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Susan Palo Cherwien

May 4, 1953 – December 28, 2021

Susan Palo Cherwien was a poet and musician. She received her bachelor’s degree in church music and voice from Wittenberg University, attended the Spandauer Kirchenmusikschule, Berlin; completed the Abschlussprüfung in voice at the Hochschule der Künste Berlin and a Master of Liberal Studies from Mundelein College, Chicago, where she focused on spirituality, ritual, and the arts.

Susan has composed numerous hymn texts which appear in denominational hymnals in the United States, Canada, and Europe and has written for The Lutheran, Christian Century, CrossAccent, Gather, and Word and World. She is the author of the hymn text collections, O Blessed Spring: Hymn Texts of Susan Palo Cherwien; Vol. II: Come, Beloved of the Maker; and Vol. III: Peace, Be Still (all with AugsburgFortress); as well as hymn festival reflections collected in Crossings: Meditations for Worship, From Glory Into Glory: Reflections For Worship, and To God I Give My Melody (all with MorningStar); Susan also edited the sacred vocal collection, To God Will I Sing (AugsburgFortress). She served on the ELCA Language Consultation, whose work set language guidelines prior to the development of Evangelical Lutheran Worship.