Presbyterian Mission Agency Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) Archives

Montreat Conference Center and community grapple with effects of Helene

Posted October 4th, 2024

When word began to circulate that western North Carolina had suffered massive damage from Hurricane Helene, one of the landmarks that came to the mind of many Presbyterians was Montreat Conference Center.

PAM’s Worship & Music choirs offer up a full and united sound pleasing to everyone in attendance, including God

Posted July 13th, 2023

During the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ Worship & Music Conference held over two weeks, Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand took 400 already polished singers each week and worked them — worked them hard, at times — to put forth a glorious sound pleasing to the 700 or so people who gathered each week, and pleasing to God, too.

Handbell directors and players at PAM’s Worship & Music Conference discuss what it takes to make their joyful noise

Posted July 13th, 2023

The playing of handbells “is not a one-size-fits-all musical idiom,” said Sandy Eithun, who co-directed handbell choirs during the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ Worship & Music Conference held at Montreat Conference Center. “There are places for everyone, and we need everyone.”

Job as you’ve never seen him

Posted July 13th, 2023

After teaching about Wisdom literature found in the Book of Proverbs the previous day, Dr. William Brown turned to the Book of Job the next afternoon during an Adult Bible Study class at the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ Worship & Music Conference held at Montreat Conference Center.

‘No water necessary. No waiting required’

Posted July 13th, 2023

Worship during the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ Worship & Music Conference held at Montreat Conference Center continued with its pattern of seamless and beautiful liturgy and quality musicianship, the latter provided by Dr. Tony McNeill on piano and Eric Wall on organ.

‘The wise love to know better, do better and be better’

Posted July 13th, 2023

Wisdom, as found in the biblical books of Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes — and in other places too — is all about the human condition, Creation and nature, moral character, navigating life and experience.

A biblical story with ‘all the makings of a Marvel movie’

Posted July 13th, 2023

With a nod to the rain that pounded Montreat Conference Center since the start of the recent Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ Music & Worship Conference, those gathered to worship opened the service by singing “There Shall be Showers of Blessing” and “Rain Down.”

Discrepancies in the legal system are nothing new

Posted July 13th, 2023

Moving on from Creation to the Torah, Dr. William Brown recently made the case that the current struggle to determine what’s concrete in, say, the interpretation of laws under the U.S. Constitution was vexing for folks in Old Testament times as well.

It’s humanity’s job to ‘help Creation flourish in all its beautiful diversity’

Posted July 13th, 2023

In the beginning, Dr. William Brown said recently, God created a dialogue. “It has everything to do with our place and our role in Creation,” said Brown, Old Testament Professor at Columbia Theological Seminary, said during the second installment of his “Dialogue, Dissonance & Debate in the Bible” course at the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ Worship & Music Conference held at Montreat Conference Center.

Church music and COVID-19

Posted September 28th, 2020

The Presbyterian Association of Musician offers ideas for congregations as they navigate the return to public worship and seek to bridge online and in-person gatherings. These suggestions may need to be adapted for a particular context of ministry. They should be undertaken only insofar as local resources and current conditions allow.