Konstantin Zhigulin’s Konstantin Zhigulin’s Spiritual Music EnsembleSpiritual Music Ensemble

(L to R) Luka Klimanova, Lina Zhigulin,

Jeff Matteson and Konstantin Zhigulin

The translators of The translators of Kostya’s hymnsKostya’s hymns

Wiley Dean

Mark Shipp

Jeff Matteson

Kostya's songs are beautiful, they are Kostya's songs are beautiful, they are truetrue praise, praise, true worship, capturing the spirit and praise of the true worship, capturing the spirit and praise of the Psalms and telling the story of God and his people Psalms and telling the story of God and his people - the way that the old hymn writers did, with the - the way that the old hymn writers did, with the technical ability technical ability of Bach. This is what Kostya's music can inspire in of Bach. This is what Kostya's music can inspire in American writers. American writers. I pray that it does. I pray that it does.  Kostya's music captures the Kostya's music captures the depth of traditional Christian hymnodydepth of traditional Christian hymnody. W. When he hen he was herewas here at our little church, I saw people uplifted at our little church, I saw people uplifted by the music in ways that I haven't seen in a long by the music in ways that I haven't seen in a long time. It seems time. It seems to me that Christians in America are hungry for to me that Christians in America are hungry for something something - - music that captures their experience music that captures their experience of the life of faith and wraps it into the story of the life of faith and wraps it into the story of God, and that is exactly what Kostya of God, and that is exactly what Kostya accomplishes.accomplishes.

- Todd Hall

Austin, TexasAustin, Texasrehearsalsrehearsals

September 2

Nashville, Tenn.Nashville, Tenn.September 3-4

Una Church of ChristUna Church of Christ

Hendersonville Church of ChristHendersonville Church of Christ

Margit Prosser’s Hermitage House SmorgasbordHermitage House Smorgasbord

With Russian & American friends in Nashville

Recording “My God and

King”Sept. 5-8

Konstantin Zhigulin, Mel Witcher, Lina Zhigulin,Brad Merrell, Luka Klimanova, Mark Shipp, Diann Sloan, Hugh Morgan, Jeff Matteson, Judy Witcher

It It was an honor and my  pleasure to work was an honor and my  pleasure to work with these wonderful, talented, loving, with these wonderful, talented, loving, but humble folks. They brought a style of but humble folks. They brought a style of music that was distinct to the Russian music that was distinct to the Russian culture while reflecting a reverence for culture while reflecting a reverence for God, Son, and Holy Spirit, that frequently God, Son, and Holy Spirit, that frequently moved me to tears as I sang or listened moved me to tears as I sang or listened to the words and music of Kostya's to the words and music of Kostya's creations. His music, as it finds its way creations. His music, as it finds its way into the American into the American cchurches, will greatly hurches, will greatly increase the depth of understanding of increase the depth of understanding of what worship is what worship is aaboutbout..Hugh MorganAustin, Texas

Originally written in the Russian language by Konstantin Originally written in the Russian language by Konstantin Zhigulin and translated by Christian brothers Mark Shipp, Zhigulin and translated by Christian brothers Mark Shipp, Wiley Dean and Jeff Matteson, this collection Wiley Dean and Jeff Matteson, this collection of hymns was inspired by the Psalms and other passages of hymns was inspired by the Psalms and other passages in the Holy Scriptures. Reflected in this project is God’s in the Holy Scriptures. Reflected in this project is God’s unfathomable work uniting nations and cultures for His unfathomable work uniting nations and cultures for His glory. For this profound blessing we give all praise, honor glory. For this profound blessing we give all praise, honor and glory to and glory to God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord. God the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial

Oklahoma CityOklahoma City

September 9-11

OC Music Department Chapel

With old and new friends in Oklahoma City

Morning

Memorial Road Memorial Road Church of ChristChurch of Christ

Lunch

Soldier Creek Church of ChristSoldier Creek Church of Christ

Wilshire Church of ChristWilshire Church of Christ

Evening

OC Missions “Outreach” Devotional

Cox Blvd. Church of ChristCox Blvd. Church of ChristSheffield, Alabama

September 12-13

Fredericksburg, TexasFredericksburg, Texas

Austin Graduate School of Austin Graduate School of TheologyTheology

Sept. 16

Holland St. Church of Holland St. Church of ChristChrist

San Marcos, TexasSan Marcos, TexasSept. 17

TThe Spiritual Music Ensemble is so he Spiritual Music Ensemble is so refreshingrefreshingbecause they sing songs loaded with because they sing songs loaded with meaning andmeaning andappropriate music. Contemporary appropriate music. Contemporary worship and worship and prpraiseaise songs are often just secular songs are often just secular music with religiousmusic with religious words.  The words.  The ensemble's hymns, like the ancient ensemble's hymns, like the ancient church,church, are set apart from the world, are set apart from the world, sacred and holy. sacred and holy. - Lin Penland Minister of the Word Holland St. Church of Christ

Brentwood Oaks Church of Brentwood Oaks Church of ChristChrist

Austin, TexasAustin, Texas

September 17

At Brentwood Oaks, we were privileged to At Brentwood Oaks, we were privileged to have Kostyhave Kostyaa and and the ensemble the ensemble sing in sing in our assembly on a our assembly on a Sunday eveningSunday evening. . TThe grace of God was evident in the hymns he grace of God was evident in the hymns translated into translated into English but also those in the Russian English but also those in the Russian language.  The hour passelanguage.  The hour passedd too quickly. too quickly. However pHowever perhaps the best testimony to erhaps the best testimony to their ministry and its effect was, for me, their ministry and its effect was, for me, visible in the visible in the chapel chapel of of Brentwood Christian School.Brentwood Christian School. 6 600 00 students sat in rapt attention as they sang.  students sat in rapt attention as they sang.  Those who serve well children are a Those who serve well children are a blessing to us all.blessing to us all.

- Roger L. McCown Minister of the Word Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ

Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene Christian UniversitySept. 18-19

Konstantin’s hymns are Konstantin’s hymns are spiritual spiritual and deep. May churches in and deep. May churches in America learn from and America learn from and imitate his music.imitate his music. - Everett Ferguson

Old and new friends in Abilene

ACU ACU

LectureshipLectureship

High Pointe Church of ChristHigh Pointe Church of ChristMcKinney, TexasMcKinney, Texas

September 20

Dallas, TexasDallas, TexasSept. 20-24

Visiting with old and new friends

ITCM Board Meeting.ITCM Board Meeting. Dallas, Texas

The content of their music focuses on the The content of their music focuses on the core reason core reason for worship which is to communicate our for worship which is to communicate our deepest thoughts deepest thoughts and feelings to our creator with all our and feelings to our creator with all our heart,soul,mind and heart,soul,mind and strength.strength. Their music is timeless both Their music is timeless both modern and ancient,modern and ancient, simple yet beautiful,simple yet beautiful, truthful and spiritual,truthful and spiritual, Russian yet universal,Russian yet universal, c calming yet exciting alming yet exciting to the soul.to the soul. Their precise vocal skill and Their precise vocal skill and balance shows they take God seriously balance shows they take God seriously and their presentation with conviction and and their presentation with conviction and calmness shows their relationship to Him. calmness shows their relationship to Him. - Bob Jones

The ensemble of Russian singers were true The ensemble of Russian singers were true Christian ambassadors Christian ambassadors in their visits to US churches. They in their visits to US churches. They represented the spirit of Christ in their hymns represented the spirit of Christ in their hymns of praise to the Father, in their relations with of praise to the Father, in their relations with each other and in their lovely spirit with each other and in their lovely spirit with hosting Christians. The groups hymnody was hosting Christians. The groups hymnody was precisely targeted in praise and decidedly precisely targeted in praise and decidedly vivid in the blend of tonal parts. Kostya vivid in the blend of tonal parts. Kostya Zhigulin is a hymn writer whose name this and Zhigulin is a hymn writer whose name this and future generations should recognize. future generations should recognize. - Chuck Whittle

Richland Hills Church of ChristRichland Hills Church of ChristFt. Worth, Texas

September 23

I was our blessing to be able to host the St. I was our blessing to be able to host the St. Petersburg ensemble. Petersburg ensemble. The blessings received, for the churches in he The blessings received, for the churches in he US, are many and strong. US, are many and strong. The blessing of seeing and hearingThe blessing of seeing and hearing fruit from fruit from evangelism efforts in Russia ievangelism efforts in Russia is testimony to s testimony to God's grace to us and to the Russian people. God's grace to us and to the Russian people. There are also blessings for the Russian church There are also blessings for the Russian church that could stand for decades, should the Lord that could stand for decades, should the Lord tarry. The opportunity for tarry. The opportunity for R Russian psalmists like ussian psalmists like Kostya to be encouraged can have the result of Kostya to be encouraged can have the result of providing God's Russian church withproviding God's Russian church with a a reservoir reservoir of hymns that will last 'til the Lord returns.of hymns that will last 'til the Lord returns.- Ron Holland Minister of Missions Richland Hills Church of Christ

Duncanville Church of ChristDuncanville Church of ChristSeptember 24

Pleasant Ridge Pleasant Ridge Church of ChristChurch of Christ

Arlington, Texas

September 24