‘What People Are Saying About Our Speakers’ Series

“Congratulations to you and your team for a great workshop.” - Bev Marshall

“What a great workshop given by Carollyn Winfrey Gillette! 'Songs of Joy', hosted by Westminster United Church on September 28th, opened my mind and heart to the powerful potential of contemporary words, sung to well-known and loved hymn tunes, that bring new meanings and insights to present day issues and realities. Singing Carolyn's hymns, of which she has written over 500, and using them as examples, sparked creativity and challenged us to use our own words and experiences to spread God's love and Christ's teachings through song. Participants left with some very useful resources, including samples of her hymns and best-selling books. More importantly, we were uplifted by her stories and encouraged to bring new meaning to the power of words and music.”

- Paul Wharram

President, Royal Canadian College of Organists

Windsor Essex Centre

“Carolyn Winfrey Gillette’s workshop was a heart-warming day. So much of today's life - environmental disasters, health and aging concerns, killings, wars, famine, and suffering - all brought right into our homes by Cable TV - seem to be sucking little bits of joy and peace right out of our souls. Singing Carolyn's songs at Westminster’s all-day hymn workshop replenished our souls and filled us with a little more hope. Thank you, Westminster United Church!” – Wilma Lamb

“We love those old hymns! Just hearing their tunes wakens comforting memories in us older folks, while their simple melodies and strong rhythms make them easy for youngsters to learn. But if they’re all we sing we’re accused of living in the past, clinging to a stagnant faith. Not any more! Those of us who gathered at Westminster United Church on Saturday, September 28, learned how to pour new wine safely into old wine skins and create life-giving musical expressions of a vibrant faith. Our adventure in hymn-writing was led by the lively and inspiring Reverend Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, author of over five hundred hymns being sung in congregations representative of a variety of denominations around the world. Impressive credentials! Rev. Gillette’s “formula” is simple: identify an issue, select a familiar hymn tune in public domain (thus not requiring copyright clearance) whose rhythm and melody suit the topic of concern, develop the thought with vocabulary which fits the rhythm (metre) of the tune and is appropriate for the emotional/spiritual aspect. We sang with enthusiasm several of Carolyn’s hymns, and finished this informative, inspiring workshop by working in small groups to create a verse or two ~ thus discovering the hymn-writers within ourselves, just waiting to be exercised. Using our past musical heritage to express present-day spiritual issues as a springboard into an unknown future ~ now THAT is a “firm foundation” indeed!
Another important ingredient in the day’s success was the fine noon meal catered by Ten Friends Diner. All in all, a day to remember, an experience with Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to inspire and share.”