Concordia Publishing, It’s Your House premiers on St. Louis station, KSDK NewsChannel 5, September, 2008. 
Concordia Publishing House is the focus of a special, 30-minute presentation on St. Louis television this fall. The special will also be available for viewing via cph.org. Learn more.

Spanish Edition Portals of Prayer® Now Available
Original devotions inspire and encourage Spanish-speaking Christians.

Portales de Oración from Concordia Publishing House is the Spanish version of the devotional magazine, Portals of Prayer. This new resource allows people to share the Christian faith with Spanish-speaking neighbors, open doors on a mission trip, or practice Spanish language skills while growing in the Word.

Portals of Prayer guides readers in a daily, faith-building experience with God’s Word. Each brief devotion features Scripture, meditation, and prayer in a user-friendly format. Subscribe now.

GUITAR CHORD EDITION ADDS VERSATILITY, NEW USES FOR THE COMPLETE HYMNODY OF LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOK

St. Louis, MO—Concordia Publishing House (CPH) announces the release of the Lutheran Service Book: Guitar Chord Edition, a contemporary treatment of the complete hymnody of Lutheran Service Book (LSB). The two-volume accompaniment edition provides the melody line and text, with chords included above the staff, for all 656 hymns.

Since the beginning of the LSB project, the Commission on Worship for The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod has planned for the release of a "guitar/lead sheet" edition to complement the new hymnal, which was introduced into LCMS congregations in August 2006 and has been adopted by more than 70% of congregations to date.

The product was developed by Peter Reske, chief editor for Lutheran Service Book and Dr. Kurt von Kampen, professor of music at Concordia University, Nebraska, and past member of the Commission on Worship. "We began development in September 2006," states Reske. "Kurt provided lead sheet style chords for every hymn. I tested it from a keyboardist's standpoint, while Kurt worked through all of the chords on the guitar."

The Guitar Chord Edition is the first product of this kind to be developed and offered by Concordia Publishing House. Reske shares, "The goal is to provide more options and flexibility to musicians who already know LSB, while also introducing it to other Lutherans asking for contemporary music resources."

Concordia Publishing House anticipates a favorable response to the new edition. "Based on a survey we completed in 2005, roughly one-third of LCMS congregations indicated they would purchase the resource in the first 6-months of its availability. We've taken pre-orders for more than 150 already." An introductory price of $55.00 is being offered on orders placed until February 2, 2009. 

"We've designed the book to be accessible. It brings the theological and musical riches of the hymns into a whole new arena."

Reske adds, "This book is not just for guitarists. Sure, it should be wherever a guitarist goes, but the book is designed as a lead sheet for any musician who plays by chord: piano, keyboard, bass, etc. and in any number of settings both in the sanctuary and beyond."

To learn more and listen to audio files, visit www.cph.org, keyword – guitar edition.
Orders can be placed July 21, 2008 online at cph.org or by calling 1.800.325.3040