If you don't see any workshops in your area and are interested in hosting one, please contact [email protected].
Upcoming Events
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Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 07:00 PM through March 19, 2026
Zoom
Join Music that Makes Community facilitators and composers for an online series of Paperless Music for Lent!
Starting Thursday January 22, 2026, Music that Makes Community facilitators will be offering songs and resources to support your Lenten observances from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. There will be three types of programming offered: a 90-minute song sharing event, 5 explorations during Monday Morning Grounding, and some drop-in sessions.
Details are still being settled, but you can put these dates in your calendar now:
Kick off to Paperless Music
Thursday, January 22, 2026, 7-8:30 p.m. ET
Registration coming soon.
Deeper Explorations at Monday Morning Grounding
Mondays, 10-10:30 a.m. ET
- January 26: Ash Wednesday
- February 2: Lent
- February 23: Palm Sunday-Maundy Thursday
- March 2: Maundy Thursday-Good Friday
- March 9: Easter + AlleluiasRegister for the Zoom link here. Good for all Monday Morning Grounding Sessions.
Drop-In Sessions
- Lent focus: Tuesday, February 10
- Holy Week + Easter focus: Thursday, March 12 + Tuesday, March 17Times tba.
Registration coming soon.
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Monday, January 26, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Zoom
Join Music that Makes Community for a weekly touchstone that includes singing, silence, sacred text, and community connection. We'll gather at 10 a.m. EDT (9 CDT / 8 MDT / 7 PST) each Monday for a 30-minute gathering followed by coffee and conversation.
MMC leaders host the gathering, drawing from many musical and spiritual traditions.Register for the Zoom link here!
This Zoom link is good for all sessions in this season. -
Monday, February 02, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Zoom
Join Music that Makes Community for a weekly touchstone that includes singing, silence, sacred text, and community connection. We'll gather at 10 a.m. EDT (9 CDT / 8 MDT / 7 PST) each Monday for a 30-minute gathering followed by coffee and conversation.
MMC leaders host the gathering, drawing from many musical and spiritual traditions.Register for the Zoom link here!
This Zoom link is good for all sessions in this season. -
Friday, February 06, 2026 at 12:00 AM through February 09, 2026
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Raleigh, NC
Music that Makes Community (MMC) and the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM) are excited to announce a Three-Day Residency at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Conie Borchardt, Executive Director of MMC, and two experienced MMC facilitators will lead a weekend of events intended to introduce the paperless repertoire of Music that Makes Community, support the creation of spaces of trust, listening, and communication through singing, and the basic skills for leading communal song.
Residency Events Include:
- On Friday, February 6, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. there will be a Community SING open to all. A free will offering will be collected, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
- On Saturday, February 7, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. we’ll experience singing in community and learning the leadership skills and practices of paperless songleading during our Community Singing Workshop.
- We conclude on Sunday morning, Sunday, February 8, at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. where MMC staff will offer musical leadership in worship and facilitate a forum in between services for folks to reflect on their experience.No special talents required — simply bring your love of music and fellowship. Singers of all backgrounds, ages, and experience levels are warmly welcomed to participate!
To register, CLICK HERE, and go to ALCM’s website for more details on travel and accommodations.
Please reach out with any questions.
These events are co-sponsored by the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.
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Friday, February 06, 2026 at 07:00 PM
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Raleigh, NC
Join us for a Community SING to experience paperless singing! Music that Makes Community presenters will offer a lively evening of singing, learning, and community building on Friday evening, February 6, from 7-8:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.
No special talents required - just a love of music and fellowship. Singers of all backgrounds, ages, and experience levels are warmly welcomed to participate!
Admission
A free-will offering will be collected, though no one will be turned away for lack of funds. The suggested donation is $5-20 per person.
Related Events
This is the first of several residency events over the weekend. In addition to the Community SING on Friday night, Music that Makes Community facilitators will be offering:
- A 1-Day Community Singing Workshop on Saturday, February 7, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. where we will experience more singing in community and learn the leadership skills and practices of paperless songleading.
- Musical leadership at worship on Sunday morning, February 8, at the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services. In addition to offering leadership in worship, MMC presenters will facilitate a forum in between services for folks to reflect on their experience.These events are co-sponsored by the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians.
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Saturday, February 07, 2026 at 09:00 AM
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Raleigh, NC
On Saturday, February 7, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Music that Makes Community will be offering a One-Day workshop at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, sponsored by Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. Three experienced MMC facilitators will offer a lively day of singing, learning, and community building. No special talents required - just a love of music and fellowship. Singers of all backgrounds, ages, and experience levels are warmly welcomed to participate!
Join us for a renewing day of building community through singing, learning, and fellowship. During our time together we’ll:
- Explore a practice of paperless (oral tradition) singing leadership grounded in a spirit of welcome and generosity;
- Engage models of teaching and leading that welcome our bodies, hearts, and minds;
- Experience music reflective of the growing diversity of our communities and celebrating our rich spiritual and liturgical traditions;
- Build community and strengthen relationships through singing.Each person will leave with new music to share, as well as experiences of learning and teaching songs applicable to their context. Choir directors, clergy, cantors, lay leaders, and all who love to sing are warmly welcomed.
We are delighted to offer many registration tiers. Please register before December 16, 2025 for the best rate!
Register on or before January 7, 2026
- Regular Registration – $79
- Team (multiple from same address/church) Registration – $59/registrant
- Full-time Student Registration – $39
- Good Shepherd Raleigh Member Registration – $39Register after January 7, 2026
- Regular Registration – $99
- Team (multiple from same address/church) Registration – $79/registrant
- Full-time Student Registration – $39
- Good Shepherd Raleigh Member Registration – $39Click to register HERE!
These events are co-sponsored by the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM).
Related Events
This is the featured event during a 3-Day Residency held with ALCM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church over the weekend. In addition to the workshop on Saturday, Music that Makes Community facilitators will be offering:
- On Friday night, February 6, from 7-8:30 p.m. there will be a Community SING open to the all. A free will offering will be collected, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.
- Musical leadership at Good Shepherd Lutheran's worship on Sunday morning, February 8, at the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. services. In addition to offering leadership in worship, MMC presenters will facilitate a forum in between services for folks to reflect on their experience. -
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 12:00 AM through March 17, 2026
Zoom
Lent will be here soon and six weeks later, Holy Week and Easter.
Maybe you attended our Lenten webinar in January and maybe you're just getting plans together for this holy season.
No matter your level of preparation, join experienced Music that Makes Community facilitators for an informal space to sing, share ideas in progress, problem solve, or practice leading something within a supportive context.
Dates (Times TBA)
- Lent focus: Tuesday, February 10
- Holy Week + Easter: Thursday, March 12 + Tuesday, March 17Register HERE and join us as long as you're able. If you have questions or scenarios you’d like us to ponder in advance, kindly include details in the Questions + Comments portion of the form.
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Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 12:00 AM
MMC facilitators Zachary Stevens-Walter and Nancy Willbanks will be offering a 2-hour Music that Makes Community workshop during the American Baptist Home Mission Society's (ABHMS) Nurturing Children Initiative cohort gathering on February 14 in Philadelphia, PA.
If you'd like to invite MMC's transformative practices to your community, please review our Host an Event page and then reach out to [email protected] with your seed idea!
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Monday, February 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Zoom
Join Music that Makes Community for a weekly touchstone that includes singing, silence, sacred text, and community connection. We'll gather at 10 a.m. EDT (9 CDT / 8 MDT / 7 PST) each Monday for a 30-minute gathering followed by coffee and conversation.
MMC leaders host the gathering, drawing from many musical and spiritual traditions.Register for the Zoom link here!
This Zoom link is good for all sessions in this season. -
Monday, March 02, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Zoom
Join Music that Makes Community for a weekly touchstone that includes singing, silence, sacred text, and community connection. We'll gather at 10 a.m. EDT (9 CDT / 8 MDT / 7 PST) each Monday for a 30-minute gathering followed by coffee and conversation.
MMC leaders host the gathering, drawing from many musical and spiritual traditions.Register for the Zoom link here!
This Zoom link is good for all sessions in this season.