Hymn writer to speak at Northwestern

Dr. Ruth Duck, hymn writer and professor of worship at Garrett- Evangelical Theological Seminary in Chicago, will visit Northwestern College on Oct. 27 and 28.

Duck will speak in chapel on Monday, Oct. 27, at 10:05 a.m. on “Why God’s People Sing.” A variety of her hymn texts will be featured in Tuesday’s chapel, which begins at 11:05 a.m. Duck will lead a hymn-writing workshop for interested students and community members Monday at 7 p.m. in DeWitt Music Hall room 124. All events are free and open to the public.

A well-published hymn writer and ordained pastor, Duck has written hundreds of hymn texts and published her own books of hymns. Duck has also authored Finding Words for Worship, which emphasizes the need for congregations to write their own prayers and hymns.

Dr. Heather Josselyn-Cranson, director of Northwestern’s music ministry program, says, “Modern hymn writers reflect on the things that happen around us: natural disasters, wars, scientific developments and cultural shifts, and help us offer these things up to God in sung prayer. Ruth is one of the greatest modern hymn writers out there, and we are very fortunate to have her on campus.”