During the months of August, September and October 2017, the materials needed for the event will become available through the GC Music Committee at music.sdarm.org, including:
- Posters;
- Text and PowerPoint messages;
- A study guide, Music and the Protestant Reformation, both in magazine and PowerPoint formats. Units are encouraged to print magazines and distribute them widely among the brethren. For the meetings, avoid just reading the text; the leader should study the subject in advance and present it in a dynamic, interesting way.
- Short videos on the subject.
- Audios with sacred music from the period of the Protestant Reformation.
Any questions or clarifications needed will be provided through email at music@sdarm.org.
It is our sincere desire that the project, Music and the Protestant Reformation, may be a blessing for Reform musicians and for our church in general.
In Christ,
Pr. Eli Tenório Marcos Pedrazas
GC Secretary Director of the GC Music Committee