Newest Videos
August 12, 2026
Introduction and Commentary
on Don Saliers' New Book
"Psalms as Lyrical Theology"
The three main points or core themes of the Book of Psalms are praise and worship, lament and honest emotion, and God's absolute sovereignty and kingship. These ancient prayers and songs cover the full range of human experience with God.
"The Psalms of Ascent were likely songs that pilgrims would sing on their often arduous journey up to the temple to offer their worship and sacrifices. It was a journey that happened each year… possibly multiple times a year. As such these songs were established and proven over many journeys – songs taught to children that their parents sang when they were children.... The moment where the road is changing but the mountain, the destination, remains fixed…"
"Psalms of Ascent" commentary by Redwood Park Church
Psalm 150 is the final song in the Book of Psalms. It serves as a grand finale and a pure shout of praise to God. The short six-verse poem tells everyone and everything to use music, voice, and life itself to honor God for who He is and what He has done.
Dr. Saliers retired from Emory University's Chandler School of Theology as the William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Theology and Worship, Emeritus.
He is an active church musician and author who frequently lectures, preaches and leads retreats across North America. Dr. Saliers's lecture is titled, "Terror and Beauty, Lament and Praise: what Difference Does Music Make?"
The Institute for Arts and Worship, Andover Newton Theological School "Arts and the Sensual in Renewing Worship", June 2009
"Spiritual Synaesthesia"
Worship comes to its Senses: Augustine's Ambivalence Revisited
September 24, 2010
Emily Saliers '85C of the Indigo Girls and her father, Don Saliers, Professor Emeritus at Candler School Of Theology, join Emory VP and Secretary Rosemary Magee '82PhD in this "Creativity Conversation" about art, spirituality, and collaboration.
Not to be missed... father and daughter perform together. The event took place during Homecoming Weekend on Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, in Cannon Chapel.
The Kavanagh Lecture, presented by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music, is named for the late Professor Emeritus of Liturgics Aidan J. Kavanagh O.S.B., and given in conjunction with Convocation Week at Yale Divinity School
Don Saliers '62 B.D., '67 Ph.D. retired from the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta in 2007 as the William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Theology and Worship.
The Emory University Emeritus College (EUEC) held its 10-Year Celebration at the Miller-Ward Alumni House. Founders, Eugene Bianchi and John Bugge joined over 100 members and friends of the College to reflect on all that the EUEC has to celebrate. The highlight of the event was a special musical performance by emeritus, Don Saliers and his daughter, Emory alumna, Emily Saliers.
September 16, 2013
Paul Simon's
"The Sound of Silence"
A Close Listening
September 16, 2013
Don Saliers (William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Theology and Worship, Emeritus) talks about "The Sound of Silence" - its historical context in the 1960s, its theological underpinnings, and his personal connection to the song. "Silence can be a refuge," he says, "and silence can be a phenomenally ambiguous, difficult reality."
Apr 9, 2014
Don E. Saliers, William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Theology and Worship, Emeritus, delivers the 2014 Sheth Distinguished Lecture on "Creativity in Later Life" (April 9, 2014).
The Reverend Dr. Don E. Saliers is William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Theology and Worship, Emeritus. Dr. Saliers is a theologian specializing in homiletics and liturgics. He retired from Emory University in 2007. As a member of the Emory University Emeritus College, Saliers has received many accolades including the 2010 Distinguished Emeritus Award. In 2011, he received the Heilbrun Distinguished Emeritus Fellowship.
The Sheth Distinguished Lecture series is named in honor of Dr. Jagdish and Mrs. Madhuri Sheth, whose generous donation made this annual event possible. Each year since 2004, a speaker of outstanding quality is invited to present during a lunch attended by emeriti, active faculty, and others with special interest in the topic.
The speaker is selected and invited by Emeritus College's Teaching and Lecturing Committee who also hosts the event. Dr. Sheth is the Charles H. Kellstadt Professor of Marketing at Goizueta Business School.
January 27, 2016
The issues that faculty face when considering retirement are different depending on their field of study. In the humanities and non-experimental social sciences, faculty may wonder about funding, field work, travel, or access to archives. Co-sponsored wiht the Emory University Emeritus College, this panel discussion with three faculty who have recently retired but maintained an active scholarly life will explore some of the more “existential” questions for faculty considering retirement: What might scholarly projects might look like after retirement? In what ways do they change? What can a retired faculty member think about doing in terms of intellectual projects, and how do things change in terms of resources and support? Are there ways in which scholarly engagement might be refocused to new activities? Speakers: Don Saliers (William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor of Theology and Worship, Emeritus), Ronald Schuchard (Goodrich C. White Professor of English, Emeritus), and Holly York (French, Emerita)
May 14, 2016
Emily and Don at the reception for the United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society
September 4, 2016
Chungdong First Methodist Church English Ministry, Seoul, South Korea.
September 4, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Sermon : “Way, Truth and Life” - Dr. Don Saliers Hebrew Lesson: Psalm 117:1-2 Gospel Lesson: John 14:1-14
An insightful and intimate conversation with Indigo Girls Emily Saliers and her father, Don Saliers. They have co-authored a book called a "Song to Sing a Life to Live" reflections on music as spiritual.
Brought to you by the
Bay View Association
1715 Encampment Ave. P.O. Box 583
Petoskey, MI 49770
The Bay View Association of The United Methodist Church, a Chautauqua on Lake Michigan, is a National Historic Landmark community founded in 1875.
Nov 1, 2017
"Saint and Sinners Sound the Glory," by Dr. Don Saliers, William R. Cannon Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Theology and Worship, Candler School of Theology. The 2017 Reformation Festival, held Oct. 27-28 at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., brought speakers and musicians together to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
Worship & Spiritual Formation
At Candler, worship and spiritual formation are part of what make us who we are. Whether you come to worship in community, grow in prayer, try new spiritual practices, build meaningful relationships, or simply take a breath—you are welcome here, and there’s a place for you.
Dr. Don Saliers, who has served as a consultant to our Annual Conference Worship Planning Teams, stopped by the Conference Office to chat about worship at Annual Conference 2017.
February 15, 2018
Grebel was pleased to welcome Don E. Saliers as the 2018 Rodney and Lorna Sawatsky Visiting Scholar.
Don offered a public lecture titled, "Psalms in a Difficult Time: the Rhythms of Doxology and Lament," on Thursday, February 15, 2018.
The Rodney and Lorna Sawatsky Visiting Scholar Lecture was established in 2004 to honour Rodney’s tenure and Lorna’s involvement at Conrad Grebel University College. Rodney and his wife Lorna were key figures at Conrad Grebel, the University of Waterloo, and in the local community. Since Rodney’s death in 2004, Lorna has continued to support and advocate for causes that were important to them both. In keeping with Rodney Sawatsky’s own academic interests, the Sawatsky Visiting Scholar is awarded to renowned scholars, practitioners and performers — representing a wide range of academic and creative disciplines — who bring their expertise to the Grebel community.
The Rev. Dr. Don E. Saliers, Theologian-in-Residence, delivers a sermon in the William R. Cannon Chapel on
February 27, 2018 Emory University
July 1, 2019 Hymn Festival
Summer of Wellness: Spiritual, Physical, and Emotional.
Sunday, June 30, 2019 Rise and Shine Dr. Don Saliers Ephesians 5:8-14
Themes and Variations: Music and Imagination is a 2020 book written by theologian, musician, and scholar Don Saliers. Published by GIA Publications, the text explores the profound intersection between human life experiences and musical expression.
Core Concepts and Structure
Origin: The book is a compilation of columns originally written by Saliers for The American Organist magazine.
Format: It contains over 70 short, reflective essays designed to be read in any sequence.
The "Double Journey": Saliers focuses heavily on how music simultaneously explores the depths of human emotion and the mysteries of the divine.
Core Themes: The essays return frequently to how music shapes and evokes deep emotional responses like joy, sorrow, praise, lament, and gratitude.
Psalm 63: My Soul is Thirsting by Rawn Harbor. Psalms from the Soul, vol. 2 - Lent, Eastertide, and Ordinary Time (2008). Music reproduced by permission (OneLicense.net A-701943)
Worship & Spiritual Formation
At Candler, worship and spiritual formation are part of what make us who we are. Whether you come to worship in community, grow in prayer, try new spiritual practices, build meaningful relationships, or simply take a breath—you are welcome here, and there’s a place for you.
Worship & Spiritual Formation
Candler, a theology school embedded in a top-tier university and a hub for Christian learning. A brave space for thinking, discussing, doing. A throughline connecting academics, praxis, and faith in context. People who trust that God is at work in this world and calling us to join.
In times of adversity and crisis, it is helpful to seek the counsel of wise teachers. Our guest today, Don Saliers, Theologian in Residence at Candler School of Theology, is one of our wisest teachers. He’s handling social distancing, in part, by playing the piano, revisiting sacred music from Bach to the spirituals.
“There are times when I don’t have the words. And I don’t have the sense of what needs to be said. All I have is a kind of buzzing confusion of emotion or feeling, and then I come across a piece of music or a poem or psalm that articulates it for me, that gives me the language I need to say to God, and to myself.”
In this conversation, we explore the deep, rich treasury of Christian spirituality from music to poetry to prayer that allows us, even in adversity, to be fully alive to God as human beings in the world.
Service of Evening Prayer | Nashville Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
The Rev. Dr. Don Saliers, National AGO Chaplain; Theologian-in-Residence, Candler School of Theology; Emeritus Professor of Theology and Worship, Candler School of Theology; author MUSIC AND THEOLOGY (2007), A SONG TO SING, A LIFE TO LIVE (2005) co-author with daughter, Emily Saliers
Dr. Don Saliers is inviting us to join him in a Zoom meeting to discuss "What does it mean to enter into Advent"
Brought to us by the Great Miami River District United Methodist Church
Dr. Don Saliers joined us to talk about how liturgy works on us by degrees to form us into a people. The question is, what kind of people is our liturgy shaping us to be?
Collegeville Connections Spirituality, Song, and Social Justice
Featuring Don Saliers and Emily Saliers
A Collegeville Institute Virtual Event
Saint John's University
November 3, 2021
July 12, 2021
Summer Lecture Series
Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church
Rev. Dr. Don Saliers takes us on a musical journey through the theology of Charles Wesley's hymns.
Dr. Don Saliers is the keynote speaker at the Order of Saint Luke in Frisco TX an ecumenical, world-wide, dispersed religious order. OSL is a home and respite for all who love the liturgy, they are a praying community of support and fellowship for our members… at our heart, however, OSL is guided by two foundational pillars. They are devoted to sacramental and liturgical scholarship, education, and practice – in the words of our Rule of Life and Service, OSL magnify the sacraments and promote the corporate worship of the Church.
Candler works in partnership with groups and organizations across Emory and beyond that are focused on promoting education related to religion, theology, ethics, ministry, and interdisciplinary efforts.
Don Saliers
Liturgical Theology, Sacred Music & Hymnody
© 2026 Don Saliers-Bridging deep liturgical theology with living musical practice across decades of scholarship.
Liturgical Resonance & Practiced Faith
An independent tribute site devoted to the work of theologian, organist, and teacher of worship.
Not an official publication of Emory University
