Person Results

Marty Haugen

b. 1950 Composer of "JOYOUS LIGHT" in Voices United Marty Haugen (b. 1950), is a prolific liturgical composer with many songs included in hymnals across the liturgical spectrum of North American hymnals and beyond, with many songs translated into different languages. He was raised in the American Lutheran Church, received a BA in psychology from Luther College, yet found his first position as a church musician in a Roman Catholic parish at a time when the Roman Catholic Church was undergoing profound liturgical and musical changes after Vatican II. Finding a vocation in that parish to provide accessible songs for worship, he continued to compose and to study, receiving an MA in pastoral studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul Minnesota. A number of liturgical settings were prepared for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and more than 400 of his compositions are available from several publishers, especially GIA Publications, who also produced some 30 recordings of his songs. He is composer-in-residence at Mayflower Community Congregational Church in Minneapolis and continues to compose and travel to speak and teach at worship events around the world. Emily Brink

Ruth C. Duck

b. 1947 Person Name: Ruth Duck Author of "As A Fire Is Meant for Burning" in Voices United

Jaroslav J. Vajda

1919 - 2008 Person Name: Jaroslav J. Vajda, b. 1919 Author of "When You Woke That Thursday Morning" in Lutheran Service Book Jaroslav J. Vajda (b. Lorain, Ohio, 1919; d. 2008) Born of Czechoslovakian parents, Vajda was educated at Concordia College in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Concordia Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Ordained as a Lutheran pastor in 1944, he served congregations in Pennsylvania and Indiana until 1963. He was editor of the periodicals The Lutheran Beacon (1959-1963) and This Day (1963-1971) and book editor and developer for Concordia Publishing House in St. Louis from 1971 until his retirement in 1986. Working mainly with hymn texts, Vajda served on several Lutheran commissions of worship. A writer of original poetry since his teens, he was the author of They Followed the King (1965) and Follow the King (1977). His translations from Slovak include Bloody Sonnets (1950), Slovak Christmas (1960), An Anthology of Slovak Literature (1977), and contributions to the Lutheran Worship Supplement (1969) and the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978). A collection of his hymn texts, carols, and hymn translations was issued as Now the Joyful Celebration (1987); its sequel is So Much to Sing About (1991). Vajda's hymns are included in many modern hymnals, and he was honored as a Fellow of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada in 1988. Bert Polman

Stephen P. Starke

b. 1955 Person Name: Stephen P. Starke, b. 1955 Author of "Jesus Sat with His Disciples" in Lutheran Service Book Rev. Stephen P. Starke has always had a heart for hymns. At a young age, Starke played hymns out of The Lutheran Hymnal and read through the hymnal to pass the time before Sunday services. Pastor Starke graduated from Concordia University Chicago with a BA. While completing his MDiv from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, he attempted his first hymn text and was encouraged to write more. Since that time, he has written more than 175 hymns inspired by music and the Scriptures. He has been commissioned to write hymns for special occasions, including the 125th anniversary of Concordia University Wisconsin, as well as his daughter’s wedding. Because of his extensive work as a hymnwriter, Pastor Starke received an honorary doctor of letters degree from Concordia University, Irvine, California, and an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon. It is through the medium of hymns that Pastor Starke desires to preserve and pass on the truths of the Gospel for generations to come.

John A. Dalles

b. 1954 Person Name: John A. Dalles, 1954- Author of "See What Love We Have Been Given!" in Community of Christ Sings Born: September 13, 1954, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A lifelong Presbyterian, John Dalles has lived in Pittsburgh, Coatesville, Lancaster, and State College, Pennsylvania; and South Bend, Indiana. He received the Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Pennsylvania State in 1976. While engaged in a semester abroad in Petworth, England, he sensed a call to the ministry. An architectural designer before divinity studies, he received the Master of Divinity from Lancaster Theological Seminary in 1982. During seminary, he served as a resource consultant for the original Parish Resource Center in Lancaster. Ordained in Highland Presbyterian Church, Lancaster, on August 1, 1982, John’s first call was to serve the First Presbyterian Church of South Bend, Indiana, as associate pastor. Responsibilities there included worship leadership and preaching, administration of mission and memorial endowment disbursement for mission (over $130,000 annually), minister for education and pastoral care (Diaconate), coordinator of new member outreach and staff liaison to the church owned resident camp. He served the area council of religious organizations, was a member of the Worship Task Force and Discipleship/Church Life Committee of Wabash Valley Presbytery, member and awards chairman of the St. Joseph County Scholarship Foundation, and founding member of Notre Dame Civitan and the South Bend, Indiana, Habitat for Humanity. In December 1986, Dalles was called to Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where his duties included worship leadership and preaching, programming for spiritual growth, congregational life, administration of pastoral care, adult education, Stephen Ministry, and new member outreach (with annual membership increases of 100 or more). In May 1994, Dalles received the Doctor of Ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary for his work in the area of pastoral leadership in the multi-staff church. While at Fox Chapel, he instituted an annual community prayer breakfast, served on the Presbytery’s Preparation for Ministry Committee, and as liaison to an area rehabilitation center. He wrote and edited In Life and Death We Belong to God, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) study resource on end-of-life issues. Since May 1997, Dalles has served as pastor and head of staff of Wekiva Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida, an active and growing congregation in its 26th year. Accomplishments during his pastorate have included a major capital and facilities expansion, growth in new members, and the implementation of new staffing and programs at every level of the congregation’s life. He has chaired the Theology and Worship Committee of Central Florida Presbytery for the past three years. Dalles has written numerous articles and many published hymn texts. His hymns "Come, O Spirit" and "God Bless Your Church with Strength!" are in the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal. His lyrics are also in: The New Century Hymnal, The Moravian Book of Worship, Worship Together (Mennonite Brethren), The Covenant Hymnal (Evangelical Covenant Church), The Book of Praise (Presbyterian Church in Canada) and The Australian Book of Praise II. He has written anniversary hymn texts, including: Presbyterian Heritage Sunday, Augsburg, Goshen, Maryville, Tusculum, Wilson and Knox Colleges, American University, Pittsburgh and Lancaster Seminaries, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, the Lutheran World Federation and the Presbyterian Association of Musicians. A member of the Hymn Society, he has been listed in national and world editions of Who’s Who since 1997. Two of his anthems are on a CD by composer Bob Moore entitled "Like a Whisper in the Heart." His other works include: Swift Currents and Still Waters (Chicago, Illinois: GIA Publications, 2000) Lyrics-- As Christ the Little Children Blessed Bless the Ones Who Nurture Children Change Your Church, O God, to Be Come, O Spirit God Bless the Work Your People Do God, Bless Your Church with Strength! God Is the One Who Calls God, Renew Us by Your Spirit! May God’s Love Be Fixed Above You O God of Love, Grant Us Your Peace O Seek the Lord in Prayer © The Cyber Hymnal™ (www.hymntime.com/tch)