Lessons and Carols 2011

Lessons and Carols 2011

Opening Hymn: Once In Royal David’s City
As per tradition at Cambridge’s Lessons and Carols, this hymn begins the service. A solo soprano sings the first stanza, and the congregation is invited to join at the second stanza. The hymn was written by Cecil Alexander and included in her Hymns for Little Children (1848), as an illustration of the Apostles’ Creed’s statement on the birth of Jesus.

Carol: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
While we generally associate this hymn with Advent, Charles Wesley wrote and included it in his Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (1745). Another hymn with roots in the Hebrew Scriptures, this one draws from Isaiah 9:6 (“For to us a child is born…”) and Haggai 2:7 (“desire of every nation”). Geoffrey Wainwright and Robin A. Leaver write, “Christ’s redemptive and liberating rule is seen here stereoscopically in all its stages, from prophecy through the Incarnation to present sovereignty and final triumph; it bears individual, communal, and ultimately cosmic dimensions.”

Anthem: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
There are two forms of this hymn; the first has twenty-three stanzas (we won’t be singing that setting!), while the second contains six. Based on Isaiah 11:1, the hymn originally referred to Mary as the “rose,” but sixteenth-century reformers changed the emphasis of the hymn to Jesus.

Carol: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
The text for “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” comes from a seven verse poem that dates back to the eighth century. It was used in a call and response fashion during the vespers, or evening, service. The original text created the reverse acrostic “ero cras,” which means “I shall be with you tomorrow,” which is fitting, as we look back and forward to the coming of Christ.

Anthem: “There Shall A Star from Jacob Come Forth” from Christus
This chorus comes from Mendelssohn’s unfinished oratorio, Christus. An oratorio is a large-scale work, like an opera, but is often not staged in a dramatic production. Well-known oratorios include Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Handel’s Messiah. This chorus begins with a paraphrase of Numbers 24:17 and Psalm 2:9, foretelling the coming of the savior. The second half of the piece is a setting of the German chorale tune Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern ("How lovely shines the morning star"). The chorale’s text comes from Psalm 45 and Revelation 22:16, where Jesus is referred to as “the bright morning star.”

Anthem: Climb to the Top of the Highest Mountain
Carolyn Jennings’ piece is based on Isaiah 40, particularly verse 9: “Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’” A recommendation: have Isaiah 40 open as you hear the anthem, and dwell on the text as it is brought to life in music.

Carol: Canticle of the Turning
The term “canticle” refers to a text in the Bible that was sung. In its strictest sense, it refers to those texts that are not the Psalms. Examples include the songs of Moses and Miriam in Exodus 15:1-18 and 15:21, as well as Mary’s Magnificat. Paul Westermeyer writes that the Magnificat is “a revolutionary text, not appreciated by dictators. If anyone thinks biblical and liturgical texts are tame, this one will quickly set the matter straight.” This paraphrase of the Magnificat, written by Rory Cooney, has an edge to it not found in many modern hymns. Cooney says he “simply wanted to write a setting of the canticle that attempted to capture the revolutionary spirit of the gospel, of a God who ‘pulls down the mighty from their thrones and raises up the lowly.’”

Anthem: What Child
William Chatterton Dix originally titled this poem, “The Manger Throne.” The poem details the paradox of Jesus’ coming to earth as a weak, helpless child, all the while being God incarnate.

Anthem: Where Shepherds Lately Knelt
Jaroslav Vajda, an American hymn writer of Slovak descent, wrote this moving text detailing the birth of Christ as the shepherds approach the manger. It also uses Old Testament references to the Messiah, as Jesus’ incarnation fulfills the prophecies.

Carol: The First Nowell
An old English carol, the hymnal employs the Old English “Nowell” as opposed to the more familiar “Noel.” First published in 1823, the carol has no attributed author, as is the case with many English carols and folk songs. The tune THE FIRST NOWELL has been used with this text since 1833.

Carol: Joy to the World!
Isaac Watts wrote this hymn at the age of fifteen, shepherding in a musical revolution in Reformed worship. Before this time, hymns were written solely as paraphrases or word-by-word settings of biblical texts; after Watts began writing, hymns began to appear that were composed by humans who wished to provide new texts to old stories from scripture. LindaJo McKim writes, “Watts believed our songs are a human offering of praise to God. Therefore the words should be our own.” Indeed, this is why we find such texts as “Joy to the World” and “Canticle of the Turning” used in the same service: each serves as a means of expressing one writer’s (and, by extension, a generation’s) faith to the next.

Carol: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Charles Wesley’s hymn has been edited many times over; the first line from 1739 originally read, “Hark, how all the welkin (an archaic term referring to the sky or heavens) rings, Glory to the King of kings.” The text was then altered by Wesley in 1743; the present first line comes from George Whitefield’s A Collection of Hymns for Social Worship, published in 1753. The tune, MENDELSSOHN, comes from a melody written by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840.

December 11, 2011

10:55 Gathering Song: Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

John Jacob Niles

“Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” is an Appalachian folk carol that is highly representative of the genre. Most traditional music from this culture is based on folk ballads and instrumental dance tunes. The ballads were almost always sung a cappella (unaccompanied) by women, as they were responsible to preserve the heritage of their families’ culture. John Jacob Niles is largely responsible for reviving the American folk music heritage in the 1950s and 1960s, having collected ballads for much of his life. The University of Kentucky holds his collection at the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music.

Hymn: Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

Written by Charles Wesley, this hymn first appeared in three stanzas under the title “Morning Hymn.” Paul Westermeyer notes that the hymn, “as Charles Wesley wrote it is a Christological statement developed by images of light,” and as is true with many of Charles Wesley’s hymns, it is full of scriptural references. The images of light include verses from Luke 1:78-79, “the day shall dawn upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness,” and Revelation 22:16, the “bright morning star.”

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

The past several weeks we have focused on the origin of this hymn text, as each stanza focuses on a different description of the Messiah. This week, we turn our attention to the tune, which finds its roots in a French Franciscan nunnery, where it was employed as a processional hymn during a funeral mass.

Hymn: Canticle of the Turning

Rory Cooney

The term “canticle” refers to a text in the Bible that was sung. In its strictest sense, it refers to those texts that are not the Psalms. Examples include the songs of Moses and Miriam in Exodus 15:1-18 and 15:21, as well as Mary’s Magnificat. Paul Westermeyer writes that the Magnificat is “a revolutionary text, not appreciated by dictators. If anyone thinks biblical and liturgical texts are tame, this one will quickly set the matter straight.” This paraphrase of the Magnificat, written by Rory Cooney, has an edge to it not found in many modern hymns. Cooney says he “simply wanted to write a setting of the canticle that attempted to capture the revolutionary spirit of the gospel, of a God who ‘pulls down the mighty from their thrones and raises up the lowly.’” The tune, STAR OF COUNTY DOWN, is the Irish version of KINGSFOLD, which is the setting for several hymns in The Presbyterian Hymnal. You’ll notice that the first two lines of the tune repeat, almost identically; the third line is new, and the fourth is same as the first two. The refrain is exactly the same as the third and fourth lines.

December 4, 2011

10:55 Gathering Song: The King of Glory Comes

Willard Jabusch, a Catholic priest, wrote this text in 1965 to be used for a folk-music ensemble at a Catholic parish in Illinois. Jabusch wrote five stanzas in the original text; we will sing the first and third today as they relate to Christ’s coming. The first stanza and refrain are based on Psalm 24:8 and Isaiah 7:14, while the third references Isaiah 53.

Hymn: O Lord, How Shall I Meet You?

This text, written by Paul Gerhardt and published in 1653, has found itself used many times over since its initial publication, perhaps no more famously than in J.S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. Gerhardt was a German pastor who served several churches and wrote over one hundred hymns. The tune VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN is also known as ST. THEODULPH, and is used as the tune for “All Glory, Laud and Honor.”

Hymn after Proclamation: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

The text for “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” comes from a seven verse poem that dates back to the eighth century. It was used in a call and response fasion during the vespers, or evening, service. The original text created the reverse acrostic “ero cras,” which means “I shall be with you tomorrow,” which is fitting, as we look back and forward to the coming of Christ.

Hymn: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

The Psalter Hymnal Handbook notes that the Greek text of “Let All Mortal Flesh” may date back to the fifth century. It is based on a prayer chanted by the priest when the bread and wine are brought to the table of the Lord. The author writes, “The text expresses awe at Christ’s coming (st. 1) and the mystery of our perception of Christ in the body and blood (st. 2). With the images from Isaiah 6 and Revelation 5, it portrays the glory of Christ (sung to by angels) and his victory over sin (st. 3-4). Although it has a eucharistic [communion] emphasis, the text pictures the nativity of Christ in a majestic manner and in a much larger context than just his birth in Bethlehem. We are drawn into awe and mystery with our own alleluias.”

Response: Feel the Spirit in the Kicking, stanza 2

Richard Leach wrote this hymn as a setting for the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth in Luke 1, when Elizabeth hears Mary’s voice and the baby she is pregnant with “leaps for joy.” The second stanza, which we’ll sing today, draws from Mary’s song, the Magnificat (“my soul magnifies the Lord”).

Timothy Dudley-Smith, hymn writer

10:55 Anthem: He Comes to Us as One Unknown

Timothy Dudley-Smith wrote this hymn while on vacation in 1982, and has written, “The opening line of this hymn is part of a longer sentence from the closing pages of Albert Schweitzer’s The Quest of the Historical Jesus (1919), which says of Christ, ‘He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside, He came to those first men who knew Him not.’” Paul Westermeyer writes, “The hymn moves in the first two stanzas from a ‘sense of the divine’ which is part of the human experience to an increasingly Christian confession. The third stanza makes allusions to Revelation 1:15 (his voice like the sound of many waters), 1 Kings 19 (the still small voice), and 1 Chronicles 14:15 (the sound in the tops of trees a signal from God). By the fourth stanza ‘the text is explicitly Christian in its reference to both incarnation and to atonement.’ With stanza 5 ‘there is the personal response of faith to the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament,’ with allusions to Luke 24:27 (where Jesus on the Emmaus road interprets things about himself in the scriptures) and 1 Peter 1:8 (even though you do not see him you believe in him).” The tune for the hymn comes from the oratorio Judith by the English composer C. Hubert H. Parry. This anthem setting was arranged by John Ferguson, an esteemed American arranger of hymns who is in the midst of his final year of teaching at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.

November 27, 2011

8:30 Introit/Response: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

This is an English metrical paraphrase of the “Cherubic Hymn” that comes from the Liturgy of St. James, which is sung as the bread and wine are brought in procession to the altar in the Orthodox Church. It sets the mood as we wait for the Lord to come, as Paul Westermeyer writes: “With silence, in fear and trembling, [the church] ponders the Lord of lords in human vesture and with the cherubim sings ‘Alleluia.’”

8:30 Offertory: Comfort, Comfort You My People

Written as a paraphrase of Isaiah 40, this hymn was initially intended to be used during the fest of St. John the Baptist, but is often now sung during Advent. The hymn emphasizes the comfort, peace, and pardon that Christ brings.

Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

Based on Psalm 24:7-10, the hymn was written by Georg Weissel, who served as pastor of a church in Germany until his death in 1635. The text shifts its point of view between stanzas; the first stanza serves as a paraphrase of the Psalm. The second stanza exhorts Christians to open their hearts for Christ, while the third stanza implores Christ to abide within our hearts.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

One of the best known Advent hymns, this text finds its origins in the early church and its practices. In the ninth century, a series of seven Advent antiphons (a short song sung before or after a psalm or canticle) were sung at Vespers before and after the Magnificat (Mary’s song, #600). Each of the antiphons began with “O” followed by a biblical title for the Messiah: “Wisdom;” “Lord;” “Root of Jesse;” “Key of David;” “Dayspring;” “King;” and “Emmanuel.” The last two Presbyterian hymnals have only included three of the stanzas. As a means of anticipating Jesus’ coming, we will sing a stanza after the Gospel reading each Sunday in Advent.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

While we generally associate this hymn with Advent, Charles Wesley wrote and included it in his Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord (1745). Another hymn with roots in the Hebrew Scriptures, this one draws from Isaiah 9:6 (“For to us a child is born…”) and Haggai 2:7 (“desire of every nation”). Geoffrey Wainwright and Robin A. Leaver write, “Christ’s redemptive and liberating rule is seen here stereoscopically in all its stages, from prophecy through the Incarnation to present sovereignty and final triumph; it bears individual, communal, and ultimately cosmic dimensions.”

10:55 Anthem: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

This is an English metrical paraphrase of the “Cherubic Hymn” that comes from the Liturgy of St. James, which is sung as the bread and wine are brought in procession to the altar in the Orthodox Church. It sets the mood as we wait for the Lord to come, as Paul Westermeyer writes: “With silence, in fear and trembling, [the church] ponders the Lord of lords in human vesture and with the cherubim sings ‘Alleluia.’” Katherine Davis was a prolific composer, writing some eight hundred hymns choral pieces and arrangements; she also penned “The Little Drummer Boy” under the pseudonym “John Cowley” in the early twentieth century. 

November 20, 2011

10:55 Gathering Song and Response: Let All Things Now Living

Published under the pseudonym “John Cowley,” Katherine Davis wrote this hymn around 1925. Paul Westermeyer writes, “As a whole the text follows the bar form of the tune, with each stanza in two parts. The first half of the first stanza is a call to give thanks to God the creator, protector, and guide. The second half recounts God’s protecting care on our pilgrimage. The first half of the next stanza moves to the praise of the rest of the created order, and the last half provides a frame that calls us back to the joy of our thanksgiving.” Davis wrote around eight hundred choral pieces and arrangements, and also penned “The Little Drummer Boy.”

Crown Him with Many Crowns

The last Sunday before Advent is Christ the King Sunday, as we close out the liturgical year and begin anew with Christ’s coming. The text for this hymn, written by Matthew Bridges, included the caption: “On his head were many crowns (Revelation 19:12).” Each stanza is an elaboration on one of the names for Christ: “the Lamb;” “the Lord of love;” “the Lord of peace;” and “the Lord of years.” The tune DIADEMATA is named after the Greek word for “Crowns.”

Rejoice, the Lord is King

Written by Charles Wesley, this hymn is based on Phil. 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice!” As Paul Westermeyer writes, this is a hymn that simply celebrates the Lordship of Christ and rejoices in it. The tune name, DARWALL’s 148^TH, comes from the composer John Darwall’s musical setting of the 148^th Psalm.

Now Thank We All Our God

Perhaps the most well known hymn to ever come out of Germany, the first two stanzas were written by Martin Rinkart around 1630 as a table prayer before a meal. They are based on a text from the apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus 50:22-24: “And now bless the God of all, who everywhere works great wonders, who fosters growth from our birth.” The final stanza serves as a Trinitarian doxology.

10:55 Anthem: Be Thou My Vision

The text for this hymn comes from an ancient Irish poem, “Rob tu mo bhoile, a Comdie cride.” It was translated by Mary E. Byrne in 1905 and later versified by Eleanor Hull in 1912.  Alice Parker (b. 1925) has composed, conducted, arranged, taught, lectured, and written about music; her arrangements of American hymns with the legendary Robert Shaw are still part of the choral repertory. She is also an advocate for congregational singing, and has been named a Fellow of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.

November 13, 2011

8:30 Worship Service

God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending

Written in 1961, this text by Robert Lansing Edwards has a clear focus on our responsibility to be good stewards of all God has shared with us. The text outlines these gifts: the wonder of creation, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and our talents for preaching the gospel are foremost. The tune comes from The Sacred Harp, a tune book published in 1844 that helped to pave the way for shape-note singing in America, a tradition that continues to this day.

Lord of All Good

Another hymn with a concerted emphasis on stewardship, this text by Congregational pastor Albert Frederick Bayly encompasses the way in which we are to fully devote ourselves to God’s “holy purpose.” It’s not only our monetary gifts, but our minds, our “hands, eyes and voices” as well.

Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

It is good to have a thorough understanding of this hymn’s history to understand the significance of it. From The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion:

            John Newton was born in London and at age eleven went to sea with his father. his mother had die when he was six. By age seventeen he was in the British Royal Navy assigned to a man-of-war. After serving as a sailor on a slave ship, he became a captain, transporting Africans to port where they could be sold for the best price. In 1748 he was caught in a storm at sea and experienced a spiritual awakening…At age forty Newton was ordained in the Church of England despite his formal education.

            With William Cowper, Newton penned Olney Hymns (1779), from which the four stanzas we’ll sing today come. The fifth stanza is actually the tenth stanza of another hymn, “Jerusalem, My Happy Home,” which was included in another hymn collection; it is unclear when it was added to the four originals by Newton. The hymn was not paired with the tune NEW BRITAIN until 1835.

Response: They’ll Know We Are Christians

Peter Scholtes wrote this hymn based on John 13:34-35 and Ephesians 4:4-6 in 1966. Since its initial publication, the work has been included in 19 collections, including PCUSA’s Sing the Faith, the supplement to the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal. The first three stanzas emphasize our Christian unity both in faith and in action; the final stanza serves as a doxology to the Trinity. Over all, of course, is the refrain, which speaks for itself: “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

10:55 Worship Service

Gathering Song/Response: They’ll Know We Are Christians

Peter Scholtes wrote this hymn based on John 13:34-35 and Ephesians 4:4-6 in 1966. Since its initial publication, the work has been included in 19 collections, including PCUSA’s Sing the Faith, the supplement to the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal. The first three stanzas emphasize our Christian unity both in faith and in action; the final stanza serves as a doxology to the Trinity. Over all, of course, is the refrain, which speaks for itself: “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending

Written in 1961, this text by Robert Lansing Edwards has a clear focus on our responsibility to be good stewards of all God has shared with us. The text outlines these gifts: the wonder of creation, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and our talents for preaching the gospel are foremost. The tune comes from The Sacred Harp, a tune book published in 1844 that helped to pave the way for shape-note singing in America, a tradition that continues to this day.

Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

It is good to have a thorough understanding of this hymn’s history to understand the significance of it. From The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion:

            John Newton was born in London and at age eleven went to sea with his father. his mother had die when he was six. By age seventeen he was in the British Royal Navy assigned to a man-of-war. After serving as a sailor on a slave ship, he became a captain, transporting Africans to port where they could be sold for the best price. In 1748 he was caught in a storm at sea and experienced a spiritual awakening…At age forty Newton was ordained in the Church of England despite his formal education.

            With William Cowper, Newton penned Olney Hymns (1779), from which the four stanzas we’ll sing today come. The fifth stanza is actually the tenth stanza of another hymn, “Jerusalem, My Happy Home,” which was included in another hymn collection; it is unclear when it was added to the four originals by Newton. The hymn was not paired with the tune NEW BRITAIN until 1835.

K. Lee Scott

Anthem: Who At My Door is Standing?

A minister’s wife and teacher, Mary Slade was assistant editor of The New England Journal of Education. Slade has had around one hundred hymn texts and poems published in various collections and hymnbooks. This text, written circa 1875, has been included in at least seventy-nine collections, ranging from camp meeting songbooks to denominational hymnals. The text is tied to Revelation 3:20, which reads, “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.”

November 6, 2011

8:30 Worship Service


As Those of Old Their Firstfruits Brought

The text was written in 1960 by Frank von Christierson and published in Ten New Stewardship Hymns by the Hymn Society of America in 1961. Christierson wrote of his concern for stewardship, “because I am deeply concerned about missions and the outreach of the church to ‘all the world,’ also because stewardship is a very important phase of the Christian life.’” This is the first of two hymns we’ll sing to tunes with roots in British folk music. FOREST GREEN was originally the melody for the English folk song “The Plowboy’s Dream” and was arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams for The English Hymnal (1906) as the setting for “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” United Methodist hymnologist notes the tune’s simple form (AABA) and simple, attractive melody help to make it one of the “sturdiest” in hymnody.

Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples

Much like our first hymn this morning, this hymn also was written with stewardship in mind. A retired Presbyterian pastor from California, H. Kenn Carmichael, wrote this text in 1985 for a PCUSA stewardship campaign entitled “Called to Be Disciples.” The tune, KINGSFOLD, is another that was harmonized for The English Hymnal (1906) as a setting for “I heard the voice of Jesus say.” Like FOREST GREEN, this tune is written in simple AABA form, making it easy to learn and sing. The tune is named for a village in Surrey, England. If you happened to be from Ireland, you’d know the tune as STAR OF COUNTY DOWN.

Georgia Harkness

God of the Fertile Fields

Georgia Elma Harkness was the first woman to teach theology in an American seminary. Ordained by the Methodist church in 1926, it took her some thirty years to be admitted to a Conference before she could function as a minister. In between, she taught philosophy and theology at several colleges and seminaries, and wrote as well. Her interests focused on ecumenicism and a desire for everyone to understand the Christian faith. The tune’s name, AMERICA, is accurate in the sense that its history is found both in England and the rest of the world. In England, it was given the title “National Anthem” or “God Save the King (or Queen).” French critics claim that Jean Baptiste Lully composed the original music for Louis XIV, where Handel heard it and brought it to England. There are several German hymns that employ this tune, and it was also used as the setting for the Russian national anthem until 1833.

Congregational Response: Take My Life
We take our information on the origin of this “consecration hymn” from the author’s manuscripts. She wrote: “I went for a little visit of five days. There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long-prayed-for, some converted but not rejoicing Christians. He gave me the prayer, ‘Lord, give me all in this house!’ And [God] just did. The last night of my visit… I was too happy to sleep, and passed most of the night in renewal of my own consecration, and thes little couplets formed themselves and chimed in my heart one after another till they finished with ‘Ever, only, all for Thee.’”

10:55 Worship Service

Gathering Song and Congregational Response: Take My Life
We take our information on the origin of this “consecration hymn” from the author’s manuscripts. She wrote: “I went for a little visit of five days. There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long-prayed-for, some converted but not rejoicing Christians. He gave me the prayer, ‘Lord, give me all in this house!’ And [God] just did. The last night of my visit… I was too happy to sleep, and passed most of the night in renewal of my own consecration, and thes little couplets formed themselves and chimed in my heart one after another till they finished with ‘Ever, only, all for Thee.’”

As Those of Old Their Firstfruits Brought

The text was written in 1960 by Frank von Christierson and published in Ten New Stewardship Hymns by the Hymn Society of America in 1961. Christierson wrote of his concern for stewardship, “because I am deeply concerned about missions and the outreach of the church to ‘all the world,’ also because stewardship is a very important phase of the Christian life.’” This is the first of two hymns we’ll sing to tunes with roots in British folk music. FOREST GREEN was originally the melody for the English folk song “The Plowboy’s Dream” and was arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams for The English Hymnal (1906) as the setting for “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” United Methodist hymnologist notes the tune’s simple form (AABA) and simple, attractive melody help to make it one of the “sturdiest” in hymnody.

Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples

Much like our first hymn this morning, this hymn also was written with stewardship in mind. A retired Presbyterian pastor from California, H. Kenn Carmichael, wrote this text in 1985 for a PCUSA stewardship campaign entitled “Called to Be Disciples.” The tune, KINGSFOLD, is another that was harmonized for The English Hymnal (1906) as a setting for “I heard the voice of Jesus say.” Like FOREST GREEN, this tune is written in simple AABA form, making it easy to learn and sing. The tune is named for a village in Surrey, England. If you happened to be from Ireland, you’d know the tune as STAR OF COUNTY DOWN.

Georgia Harkness

God of the Fertile Fields

Georgia Elma Harkness was the first woman to teach theology in an American seminary. Ordained by the Methodist church in 1926, it took her some thirty years to be admitted to a Conference before she could function as a minister. In between, she taught philosophy and theology at several colleges and seminaries, and wrote as well. Her interests focused on ecumenicism and a desire for everyone to understand the Christian faith. The tune’s name, AMERICA, is accurate in the sense that its history is found both in England and the rest of the world. In England, it was given the title “National Anthem” or “God Save the King (or Queen).” French critics claim that Jean Baptiste Lully composed the original music for Louis XIV, where Handel heard it and brought it to England. There are several German hymns that employ this tune, and it was also used as the setting for the Russian national anthem until 1833.

Communion Anthem: The Gift of Love

This anthem, written by Hal Hopson as a paraphrase of I Corinthians 13, is set to the British folk song O WALY WALY, which adapted by Hopson. After being published in 1972, the anthem gained enough popularity to be converted and used as a hymn, particularly for weddings. Hal Hopson was a major contributor to the Presbyterian Psalter, published in 1994.

October 30, 2011

8:30 Worship Service

I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art

The last Sunday in October is traditionally celebrated as Reformation Sunday; thus, we’re singing a hymn traditionally attributed to John Calvin, one of the most important Reformation theologians. Calvin was a strong proponent of singing the Psalms (and very little else) in worship; this hymn and its tune comes from two separate Psalters. Psalters are songbooks in which the Psalms are set to metrical tunes so the congregation can more easily sing them (decently and in order!). Singing the Psalms is an important part of Presbyterian worship, and is even more emphasized in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. 

To God Be the Glory

Fanny Crosby wrote this hymn for children and titled it, “Praise for Redemption.” It was published in an 1875 hymnal and long forgotten until 1954. In that year, someone suggested the hymn to Cliff Barrows to be used during the Billy Graham Greater London Crusade. It soon became a favorite of the crusade and was used at the 1954 Nashville Crusade. This particular hymn is different from other Crosby works in that it takes a more objective, distant point of view rather than a subjective, personal nature.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Written in 1529 by Martin Luther, this hymn is based on Psalm 46 and soon became the rallying cry of the Protestant Reformation. Luther had it sung every day at his church in Coburg, Bavaria.  Along with John Calvin, Luther is considered a pillar of the Protestant Reformation, and is lauded by church musicians for his emphasis on music in worship, as well as his excellent hymn writing.

10:55 Worship Service

Gathering Song/Congregational Response: To God Be the Glory

Fanny Crosby wrote this hymn for children and titled it, “Praise for Redemption.” It was published in an 1875 hymnal and long forgotten until 1954. In that year, someone suggested the hymn to Cliff Barrows to be used during the Billy Graham Greater London Crusade. It soon became a favorite of the crusade and was used at the 1954 Nashville Crusade. This particular hymn is different from other Crosby works in that it takes a more objective, distant point of view rather than a subjective, personal nature.

Offertory Anthem: Offertory

This piece was originally written by John Ness Beck as a vocal solo, and was later rearranged as a choral work by adding alto, tenor, and bass parts to it. The sopranos carry the melody throughout while the other voices support the melody with their own part. It sets the text of Micah 6:6-8, outlining what the Lord requires of us in both our daily living and devotion.

I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art

The last Sunday in October is traditionally celebrated as Reformation Sunday; thus, we’re singing a hymn traditionally attributed to John Calvin, one of the most important Reformation theologians. Calvin was a strong proponent of singing the Psalms (and very little else) in worship; this hymn and its tune comes from two separate Psalters. Psalters are songbooks in which the Psalms are set to metrical tunes so the congregation can more easily sing them (decently and in order!). Singing the Psalms is an important part of Presbyterian worship, and is even more emphasized in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. 

Lord of Light, Your Name Outshining

The Congregational (English) minister Howell Elvet Lewis wrote this hymn in 1916. Lindajo McKim notes, “It was written to declare that ‘in doing God’s will, active co-operation is as much needed as humble resignation.’” As we observe extravagant generosity today, let the refrain of this hymn speak to your hearts and minds: Abba, as in highest heaven, so on earth your will be done.

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Written in 1529 by Martin Luther, this hymn is based on Psalm 46 and soon became the rallying cry of the Protestant Reformation. Luther had it sung every day at his church in Coburg, Bavaria.  Along with John Calvin, Luther is considered a pillar of the Protestant Reformation, and is lauded by church musicians for his emphasis on music in worship, as well as his excellent hymn writing.

October 23, 2011

8:30 Opening Hymn: Just as I Am, Without One Plea

The Englishwoman Charlotte Elliott wrote “Just as I Am, Without One Plea” in 1834. She became a permanent invalid in 1821 when she fell seriously ill. Upon writing the hymn, Elliott had it published in the second edition of The Invalid’s Hymn Book (1836). Her inspiration came from a remark made by a Genevan evangelist, Cesar Malan, who said to her, “Come as you are, a sinner, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”

Hymn Response: In Christ There Is No East or West

Much like “Jesus Loves Me,” the hymn “In Christ There Is No East or West” finds its origins in theater. It was originally part of The Pageant of Darkness and Light, written by William Dunkerley under the pseudonym of John Oxenham for the London Missionary Society exhibition on the Orient in 1908. The text thusly reflects the theme of the play: “one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.”

Closing Hymn: Arise, Your Light Is Come!

“Arise, Your Light Is Come!” by Ruth Duck was originally intended to be an updated, inclusive-language adaptation of “Rise Up, O Men of God.” However, says Duck, “this new hymn text came to me, as if the new wine of the faith I wanted to express would not fit into the old wineskin of the earlier text.” Much like our other hymns today, this one exhorts Christians to go out into the world, making Christ’s name known both in our words and our actions.

10:55 Gathering Song: I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me

“I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” is an African-American spiritual which affirms our reaction to the gospel call. The song uses word-substitution for each stanza (“I’m gonna live, work, pray, sing, etc…”) to further encompass our actions as inspired by the Spirit when we accept our call to work for the gospel. Wendell Whalum, the arranger of this spiritual, was a noted author and conductor and served as head of Morehouse College’s music department, where he also conducted the glee club. He was the first African-American to serve as a choral clinician at the Presbyterian Association of Musicians’ Worship and Music Conference in Montreat, North Carolina.

10:55 Opening Hymn: Praise With Joy the World's Creator

John Bell and Graham Maule of the Iona Community in Scotland wrote “Praise With Joy the World’s Creator.” Iona is a small island on the western coast of the country and has been, at different times, a home for an Irish monastery, a tourist destination, and a host for religious retreats. As with many of their texts, this hymn engages the visual and contemplative parts of the mind with its imagery and direct tone. Paul Richardson writes that such texts “hold in dynamic tension the signs of compassion that are palpable alongside those that point to the unseen.”

10:55 Anthem: God Has Called Us

The text for “God Has Called Us” uses a somewhat similar word-substitution device to “I’m Gonna Live,” in that each stanza begins with a different action, which God has done: called, changed, and charged. Again, like this morning’s spiritual, this anthem shows the different ways in which we are to respond to God’s call to work in the world. Susan Palo Cherwien, a Lutheran hymn writer who has published several volumes of poems and other reflections on scripture, penned this text. The Lutheran hymnologist Paul Westermeyer wrote of Cherwien’s writing: “Depth of reflection are present in her hymns, which…are substantively crafted and congregational—they are transparent at first singing but bear repetition well.” Robert Hobby is an active church musician and composer, currently serving at Trinity English Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

October 16, 2011

"Come, Christians, Join to Sing" was written by Christian Henry Bateman and was published in several children's songbooks. In fact, the first line of the hymn originally read, "Come, children, join to sing." The line was changed in The Hymnal (1933), an early Presbyterian (USA) hymnal, to make the hymn available to all age groups. The tune MADRID is also called SPANISH HYMN or CHANT, as its origins are found in a popular Spanish folk melody. The tune is easily sung, with the first, second, and fourth lines all being identical, and the third line having two repeated phrases. The language is clear and simple, making it easy for children and adults alike to sing it with understanding. It is easy to see why this hymn and tune were matched together to be included in children's hymnals.

"This Is My Father's World" has Presbyterian fingerprints all over it. Maltbie Babcock attended New York's Auburn Theological Seminary and was ordained to the Presbyterian ministry. His original poem, from which this hymn comes, was sixteen stanzas long, praising God for the wonder of creation. TERRA BEATA, translated "blessed earth," reflects the hymn's intent to laud the greatness of the Lord's work.

"Jesus Loves Me!" is another hymn written specifically with the faith of children in mind. In The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion, author Lindajo McKim writes this:

"The text was written by Anna Bartlett Warner for her novel Say and Seal (c. 1859). The main characters of the novel were a dying child Johnny Fax, his Sunday school teacher John Linden, and Linden's fiancee, Faith Derrick. Toward the end of the book, Linden carries the child and sings to him what has now become the familiar children's hymn." The musical setting for the text was provided by William Bradbury, a pupil of Lowell Mason, and an organist who held annual children's music festivals.

Presbyterian Hymnal Project

As many of you are probably aware, The Presbyterian Hymnal (1990) is entering its third decade of use in churches around the world. In an effort to bring congregational song into the present, the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song (PCOCS, or, "peacocks") was formed to begin exploring a new hymnal for the Presbyterian Church (USA). A new hymnal has been produced about every twenty years since 1933 (1955, 1972, 1990), so we're on target for a new worship book. You might be asking "Why do we need a new hymnal?" The FAQ page for the PCOCS can answer that:

The call to "sing to the Lord a new song" resounds through the Bible. In every generation, the people of God are called to claim their song, to bear witness to the new thing that God is doing in the world here and now. It might be helpful to think of the hymnal not as a product but as a process of discerning what the Spirit is saying to the church today. Our next hymnal will make available a great wealth of new hymns and spiritual songs that have been created since the 1990 hymnal was published. It will also give an opportunity to acquaint worshipers with wonderful resources from Christian communities around the world, and it will give us a chance to review again the great heritage of congregational songs and make sure our roots run deep. A new hymnal will help to articulate and preserve the distinctive elements of Reformed theology and liturgy, while shaping and nurturing the faith and worship of a new generation of Presbyterians.


The full FAQ page can be found here: http://presbyterianhymnal.org/faq.html


I hope you will take the time to read the information available to you as we move closer to a new denominational worship book. 

October 9, 2011

          “Praise Ye the Lord” is an adaptation of Psalm 150 (one of today’s scriptures) and was written by J. Jefferson Cleveland in 1981. Cleveland was an editor of several United Methodist collections and was also an expert in African-American music. This song is an example of that expertise.

            “When In Our Music” is actually titled, “Let the people sing!” and was written by the English hymn writer Fred Pratt Green. Green has been called “the twentieth-century hymn writing version of Charles Wesley” by the esteemed hymnologist Paul Westermeyer, and has been credited with starting the twentieth century’s hymn explosion. The original text of the first line of the hymn read, “When in man’s music God is glorified,” with the author intending only to employ alliteration, and not promote sexism. The text exemplifies the potential for extravagant worship through music, particularly in the final stanza, which is a paraphrase of Psalm 150. The fourth stanza in our anthem setting has been omitted from The Presbyterian Hymnal, but follows below:

And did not Jesus sing a Psalm that night

when utmost evil strove against the light?

Then let us sing, for whom he won the fight:

Alleluia!

            "Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty" is based on Psalm 103:1-6 and Psalm 150. It was translated from the original German  by Catherine Winkworth, a foremost translator of German hymns during the nineteenth century in England. Joachim Neander, who penned the German text, wrote around sixty hymns, making him one of the more prolific Calvinist hymn writers. Lutheran composer and conductor F. Melius Christiansen, the first conductor of the St. Olaf Choir, arranged the hymn in an anthem setting that is still widely used today. A performance of the piece by the Luther College Nordic Choir can be found here:

         

Nearly every hymn or song we will hear today incorporates the text of Psalm 150 in some way, and "Praise the Lord, God's Glories Show" is no different. Much like "When In Our Music," this hymn uses "Alleluias" in each stanza to proclaim God's praise when other words fall short.


Our final hymn today is Shirley Erena Murray’s “For the Music of Creation.” It was originally written for a 1988 arts festival in New Zealand. The text praises God for the gift of music, and for the ability to use music to communicate with the creator and “composer” of the world.