Calvin News

The creative team behind Jazz Vespers is planning a special Advent-themed edition of the popular worship service to close the fall semester. The Jazz Vespers Advent service will be held 9 p.m., Thursday, December 6 in the Fish House.  
Jazz Vespers, which worships at that time in that venue every other Thursday evening throughout the year, seeks a fusion between the various forms of art and prayer. “It’s our goal here on campus to provide that space for those who don’t feel comfortable in a typical worship setting,” said Jazz Vespers chair, senior Jacqueline Klamer. 
The unconventional service is a good  format for creating a distinctive holiday celebration, she said, “Just as we’re stepping away from the typical forms of worship, we can also take a step away from the typical celebrations of Christmas toward a more contemplative approach to the coming of Christ. We’re planning a service that’s approachable and reflective and creative and questioning.”
The Advent service will feature the usual Jazz Vespers blend of poetry, prose, scripture, prayer, live art and live jazz. The service will also welcome local guitarist and composer Charles Meyers to the mix. “Something that’s really exciting this year is that more and more of the art and poetry and music is created by Calvin students and local artists,” Klamer said.
The Advent service will also follow the traditional format, which has shaped Jazz Vespers since it began in November of 2000: from Opening to Lament to Proclamation to Prayer to Closing. The planning team fits each new theme to the familiar rhythm of worship. “The format has served us well,” said Klamer, who joined the Jazz Vespers team as a drummer in her first year at Calvin. “What we try to provide is a comfortable setting where they’re not required to sing along or to read aloud. But they have a paper copy of the order of worship (called the ‘un-bulletin’) and they can follow along.”
Formerly Jazz Vespers was administrated with the help of the chapel staff and Calvin worship apprentices took a major role in its planning. In 2005, the staff encouraged students to take ownership of the service, and it has been an official student organization since that year. “We typically have crowd of people that return again and again,” Klamer said.
Nowadays, in addition to playing the drums, Klamer also plays percussion, sings, reads poetry and organizes the service—whatever is needed. The other team members also work hard, she said, and they’re always keen to recruit new students to lend a hand.  “We’re always looking for more people, and we’re really hoping that more musicians will get involved— particularly first- and second-year musicians.”
Klamer said the Jazz Vespers team is encouraged that artists such as Meyer from beyond the Calvin community are asking to take part in the service. “The original intent of Jazz Vespers eight years ago was that it would eventually end up somewhere in a coffee shop in the Grand Rapids community,” she said. “We’re at the point now where we’re bringing in special community artists to help us here.”