I may have mentioned before that the original intent of this blog was to provide a place for myself, as a former Baptist, to work through some of the challenges, and adaptations I encountered as I entered and grew in the Presbyterian world. Originally, I had hoped to help and encourage other believers coming from a similar background as mine. Early on though, I admit I got cold feet and reverted to simply posting safe articles I wrote for our church newsletter. I avoided my blog's mission because I had two concerns.
First, I was concerned that what I write might alienate my old Baptist friends and family. Please understand, I have absolutely no animosity toward my Baptist roots or my former denomination. My transition into Presbyterianism was not due to a theological dilemma, crisis of faith, or failure to have my spiritual needs met. My transition was due primarily to my life's circumstances. In fact, I had no intention of making any such transition. Life had provided me with an opportunity to step away from my role as a Baptist minister. I expected to spend a short period of time simply enjoying participating in another denomination. God used my circumstances, my lovely wife, and the loving people of Main Street Presbyterian Church in Columbus, MS to move and mold me into where and who I am today.
That brings me to my second concern. I had no desire to cause my new family of faith consternation that I "wasn't getting it" as a new member of the flock nor that I regret having taken this road. The people of the church were very open to me and afforded me the opportunities to grow in knowledge and service. There were lines of logic, ways of thinking, and ways of doing to which I had to become adjusted. There really was a brand new vocabulary that I had to learn. Very soon I learned that Presbyterians and Baptist believe and practice the same things, for the most part. The trick is, each denomination has a different way of thinking, talking, and doing their faith. What may on the surface appear to be a point of contention is actually just another way of saying or looking at something we actually agree upon.
Before I go further, please understand this. I don't want to reference horrible cliches or make cheap stereotypical statements. I do not wish to insult anyone of either denomination. But here it goes. Based on my experiences in both denominations, I have to say that Presbyterians are by far more intellectual in the way in which they do their religion. Baptists tend to be focused on putting their faith into practice in the daily arena of life. Ok, there it is. Crucify me if you must. I am not calling Baptist dumb and I am not saying Presbyterians are all talk and no doing. I am making a generalized statement that hopefully conveys in simplest terms an opinion based upon my experiences. The opinion, whether right or wrong, says some extremely positive and negative things about both denominations. There is nothing new or original in those statements. Both groups deal with a lot of labeling that goes along with these stereotypes. Presbyterians are often mocked as the "Frozen Chosen", while Baptist deal with being labeled, "legalists." As I have stated repeatedly here, I have no intention of personally offending you with either of these generalizations. At the same time, I hope you are disturbed by both, regardless of your current or former affiliations. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could embrace the strong steadfast theological positioning that is expected of someone bearing the name Presbyterian, yet display the passion, fervor, and single-minded devotion we expect of one called Baptist? These are generalizations only. I know Baptist who are intellectual theological giants, and I know Presbyterians who live and breathe the gospel of Christ with every breath they take.
Why am I now hashing this around and what am I up to? Simply this. It is time to get on with this. It is time I move forward with the original intent of this blog. A request from a friend about the issue of Baptism has spurred me forward with the notion it is time to get on with this. I always knew Baptism would have to be the first topic I took on. I have dodged it long enough.
As I move forward I do welcome comments and questions, but I want everyone to understand that I do not wish to argue or debate with anyone. I fully confess that I am totally unqualified as a theologian and even less qualified as a debater. I am simply what I have said I am. I am a former Baptist minister whose life circumstances put him in the Presbyterian world. I would like to think that I have learned to draw from what I have learned and experienced in both worlds. Hopefully, that has made me a better person and a better Christian than I was. Maybe, just maybe, I have something to say to encourage someone else who might be walking a similar path. Maybe working through some of this will help me to get on with it as well.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Monday, November 24, 2014
Brave New World
Miranda:
O wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world
That has such people in't!
Prospero:
'Tis new to thee.
The Tempest Act 5, scene 1, 181–184
The Tempest Act 5, scene 1, 181–184
Have you ever had the feeling that you woke up one morning and the world had changed while you slept? At risk of identifying myself with some unpronounceable psychotic condition, I admit I have experienced this phenomena many times. Since I have encountered this wonder off and on since childhood I don't think it has anything to do specifically with growing older although it does have to do with the world constantly changing around us. You may have encountered this strange development in perusing the new car market. When did the cost of a car exceed the cost of the home you grew up in? Yes, the world had changed and no one asked our permission.
There is nothing mysterious going on here. The world keeps changing and we don't always keep up with it. Then one day we get a surprise. This is what has happened to a lot of us when it comes to technology, and its impact on the church and on how we minister in the world around us. Back in the first decade of this century we began to see the impact of church web pages. At first they were little more than electronic interactive business cards. Today they have evolved to serve as message boards, video and audio libraries, and various other functions that work to express the individuality and uniqueness of the church congregation they represent.
Somewhere along the way a new, strange creature came along that began to impact the world of church ministry. The creature bears the title "social media". The world literally changed when MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and a host of copycats and competitors flooded the internet. As with the internet or any other media, there is good and evil within these social media outlets. Whether we do or do not like these new media, they are there and they do not appear to be going anywhere. The church has a responsibility to be salt and light in the world. Here is a venue that needs much salt, and light to disperse a heavy thick darkness. Here is a means of communication we must tap into, try to understand, and use for the glory of our God and the advancement of His church. Linda and I are trying to develop and improve our "virtual presence". Here are some of the things we are doing and how they can help you.
I suppose the question many of you will have is, "What is the point of all this? What is the main thing we are trying to achieve?" As mentioned before, some time back the world changed on us. We all know the power of advertisement. Word of mouth has always been proven to be the strongest form of advertisement of all. The reason companies pump millions of dollars into advertisement it to expand word of mouth. If you like the Geico Gecko commercials, or Flo, the Progressive girl, or catch yourself singing that horrible "Marshmallow World" song, then the advertisers have succeeded and in one form or another, by word of mouth, you will discuss their product (just like I did here). Their product gets more exposure and they sell more of their product. Through the internet we have free advertisement that is an expansion of word of mouth. The more people, "Follow", "Share", "Retweet", and visit links we send out, the more exposure our church gets and the more interest is built in it. It may take a thousand clicks of the mouse, but eventually one of those people will be a local person who will visit our webpage, get interested in what is going on, give us a visit, and who knows, may even come to know the Lord. That, is the main thing.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Fearless Worship
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. II Timothy 1:7
I hope you have been as excited about our worship services of late as I. The integration of additional instrumentation, in my opinion, has brought a new energy and spirit to the services. This has not come about as simply a whim or a passing notion. For quite some time now pastoral leadership, the session, and other concerned individuals have been discussing, debating, researching, and praying about worship music. At the same time we have been hesitant to take any actions for fear of alienating any segment of our church family. I suppose we were fearful of collateral damage from a worship war.
All of us are familiar with the worship wars. We have witnessed with horror the degeneration of worship music in many congregations. Fearful that traditional worship practices were becoming irrelevant in the modern world they have moved from the singing of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs into stage band performances. Not long ago I read an article complete with an accompanying photo of what appeared to be a very modern and upbeat worship "stage" with the theatrical lights and the praise band in casual attire. But a closer look at the photo and the caption underneath revealed it was actually a photo from a popular night club. Assured that the slippery slope of contemporary worship will lead to such compromise others would like to see worship music remain familiar and unchanged. Yet congregations who choose that route continue to shrink in number and in their effectiveness to minister in the community. Obviously, neither of these options are desirable for our congregation.
As a remedy, there are churches in our area who have chosen to hold two different styles of service: one, a traditional service, and the other a contemporary. I hope it works for them, and I wish no ill will on any churches or their leadership who have chosen that route, but I strongly question a program or a plan that by definition of itself divides a church rather than unifies it. Should not a family of Christ come together in some form of unity? Life and its struggles bring with it a plethora opportunities for division and divisiveness within the church. We have no need to make division part of the logistics of our worship. I do not believe this is a desirable option for our congregation.
As I have stated before in other articles, I believe it is possible to worship God in a style and manner that is not limited by the words,"contemporary," or, "traditional." I believe we can worship without fear using the full heritage of our reformed faith, and embrace the modern world of song at the same time. I don't care if someone is compelled to label that as blended, eclectic, or schizophrenic. I call it real people worshiping their Savior with all that is available to them. In fact, I once heard of a group of radicals who saw so great a need to update their worship practices with a brand new set of contemporary Christian hymns and songs that they resorted to writing them themselves. Today we refer to those fearless worshipers as the reformers.
The integration of the flute, guitar, violin, and cello with piano is something very new for us. Quite honestly, we are still finding our way with it. I have never had the opportunity to work with this combination of instruments. I believe this will give us a unique sound, a desired flexibility, and the essential confidence so that whether we are singing an original composition, the latest product from Gettymusic, or a Bach chorale, we will do so with joy, energy, and daring. My prayer is that we will come to be absolutely fearless when we approach any psalm, hymn or spiritual song.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
What isThat in Your Hand?
God asked Moses an interesting question in Exodus chapter four, "What is that in your hand?" In and of itself the question is actually quite reasonable. I can remember several incidents as a child when one of my parents would ask, "What is that in your hand?" Usually it was because whatever was in my hand probably should not have been. While my parents may not have always known what was in my hand when they asked, we can say for sure the Lord knew what Moses held. The point of the question was to get Moses to see what he held. God then demonstrated to him what could be done with that old walking stick when it and its owner were in the hand of God.
Moses was equipped with a shepherd's staff, a unique experience with God, and the portion of God's Word given to him in his day. While we may not have the same sort of burning bush experience Moses had, we have the completed cannon of scripture available to us in multiple translations, paraphrases and media. We have over two thousand years of writings of Godly men who have studied those scriptures through the ages and recorded their thoughts, insights, prayers, laments and conclusions. On top of all that we live in an age in which through technology we can access any of that information at any time at no great expense. Truly we do hold much in our hands, and no doubt should be held accountable for these blessings we take for granted.
There is something else you hold in your hand. Every week you pick it up on cue, confidently turn in its pages and are exposed to some of the content already mentioned in this article. There you see words of scripture, the thoughts and prayers of Godly men, and tears of great theologians on the pages of your hymnal. As the words of our creeds, catechisms, and confessions link reformed believers past, present, and yes, future; so the songs of our hymnal link us through the years.
You probably seldom think about the hymnal, other than to be exasperated when there is not one in your pew slot. Many churches have made the decision to do away with hymnals. It is so much cheaper now to simply project the words of songs on a wall or screen rather than waste resources on dusty books used only once a week. Although I have always considered myself one who idolizes innovations and promotes progress, I mourn for a new world so brave it does not need the comfort and consolation provided by the companionship of a good hymnal.
Sadly, we don't make use of our hymnals. Perhaps that is because few know of the tools, resources, and structure of hymnals. Maybe that is because our church members have never been properly introduced to their hymnals. Our hymnal, the Trinity Hymnal, is more than an anthology of old music. It is a rich resource for personal and public worship. Have you ever looked at the Table of Contents? You may have assumed there was no rhyme or reason to the order in which hymns are listed. Did you ever notice ours are arranged based on their general content or use. For instance, the first 99 are about different attributes of God. Other sections are devoted to the Trinity, God's Word, The Church, etc. In other words, if you were depressed because of the struggles you have had against Satan and temptations, you might want to look at hymns 570 through 582 that deal with spiritual warfare. Could singing or reading the words of #570 Faith of Our Fathers, #571 Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus or #582 Yield Not to Temptation, be a source of encouragement to you at such a time?
At the back of the Trinity Hymnal there are a number of different cross referencing tools allow one to look up a hymn by author, (of the text) composer (of the tune), Biblical reference, name of tune, poetic meter, first line of the hymn or hymn topic. Personally I find it exciting that we have hymn text going back to Ambrose of Milan (340 A.D.) and as current as Michael Card's El Shaddai #42. We have hymn tunes composed by Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Bach, and Handel, as well as folk tunes from various continents. Creative combinations and switching around of hymn texts is made possible by using the poetic meter index. For instance, both O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (#164) and Amazing Grace #460 have the same meter. That means either set of words can be sung to the tune of the other. From the scripture reference index we can see that the largest set of hymns find their source in the book of Psalms. I count somewhere around 260 hymns having their references there.
There is a big emphasis these days on singing new and modern songs. Have you ever noticed that the Trinity Hymnal has 742 hymns in it? Did you know there are 576 different tunes or melodies used for those 742 hymns? As best I can figure, of those 576 tunes we utilize only 263, and we are probably only comfortable with about 200 of those. Now I will be the first one to say that a lot of the hymn tunes are just not very singable. I will also admit to you there are a lot of hymn tunes I really don't like and dread when I see we are going to sing them. But, just because you or I don't like a certain hymn does not mean it can't minister to someone else and touch their heart. Through the years there are hymns I absolutely could not stand when I first heard them, but now they are some of my favorite. Maybe we should try and learn the hymns in our hymnal that have stood the test of time while we also explore the new and modern.
Beyond the anthology of hymns, the Trinity Hymnal also contains printed creeds, the Westminster Confession, and the shorter catechism. These have little to do with music, but much to do with worship. These resources are available to the individual for personal devotion, or for use in corporate worship.
Beyond the anthology of hymns, the Trinity Hymnal also contains printed creeds, the Westminster Confession, and the shorter catechism. These have little to do with music, but much to do with worship. These resources are available to the individual for personal devotion, or for use in corporate worship.
I am looking forward to the coming months as we attempt to make greater use of our hymnal. As always, I would like to point out that if you are interested in learning more about music, singing, our hymnal and want a deeper worship experience, then perhaps the choir is where you belong. We begin rehearsal at 9:00 AM on Sunday mornings. We have some who go to their Sunday School class at 9:30 and rejoin us at 10:15 for a final run through. Others stay and we work the whole hour and a half preparing for the coming weeks. You are welcome to come give it a try. I do warn you though. Praising God is addictive and once you start it is hard to quit. Now I ask you that simple question, "What is that in your hand?"
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Heal Our Land
I love my country. I am one of those irritating flag waving Christians. If you don't believe me, just drive by my house on a sunny day and you can see Old Glory blowing in the breeze. I am the son of a World War II veteran. While I love my country and our heritage, I cannot help but grieve over how wretched and sickening our society has become. I also happen to believe that as a Christian I am responsible to pray for my country. As believers we are responsible to lift prayer for our sin sick nation. There is nothing a candidate, party, special interest group, or filibuster can do to bring healing to our land. Only God has the power to bring spiritual renewal.
On July 6, our choir will be singing a prayer in song for our country. The song title is an appeal to God repeated over and over again, "Heal our Land." The prayer asks God to "grant us peace". We are a violent and unruly people. The psychologists, psychoanalysts, and sociologists argue over the impact of violence in our entertainment, or wish to ban firearms yet ignore the fact that as a fallen race we are at the mercy of a fallen and depraved nature apart from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Yes Lord, please "grant us peace" and "strengthen all who lack the faith to call on Thee each day."
The prayer of the song goes on to seek the guiding hand of God. I firmly believe it was the guiding hand of God that led to the founding of our country. We have never been a theocracy, and I don't pretend to believe God holds America in some favored status over any other country. But I do believe we have been the recipients time and time again of His blessings and His mercies. This country has been a rich land in which the seed of the Gospel could take root and grow abundantly and touch the world. Our nation as it stands today is far removed from this and the ideals upon which it was founded and is sick. Our failure to live and share the Gospel outside the self imposed ghettos of our churches has opened our nation up to cancerous decay brought on by the sin we embrace. Only the intervention of God can bring about the change we need.
One of the more uncomfortable topics hit upon in this lyrical prayer is the chastening rod of God. Truly, if we were to ever experience the revival of spirit we need, then it would be brought on by repentance and that repentance would no doubt be the result of God's chastening hand. Oh that we could turn to Him willingly and not have to face what may come.
II Chronicles 7:14 says, "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." While this was a word of promise given to Israel, I believe it can apply to any nation who turns to God. Notice how closely this passage compares with the idea of being born again? What would a born again nation look like?
A song will not change a nation. A prayer, in and of itself, will not change a nation. The hand of God sought through prayer and repentance would change a nation. Will you pray with us, not only this Sunday, but in these days in which we live. Pray for God's healing on our land. Pray that His Gospel would take root in our lives changing us, and therefore, changing our country.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Be Thou My Vision - A Word of Encouragement to Our Graduates
Through the years a lot of work has gone into developing hymnology tools that aid church musicians in finding appropriate hymns and choral music for special occasions. One of the most useful of these tools is the topical index at the back of our Trinity Hymnal. Unfortunately I often find that the topic I am looking for is not there. "Graduation," should be in there somewhere, I am sure. Unfortunately our topical index skips from, "Grace" all the way to, "Gratitude." However, after looking at a few blogs and posts and a little consideration of the topic myself, I came to the conclusion that Be Thou My Vision would be a wonderful selection for our choir to sing on Sunday June 1, the day we recognize our graduates.
The text of Be Thou My Vision comes from a sixth century Irish monastic text. It was first translated into English by Mary E. Byrne in 1905 and was later versified by Ellanor Hull in 1912. The modern text we are most familiar with was edited and versified in 1964. The hymn, like so many others like it, is a prayer to God. It is an excellent prayer for anyone, but especially for a young person taking the first steps out into a big wide confusing world.
When we translate a hymn from one language into another and then try to versify the translation so that it fits the rhythm of the original tune to which it is sung, sometimes we get confusing and jumbled wording.
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart,
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art,
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
The first stanza of they hymn is a petition for a single-minded devotion and focus on the things of God. The request is that God, and God alone would be the Lord of my heart. The confusing second line is saying, "Nothing else, only Thou!" The petitioner, knowing that in him dwells no good thing, declares that the best thought he can have, day or night, awake or asleep, is to think on the Lord. He fully acknowledges that God must be not only his vision, but his light. For those graduates who embark on a collegiate career, you need to prayerfully ask God to be your vision. You will see great and marvelous ideas, theories, and world views that you will find wonderfully tantalizing. You will be exposed to wonderful explanations of facts that will challenge the very foundation of all you have been taught. You will literally hear that good is evil and evil is good. You will need to have God as your Vision, and the ruling thought in your mind. Believers, this is a good prayer for all of us, regardless of our age.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my True Word,
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father and I Thy true son,
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
This second stanza of the hymn is actually about the Word of God. How can God be a believer's Wisdom and True Word? By the believer reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the written Word of God. Only by the process of reading and studying God's Word can be achieve the duality expressed in this stanza. As God's Word becomes part of us we become more aware of the mind of Christ. We truly begin to act like children of the Father as His Word becomes part of us. Graduate, if you are not already, it is time to become a student of the Word of God.
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always,
Thou and Thou, only, First in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.
It is my sincere hope and wish that every single one of our graduates would have very successful and lucrative careers. Many a young person has sought a career that promised wealth or prestige, but what he found was bankruptcy of the soul. Be successful. Pursue your dreams. Remember, however, that if you are a believer, you are already a child of the King and there is no higher claim to fame than that. There is no greater inheritance. There is no greater treasure than what you already have. This is a perspective we loose site of in the struggles of life. Believers of all ages, as you face the challenge of life, remember that your Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun,
Heart of my own heart, whatever be fall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
The last stanza, graduates, is about a subject you do not think on that much. It is about the end of life. I pray God grants you a long productive life full of challenges, victories, and few defeats. There are people I went to school with who did not live to graduate. There are people I went to school with, who within a decade of graduation no longer walked the earth. This final stanza reflects upon the ultimate and final graduation. It refers to the end of life as, "my victory won." Even as you see your high school life ending and a new life beginning, one day you will graduate from this mortal school of hard knocks and, like a victor, you will enter into eternity. But notice even now the petitioner, while addressing God as, "Heart of my own heart," requests that God continue to be His Vision, whatever may happen.
You will have a vision and an outlook that characterizes you life. People will know you for your vision, whatever it is. You can adopt the vision of your professors, or your employers, or that of your favorite celebrity you follow on various social networks. Or you can seek to have the Master and Creator of the universe as the source of your vision, and your outlook. He can be the world view that characterizes your life after this graduation, and those to come. God Bless you graduates.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Observations and Conclusions
For the last several years I have been making some very disturbing observations from which I have drawn some very uncomfortable conclusions. I have shared with you before that I have concerns regarding trends in worship music. It seems to me that there is an almost fanatical move to eradicate traditional worship and replace it with the modern contemporary model that is patterned after the youth rally concept of the 80's. I really don't have anything against contemporary worship music, and have utilized it throughout my career. Likewise, I see no problem in utilizing multiple styles of music in worship. The style and forms of music in worship will quite naturally reflect the culture of the participants. Depending upon the congregations's education level, overall music background, and local cultural influences, I have utilized, features from folk, components from country, rudiments of rock, sounds of soul, and the cornerstone of classical upon the occasion.
I have no fear of music styles and I do not believe the utilization of any style is a threat to the Gospel. I do, however, find the tendency toward polarization extremely disturbing. The active trend, fueled by popular culture is to go contemporary. Therefore, the reactive archetype is to embrace more ancient styles and forms. Are our only two options the scream of the electric guitar or the wail of the Gregorian chant? With the polarization comes new labels. Now we must stipulate. Are we going to the traditional worship, the contemporary worship, or the blended worship service? Can we no longer simply go to worship?
Another trend that disturbs me involves the absence of music education. Many of you remember the music teacher who would come to the class room and teach songs and music basics in elementary school. That is no longer a common sight. Fewer and fewer families are educating their children musically. Don't worry though. The various talent competition shows on TV are training our children about music. They are learning through watching those shows what "real" music sounds like and what "real" musicians look, act, and dress like. (In case that wasn't obvious enough for you, that was sarcasm.) In other words, popular culture is leading again.
With music education at an all time low, and popular culture running at an all time high, I fear that worship, as we know it is severely threatened. As congregations embrace text only song sheets, and lyrics projected on the wall, our heritage of four part sung music is being eroded. Choirs are being replaced by praise teams because of the lack of interest in singing. The tunes and forms of more ancient hymns are being lost because they are not familiar to us in structure. We are moving toward simpler and more infantile melodies in place of the majestic, the artful, the beautiful.
A silly but fun movie I enjoy watching on occasion is Sylvester Stallone's Demolition Man. In the story, a 20th century cop is wrongfully accused of a crime and sentenced to suspended animation in a cryogenic prison. Following a Buck Rogers type story line, he is awakened in a very changed 21st century. While the story is very campy and light, the writers seemed to make some interesting commentaries on society. One of the more comedic elements in the story revolves around what passes for popular music in this supposed Utopian future. Advertisement jingles from our day have become the popular music culture of the post nuclear world. "The Oscar Mayer Wiener song is considered top 40 material. Interestingly enough, with the devolving of music I see taking place in our world today I fear that future may not be as fictional a possibility as it sounds.
I believe it is possible to maintain scriptural integrity, utilize a foundation of traditional music, and employ elements of various music styles in a balanced manner that would simply be characterized as worship, and need no other label. I also believe the key to the church's music future is participation in the church choir. (Oh, come on, you knew that was where I was headed.) We need to see more people involved in choir and we specifically need to see more young people involved. You young married need to find a place in the choir so you can learn more about singing and pass it on to your children. You teenagers and young singles need to pour your energy and your enthusiasm into learning more about our musical heritage through participation in the choir. The more people we have involved, the more we can explore that heritage and the more we can learn together.
Choir rehearsal begins at 9:00 AM on Sunday mornings. We would love to see you there. You enjoy hearing the choir. You won't believe how great it sounds when your sitting in the middle of it. Come join us and give it a try.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Bach to Christmas
As I told you last month, my favorite and I believe most Biblical based holiday time for Christians is Thanksgiving. Although the advertising and marketing arm of every retailer has been here well ahead of us, we have finally arrived at the Christmas season. While historically Christmas has, at best, a checkered past I can't ignore the potential for ministry inherent in the Christmas season.
True, there is no command to celebrate the birth of Jesus. There is nothing linking the birth of Christ with the week of the winter solstice. There is no Biblical basis for the trappings of the season. If you want to get down to the truth, there is a very messy and embarrassing history behind everything from caroling to those gingerbread man cookies. There are even a number of famous historic incidents in which the season and antisemitic actions were linked together. It is no wonder that our Puritan forefathers banned the celebration.
We live in a world that has become increasingly ignorant of its own history. The season, though pagan in its origins has, for most of our population, transcended most of its dark roots and is recognized either as a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, or a time to indulge in materialism. Admittedly, for most of us modern Christians, we do a little of both. The season is a time in which the secular world notices the Christian world. We have reached a point now in which I believe we are better served to not only celebrate the season, but to celebrate it in the extreme when possible. Entertainment media, proponents of other recently made up holidays, influences from the Mideast, and others would like to erase Christ from Christmas. Retailers instruct sales staff to wish patrons, "Happy holidays," rather than, "Merry Christmas." One could argue quite easily that the best thing for believers to do is separate ourselves from the pagan celebration completely as the Puritans tried and ban all vestiges of it from our churches and our homes. I believe, however, that more good can come from a pagan celebration that has been "salted" with Christianity.
The words of Christ teach us to be the salt of the world. We know that salt influences flavor, acts as a preservative, and is a purifier. But for salt to work it has to come into contact with what it is affecting. Kept in the shaker, salt has not influence or affect. We too have no effect on the world unless we contact it. Christmas, however tainted it may be, is one of the key contact points we have with the world. If we remove our influence from the holiday, what would be accomplished? I believe the work of the church, and the spread of the gospel is better served by claiming what we can of the holiday and keeping it as ours.
Now, like a long winded preacher (which I am actually guilty of having been), that was all introduction. What I really want to tell you about is how we in the adult choir intend to claim the season through music this year. First, as your choir provides leadership and encouragement to worship in congregational song I hope you will join your voice singing the familiar songs of the season. Second, as we sing the various introits and anthems celebrating the coming of the Savior into our world, I hope you will not view them as elevator music or filler time. These are not performance pieces for your entertainment, but are songs of worship being lifted up to the Lord that you can participate with in your heart. Instead of checking your email on your phone, let the words and the music lift your heart and encourage your spirit and help you tune your mind onto the things of Christ rather than the things of the world.
Our Christmas season begins officially on December 1, the first Sunday in the Advent Season. The choir will share, "Air for Advent". "Air" is a music term that means melody or tune. This particular piece is an arrangement by Tom Fettke that uses the melody from J.S. Bach's (1685-1750) Overture No. 3 in D major,BWV 1068, more commonly known as the "Air on G". Fettke took the various melodies of this instrumental piece and assigned text from the Hymns, "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" (written by Charles Wesley 1707-1788), and "Come O Come Emmanuel" (an ancient Latin hymn translated b John M. Neale 1818-1866). The result is a beautiful haunting call pleading for the Jewish Messiah to come and make His appearance in the world. What a way to prepare your heart to hear the message that will be delivered following the offering that Sunday!
Next, we will share on December 8, a favorite of the congregation, "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) with text from a poem by Christina G. Rossetti (1830-1894). While the text of the poem is in error in its attempt to present the nativity in a winter setting, poetically it accurately describes the cold harsh world Christ was born into. It paints a most wonderful and artistic word picture of the humility of Christ's birth, and the wonder that the simple stable held He Whom neither heaven nor earth could possibly contain. I have been told on more than one occasion by individuals in our congregation that Christmas has not come until we sing this song.
The following two Sundays Bach will provide brief chorales for our introits. Our anthem, "A Joyful Noel" utilizing Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", and the text of "The First Noel" will be sung on the 15th of December. Finally on December 22 our anthem will be a Lloyd Larson arrangement of "Angels We Have Heard on High". The resounding, "Gloria in excelsis Deo" is of course the famous Latin phrase that means, "Glory to God in the highest!". As an old preacher once told me, "Singing that gets me so excited it makes me want to charge hell with a water pistol!"
What our choral music is all about is worshiping God through song. It is about getting excited about the things of God. It is about lifting your heart high and expressing genuine joy for the Creator of all things who chose to take upon Himself the cruel punishment that was due His creation. He did so by coming into this world through the indignity of human birth. Fittingly, we will end the season with the prayerful anthem by David S. Gaines and Ruth Elaine Schram, "Be Born in Us." Even as Christ changed the world by being born into it, living a perfect life, and dying on the cross, so this song lifts a longing prayer that He would do the same thing in our hearts as individuals.
As the retail world, the secular world, the world that hates us, and the world that tolerates us all vie to keep the season of Christmas in their way, I pray we, like the reinvented Ebeneezer Scrooge will know "how to keep Christmas well" in our lives and our church. In closing I would like to quote from that final planned anthem mentioned above, "Be born in us, O Prince of Peace, let the hope You bring this world be born in me." God bless you as you keep the season. Yes, I think it is a good idea, let's keep the season.
True, there is no command to celebrate the birth of Jesus. There is nothing linking the birth of Christ with the week of the winter solstice. There is no Biblical basis for the trappings of the season. If you want to get down to the truth, there is a very messy and embarrassing history behind everything from caroling to those gingerbread man cookies. There are even a number of famous historic incidents in which the season and antisemitic actions were linked together. It is no wonder that our Puritan forefathers banned the celebration.
We live in a world that has become increasingly ignorant of its own history. The season, though pagan in its origins has, for most of our population, transcended most of its dark roots and is recognized either as a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, or a time to indulge in materialism. Admittedly, for most of us modern Christians, we do a little of both. The season is a time in which the secular world notices the Christian world. We have reached a point now in which I believe we are better served to not only celebrate the season, but to celebrate it in the extreme when possible. Entertainment media, proponents of other recently made up holidays, influences from the Mideast, and others would like to erase Christ from Christmas. Retailers instruct sales staff to wish patrons, "Happy holidays," rather than, "Merry Christmas." One could argue quite easily that the best thing for believers to do is separate ourselves from the pagan celebration completely as the Puritans tried and ban all vestiges of it from our churches and our homes. I believe, however, that more good can come from a pagan celebration that has been "salted" with Christianity.
The words of Christ teach us to be the salt of the world. We know that salt influences flavor, acts as a preservative, and is a purifier. But for salt to work it has to come into contact with what it is affecting. Kept in the shaker, salt has not influence or affect. We too have no effect on the world unless we contact it. Christmas, however tainted it may be, is one of the key contact points we have with the world. If we remove our influence from the holiday, what would be accomplished? I believe the work of the church, and the spread of the gospel is better served by claiming what we can of the holiday and keeping it as ours.
Now, like a long winded preacher (which I am actually guilty of having been), that was all introduction. What I really want to tell you about is how we in the adult choir intend to claim the season through music this year. First, as your choir provides leadership and encouragement to worship in congregational song I hope you will join your voice singing the familiar songs of the season. Second, as we sing the various introits and anthems celebrating the coming of the Savior into our world, I hope you will not view them as elevator music or filler time. These are not performance pieces for your entertainment, but are songs of worship being lifted up to the Lord that you can participate with in your heart. Instead of checking your email on your phone, let the words and the music lift your heart and encourage your spirit and help you tune your mind onto the things of Christ rather than the things of the world.
Our Christmas season begins officially on December 1, the first Sunday in the Advent Season. The choir will share, "Air for Advent". "Air" is a music term that means melody or tune. This particular piece is an arrangement by Tom Fettke that uses the melody from J.S. Bach's (1685-1750) Overture No. 3 in D major,BWV 1068, more commonly known as the "Air on G". Fettke took the various melodies of this instrumental piece and assigned text from the Hymns, "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" (written by Charles Wesley 1707-1788), and "Come O Come Emmanuel" (an ancient Latin hymn translated b John M. Neale 1818-1866). The result is a beautiful haunting call pleading for the Jewish Messiah to come and make His appearance in the world. What a way to prepare your heart to hear the message that will be delivered following the offering that Sunday!
Next, we will share on December 8, a favorite of the congregation, "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Gustav Holst (1874-1934) with text from a poem by Christina G. Rossetti (1830-1894). While the text of the poem is in error in its attempt to present the nativity in a winter setting, poetically it accurately describes the cold harsh world Christ was born into. It paints a most wonderful and artistic word picture of the humility of Christ's birth, and the wonder that the simple stable held He Whom neither heaven nor earth could possibly contain. I have been told on more than one occasion by individuals in our congregation that Christmas has not come until we sing this song.
The following two Sundays Bach will provide brief chorales for our introits. Our anthem, "A Joyful Noel" utilizing Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", and the text of "The First Noel" will be sung on the 15th of December. Finally on December 22 our anthem will be a Lloyd Larson arrangement of "Angels We Have Heard on High". The resounding, "Gloria in excelsis Deo" is of course the famous Latin phrase that means, "Glory to God in the highest!". As an old preacher once told me, "Singing that gets me so excited it makes me want to charge hell with a water pistol!"
What our choral music is all about is worshiping God through song. It is about getting excited about the things of God. It is about lifting your heart high and expressing genuine joy for the Creator of all things who chose to take upon Himself the cruel punishment that was due His creation. He did so by coming into this world through the indignity of human birth. Fittingly, we will end the season with the prayerful anthem by David S. Gaines and Ruth Elaine Schram, "Be Born in Us." Even as Christ changed the world by being born into it, living a perfect life, and dying on the cross, so this song lifts a longing prayer that He would do the same thing in our hearts as individuals.
As the retail world, the secular world, the world that hates us, and the world that tolerates us all vie to keep the season of Christmas in their way, I pray we, like the reinvented Ebeneezer Scrooge will know "how to keep Christmas well" in our lives and our church. In closing I would like to quote from that final planned anthem mentioned above, "Be born in us, O Prince of Peace, let the hope You bring this world be born in me." God bless you as you keep the season. Yes, I think it is a good idea, let's keep the season.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Something to Be Thankful For
When it comes to selecting choral music for worship, I believe it is advantageous to make use of the various holidays that fill our calendar. Granted, most of our holidays are not "Biblical", and the few that arguably ever were have drifted far in their observance from any scriptural anchor they may have once had. The fact is however, our hearts and minds become predisposed to the themes and ideas of those seasons as we are assaulted by the secular music, imagery, lawn decorations, and predawn sales events culturally linked to those holidays giving us the opportunity to address the subjects of those seasons with little or no introduction. Ironically enough, the one holiday for which I personally feel there is more scriptural and theological basis tends to get the least attention. That holiday is Thanksgiving.
Throughout history many cultures have observed periods of thanksgiving at the end of harvest season. Our Judeo-Christian roots are no stranger to this practice. The Old Testament is replete with instructions for the celebration of feasts that God commanded of His people, Israel. Of the seven high feast celebrations, three are specifically set aside as times of thanksgiving among the people. The celebrations of Firstfruits, and Pentecost commemorated the beginning of the time of harvest of barley and wheat respectively. These two events fall on our modern calendar between the months of March and June. The celebration of Tabernacles or Sukkot followed at the end of the harvest time in our September or October. Specific instructions for the types of sacrifices and required procedures for these holidays are given throughout Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Admittedly, the New Testament gives us no instruction to celebrate any holidays other than the Christian Sabbath. We have no commands regarding Christian holy days or feasts. Although I adore the Christian themes they inspire, the holidays of Christmas and Easter have a checkered past and are basically the result of attempts at cleaning up pre-existing pagan rites and rituals and incorporating them into the Christian world. Our modern mythologies regarding a red dressed demigod and magical egg bearing rodents have done little to aid in that clean-up. Nevertheless, those holidays get more attention in and out of church than does a celebration intended to simply remind us to be thankful to God.
Since we no longer live in an agrarian society, our culture has become increasingly oblivious to the concept of harvest celebrations. The school calendar which prevails to this day serves as a reminder of how farm life one shaped our culture. As we have moved away from agriculture as a society, and have embraced consumerism, it seems to me that we have become less dependent on God and therefore less thankful to Him for His provision. When we relied upon Him to provide the rain and appropriate weather to make our crops grow we were more aware of his blessings. Now we pray for weather conditions that meet our travel and recreation desires more often than we pray for conditions on our crops.
No, there is no eleventh commandment to celebrate a feast of Thanksgiving in the month of November. But the idea of being thankful to a sovereign God who meets our needs as He sees fit is quite appropriate . Don't be surprised over the next few weeks when you hear music of thanksgiving and appreciation for what God has done in our lives. This month try praying for farmers and for God's blessing upon the harvest. What blesses the harvest does bless us. Be reminded this month that God has been good to us even though we don't deserve His goodness. Gather together to ask the Lord's blessing. Be amazed at the goodness of God.
Throughout history many cultures have observed periods of thanksgiving at the end of harvest season. Our Judeo-Christian roots are no stranger to this practice. The Old Testament is replete with instructions for the celebration of feasts that God commanded of His people, Israel. Of the seven high feast celebrations, three are specifically set aside as times of thanksgiving among the people. The celebrations of Firstfruits, and Pentecost commemorated the beginning of the time of harvest of barley and wheat respectively. These two events fall on our modern calendar between the months of March and June. The celebration of Tabernacles or Sukkot followed at the end of the harvest time in our September or October. Specific instructions for the types of sacrifices and required procedures for these holidays are given throughout Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
Admittedly, the New Testament gives us no instruction to celebrate any holidays other than the Christian Sabbath. We have no commands regarding Christian holy days or feasts. Although I adore the Christian themes they inspire, the holidays of Christmas and Easter have a checkered past and are basically the result of attempts at cleaning up pre-existing pagan rites and rituals and incorporating them into the Christian world. Our modern mythologies regarding a red dressed demigod and magical egg bearing rodents have done little to aid in that clean-up. Nevertheless, those holidays get more attention in and out of church than does a celebration intended to simply remind us to be thankful to God.
Since we no longer live in an agrarian society, our culture has become increasingly oblivious to the concept of harvest celebrations. The school calendar which prevails to this day serves as a reminder of how farm life one shaped our culture. As we have moved away from agriculture as a society, and have embraced consumerism, it seems to me that we have become less dependent on God and therefore less thankful to Him for His provision. When we relied upon Him to provide the rain and appropriate weather to make our crops grow we were more aware of his blessings. Now we pray for weather conditions that meet our travel and recreation desires more often than we pray for conditions on our crops.
No, there is no eleventh commandment to celebrate a feast of Thanksgiving in the month of November. But the idea of being thankful to a sovereign God who meets our needs as He sees fit is quite appropriate . Don't be surprised over the next few weeks when you hear music of thanksgiving and appreciation for what God has done in our lives. This month try praying for farmers and for God's blessing upon the harvest. What blesses the harvest does bless us. Be reminded this month that God has been good to us even though we don't deserve His goodness. Gather together to ask the Lord's blessing. Be amazed at the goodness of God.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Not Another Recruitment Attempt!
I don't have a problem admitting that I am a lousy recruiter when it comes to recruiting new choir members. Through the years I have tried all the different methods I can think of and that the various leadership books tell you to try. I have had the recruitment suppers, breakfasts, and lunches. I have done the impassioned appeals from the pulpit. I have done the mail-outs to new church members. I have even tried the church member interests surveys to pinpoint potential targets... I mean candidates for choir membership. On occasion one of these has actually drummed up a new choir member. For some reason, those I managed to conjure up using any one of these methods eventually disappeared.
Now from my perspective, I cannot imagine why everyone is not in the choir. There is something very special about the connection people in the choir have. Of course, the first connection they have is their shared faith in Christ. The automatic sense of brotherhood that comes from the shared experiences of walking in Christ is like no other. The environment of the choir rehearsal allows for opportunities for members to spontaneously share prayer requests, family concerns, personal victories, and personal anecdotes. There is also something very special about the fellowship that comes from working side by side week after week in rehearsal time. As you get more and more familiar with the people you are working with week after week toward a common goal, a natural affinity and comradery develops that I have seldom experienced outside of this special group. Through the years I have heard people talk about the experience of joining a church but never really feeling a part of that church. I have often asked them, "Did you try joining the choir?" The answer has always been, "No," usually followed by the question, "What's that got to do with it?"
The fact is people join the choir because there is a song in their heart. In the Old Testament, the prophets using picturesque language described times of oppression by Israel's enemies as times where music and singing ceased. Isaiah 24:8 and Ezekiel 26:13 respectively describe such a occasions as a time in which, "the joy of the harp ceaseth," and "...shall be no more heard." Psalm 137 describes the journey into Babylonian captivity as a time in which they hung up their harps and could not muster the songs of Zion. It is hard to sing without a song in your heart. Likewise, if you have a song in your heart it is hard not to sing. People who join the choir do so because you really can't keep them out.
So, all this rambling is really about one thing. If you have not yet found your place of service where you are being used effectively by the Lord, you have a longing for a closer fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and you do have a song in your heart, then maybe choir is the place for you. We meet every Sunday morning at 9:00 A.M. Yes, that is early, but that time has been selected by our Choir members because with all our various work schedules and church activities, it was the most convenient for all. We work each week not only on the anthem for that day, but also on those for the coming weeks. We look at the hymn selections for that Sunday and go over those we think will be challenging to ourselves or the congregation. We do have time to share prayer requests, usually some devotional thoughts or history associated with the songs and we pray. In the middle of all this there is usually a lot of hard work, and hard laughing and a whole lot of fun. I can say that at 9:00 A.M. in the morning, it is the most fun you can have at church.
If you are interested then talk with me or one of our choir members, or even better yet, show up Sunday at 9:00 AM upstairs in the choir room. I promise it won't hurt, and you might even like it.
Now from my perspective, I cannot imagine why everyone is not in the choir. There is something very special about the connection people in the choir have. Of course, the first connection they have is their shared faith in Christ. The automatic sense of brotherhood that comes from the shared experiences of walking in Christ is like no other. The environment of the choir rehearsal allows for opportunities for members to spontaneously share prayer requests, family concerns, personal victories, and personal anecdotes. There is also something very special about the fellowship that comes from working side by side week after week in rehearsal time. As you get more and more familiar with the people you are working with week after week toward a common goal, a natural affinity and comradery develops that I have seldom experienced outside of this special group. Through the years I have heard people talk about the experience of joining a church but never really feeling a part of that church. I have often asked them, "Did you try joining the choir?" The answer has always been, "No," usually followed by the question, "What's that got to do with it?"
The fact is people join the choir because there is a song in their heart. In the Old Testament, the prophets using picturesque language described times of oppression by Israel's enemies as times where music and singing ceased. Isaiah 24:8 and Ezekiel 26:13 respectively describe such a occasions as a time in which, "the joy of the harp ceaseth," and "...shall be no more heard." Psalm 137 describes the journey into Babylonian captivity as a time in which they hung up their harps and could not muster the songs of Zion. It is hard to sing without a song in your heart. Likewise, if you have a song in your heart it is hard not to sing. People who join the choir do so because you really can't keep them out.
So, all this rambling is really about one thing. If you have not yet found your place of service where you are being used effectively by the Lord, you have a longing for a closer fellowship with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and you do have a song in your heart, then maybe choir is the place for you. We meet every Sunday morning at 9:00 A.M. Yes, that is early, but that time has been selected by our Choir members because with all our various work schedules and church activities, it was the most convenient for all. We work each week not only on the anthem for that day, but also on those for the coming weeks. We look at the hymn selections for that Sunday and go over those we think will be challenging to ourselves or the congregation. We do have time to share prayer requests, usually some devotional thoughts or history associated with the songs and we pray. In the middle of all this there is usually a lot of hard work, and hard laughing and a whole lot of fun. I can say that at 9:00 A.M. in the morning, it is the most fun you can have at church.
If you are interested then talk with me or one of our choir members, or even better yet, show up Sunday at 9:00 AM upstairs in the choir room. I promise it won't hurt, and you might even like it.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
A Very Belated Father's Day Message
This past Father's Day was the thirty-first on which I have failed to send my Dad a Father's Day Card. Of course that is because it is the thirty-first in which I have been fatherless.
I was blessed to have two wonderful parents who raised me in as traditional an American home as anyone ever had. I had all the blessings of home, love, security, and family one could possibly wish for. Though my father had been married before, the idea of divorce or the fear of it in our home was something I do not recall ever seriously considering a threat. My two older brothers were from his previous marriage, and although 15 and 16 years older than me,they were simply, my brothers. We never used terms like, "half-brother". We were a family. Of all the nightmarish childhood fears and insecurities one may have, I can remember only one genuine anxiety beyond the usual, "What's living in my closet or under my bed," and that was the fear of loosing one or both of my parents to death. I was doubly blessed to be able to finish high school before I had to face that fear.
 |
| Boeing B-17 (Flying Fortress) |
My father, Olen B Simpson, known to all who knew him as simply, "B", was a World War II Veteran. Yes, I say that with great pride. While not an armed soldier, he served in the Army Air Corp as a Master Sergeant over a team of mechanics responsible for keeping a group of B-17 (Flying Fortress) bombers in the air reigning terror down on the Axis. I have always been fond of the fact that I am in the last of the Baby Boomers. I fit the definition both by the fact I was born in early 1964, and my father was a WWII Vet. While he was also particularly proud of his contribution to the war effort, that experience was not what defined him as a man.
B Simpson was also not defined by the fact he had lived through the great depression and had memories of that experience. Born in 1919, and raised in rural Mississippi, he knew what poverty was and had experienced his share as most of his generation. His memories of the experience were quite clear often telling stories about hunting for small game to survive and being chastised by his father whose repeated instruction to "Peg 'em in the head!" so as to not ruin the meat of the squirrel, or rabbit. Though he taught me to shoot, we never went hunting. I would ask him why he did not hunt. His response was always the same, "I had to hunt to survive when I was a kid, and now I don't." He had no problem killing an animal to have something to eat. One year he bought some live turkeys which he killed, dressed and prepared for Thanksgiving. I remember him shooting some ducks at my grandfather's pond once because he got a notion to cook duck, which he had not had in years. But B did not find enjoyment in the killing of anything.
Though he was a believer and in later life a leader in his church, I would have to say that while his religion was quite real and genuine, it did not define him. It was a great part of him, and I was thrilled to see him become a very good lay Bible scholar and a respected teacher at our church. When he was asked to become a deacon he agreed, although he was always concerned that the stigma of his divorce; though many, many years behind him and unknown to most people; would impair his work as a deacon, or reflect badly on the church.
I suppose the over-riding thing that defined my father was probably his work ethic. He served our community as an installer repairman for South Central Bell. He was The Telephone Man. As the article below from the CWA (Communications Workers of America) newsletter shows, for at least 17 years he was the only telephone repairman in the community. He was known by his co-workers as a man who would do anything to get the job done. I remember him coming home hot, cold, dirty, smelly, and exhausted. It was not unusual for him to step inside the kitchen door, drop his clothes, and walk straight to the bathroom to clean up. I remember clearly the smell of creosote, and sweat. One of the favorite stories he would tell and often shared by his co-workers was of an occasion in which an identified case of trouble was on a pole near a railroad track. The pole was in a low spot and high water from recent rains had created a waist high reservoir around the base of the pole. The gathered workers could not figure out how to get to the pole to get the work done. My father, reportedly, stripped down, carried his tools over his head, and then climbed the pole to fix the trouble to the laughter of his co-workers. His favorite part of the story was the part about the train passing by while he was on top of the pole doing the repair. When I would ask him, "What did you do then?" he would laugh and say, "I kept the pole between me and the train." Even at his funeral, one of the men he worked with took time to reminisce with me about that story.
 |
| Article from October 8, 1976 CWA newsletter. |
I graduated from high school in 1982. That same spring Dad retired from the phone company and took a part time job at the local post office as a janitor. He had always said that the reason so many men died soon after retirement was because they quit doing anything. He had it all figured out. He would retire from the phone company, but would continue to work. We had no idea that he would soon get sick that November, spend about 9 weeks in the hospital, and then die February 14, 1983.
For many years I resented greatly those who have had the blessing of their father in their adult life. I suppose I still do. I appreciate greatly the blessing it is to have my mother still with me. But when I see those who don't appreciate what they have in having both parents there for their adult life I can't help but get angry. As an 18 year old, I had only begun to make plans and set a direction for my life. I never got to discuss the call to the ministry I was beginning to experience at that time. I never had the chance to talk to my father about the woman I planned to marry or how much it hurt me when we divorced. I never got to share with him the birth of my son, or the thrill and the redemption I experienced with a second chance with a new wife and new family and change of career. I know he would be proud of all three of my boys, but of course I never got to introduce them. He would be proud to know one who is in college working diligently on finishing his first degree and making plans for his next step to prepare for his future. He would be proud of the other about to launch out into the Navy, starting life even as he did in the military. He would be proud of the other, though autistic and challenged, diligent at his work at the local center and a blessing to be around.
I have, however, had to learn to accept and not resent. I find comfort in the fact I was blessed with a good father and I had him for 18 years. That is far much more than many people can claim. I was blessed to have him pass on that work ethic that so defined him, and I hope I have been able at least in part to do it for my boys. He was by no means perfect, and often frustrated me with his narrow viewpoint. He was quite a man. If I have been able to be half the man he was, then I know my life has been a blessing too.
Thanks Dad. We miss you. I miss you. Happy belated Father's Day. I love you.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
The anthem we are preparing for Sunday, June 2, 2013 is a bit of a departure from most of our repertoire. Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled, by Tina English (copyright 1983) has the feel of a 1970's or 80's youth musical, and the incomparable beauty of a text lifted right out of John 14 in the King James Version. We have chosen this piece for this service because the preacher, Dr. Guy Waters, will be bringing a message from the very same text.Tina English, born 1952 is an ASCAP composer with over 200 published choral anthems, musicals, hymns, children's songs and works recorded by the Imperials, Larnelle Harris and other artists. (Shawnee Press)
This particular composition has a very natural flow, which is particularly astounding when you notice that her text is the first 11 verses of John 14, with only minimal changes to the text. But, the text flows right with the music.
While the composition calls for a solo, we have chosen to have our ladies sing in unison the lengthy solo which comprises 28 of the pieces 94 measures (approximately 30% of the piece). The men join in singing with the ladies in unison, "I am the way, the truth and the life." Then in measure 37 the first utilization of vocal harmony is provided by the men on the phrase, "No one comes to the
Father but through me." Primarily a two part piece, four part harmony is used in key areas to emphasize the message of the text. Finally the piece climaxes as the two part choir sings a two part text. The ladies sing, "I am in the Father and the Father in me. The words I speak the Father speaks through me." while the men sing another melody for the text, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me. Finally the choir comes together on the text, "From now on you know Him and have seen Him."
While not the most challenging of choral compositions, truly it has a unique beauty and worshipful feel which the composer has intentionally brought to the piece that truly allows the text to take center stage and proclaim the peace, love, and comfort the Savior surely intended we hear in these words.
Let not your heart be troubled,
you believe in God believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions.
If it were not so, I would have told you,
for I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go to prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to myself.
That where I am there you may be also,
and you know the way where I am going.
I am the way, the truth and the life,
no one comes to the Father but through me.
If you had known me, you would have known my Father.
From now on you know Him and have seen Him.
I am in the Father and the Father in me.
The words I speak the Father speaks through me.
I am in the Father and the Father in me.
He abides in me, and I in Him.
From now on you known Him and have seen Him.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness
From time to time I come across what I call a forgotten hymn or a lost jewel. Usually, it is one I have never heard of, and few or none of the people in my immediate life are familiar with. Many such hymns have been pushed aside and, to our loss, lost from our church worship repertoire. Located in the Trinity Hymnal on page 421, Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness, is one such lost jewel. The text of this hymn, our April 7, 2013 anthem, was authored by 17th century poet and hymn writer, Johann Franck (1618-1677) with music composed by his friend, Johann Cruger (1598-1662). The website, hymnary.org lists 76 different hymn texts associated with Franck and 27 tunes associated with Cruger. Only one other of Franck's text made it into our Trinity Hymnal, while 7 of Cruger's tunes made the 1990 cut. The one other Franck text in our hymnal, #656, Jesus, Priceless Treasure, is another example of a Franck-Cruger duo.
 |
| Johann Franck |
Sources I have read indicate that while Frank was theologically sound, his poems tended to depart from a rigid objective text and often allowed his pen to paint emotive pictures of his subject matter, which made his hymn material unique in his day. Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness is such a hymn. He paints a beautiful picture of the marriage supper of the Lamb. In his first verse the lawyer from Guben, Brandenburg, Germany encourages the reader to adorn himself with gladness and abandon the haunts of sadness. "Come into the daylight's splendor," he calls to us. Why? Because, the founder of this banquet has condescended to such as we are and desires to dwell among us. The figurative language depicts a bride hastening to her groom, a marriage feast complete with bread and wine, and a day when we will be with our Lord in heavenly bliss forever.
 |
| Johann Cruger |
 |
| Praxis pietalis melica, the most influential Lutheran songbook of the second half of the 17th century. |
Cruger's tune, officially cataloged as Schmucke Dich varies from many of his other hymn tunes which tended to be simple and contemplative in style. Apparently he thought Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness, needed to be much more celebrative. With a Baroque flair the piece explodes sounding more like a piece of chamber music to be played on a harpsichord rather than a chorale to be sung in a cathedral. Truly the artist and editor of Praxis pietalis melica, achieved the goal of bringing a tune of jubilation to a text that so beautifully paints a picture of the church reunited with the Lord in holy festivity forever. This is a far cry from the tune Cruger is most well known for, Nun Danket, our Hymn#98, Now Thank We All Our God.
It is a shame that hymns of such richness in music, poetic beauty, and theological content can become lost jewels. I don't have anything against new beautiful theologically rich hymns. But I am concerned when the big overhead screen, modern pop-worship flavor of the week ditties threaten to take the place of our worship heritage.
Sources:
hymnary.org
A History of Western Music, Donald Jay Grout, W. W. Norton & Co., 1980
Saturday, March 30, 2013
My Eternal King
My God, I love Thee;
not because I hope for heav'n thereby,
Nor yet because who love Thee not
Must die eternally,
Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me
Upon the cross embrace;
For me didst bear the nails, the nails and spear,
And manifold disgrace.
Why, then why, O blessed Jesus Christ,
Should I not love Thee well?
Not for the hope of winning heav'n,
Or of escaping hell;
Not with the hope of gaining aught,
Not seeking a reward;
But as Thyself hast loved me,
O ever-loving Lord!
E'en so I love Thee, and will love,
And in Thy praise will sing;
Solely because Thou art my God,
And my Eternal King.
 |
| Jane Marshall b. 1924 |
Before going further, I must take a brief moment to brag on
our choir. I have had the privilege to
serve in both music and pastoral leadership duties in a number of churches for
over 30 years. In all that time, the
only choir I have ever had privilege to work with who had the technical
proficiency to rehearse and present a piece as challenging as My Eternal King
is our own adult choir here at Main Street Presbyterian Church. The evidence of that proficiency and ability
long precedes my involvement with this special group and its extensive
history. They continue to amaze me week
after week. They are the reason our
church will have the opportunity to experience My Eternal King on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013. Though I do not mean to state this is the
most difficult piece our choir has ever presented, it does rank very high on
the list.
 |
| Rev. Edward Caswell (1814-1878) |
You may wonder what makes this choir piece by Jane Marshall (b.
1924) so special. Although it will sound somewhat silly, I’d have to say, “Everything!” The text of the piece is based on a 17th century Latin
prayer/poem of response to the work of Christ on the cross translated into
English by Rev.Edward Caswell (1814-1878). The
music, while maintaining a very classical style utilizes a wide range of modern
music composition elements. The time
signature, tempo, and chord structures seem to be in constant shift and change
as the piece progresses through a minefield of accidentals and dynamic changes. A
cappella sections are used to highlight the text as well as intensify the
emotive elements throughout the piece.
This is not a piece of music for the novice choir. There are a multitude of details to not only
work out in preparation but remain mindful of through the duration of the
piece.
Accompanied best with organ, the piece opens with a fairly
simple sounding introduction that builds and grows to the first of many
climaxes, and then the first surprise. In a cappella the voices in awe barely
whisper the thesis of the text, “My God I love thee.”
So in awe of God and overwhelmed by the need to make this
declaration, the music and text quickly move forward, almost apologetically
clarifying that this declaration is not an attempt at gaining special favor
from God, or dodging any impending judgment.
Then a near heartbeat-like pulse of the organ is set in motion. The male voices, who begin to paint the
picture of Christ upon the cross, are then joined by the female voices, all
enraptured at the image of Christ embracing our sinful nature while hanging in
disgrace.
Without any sort of transition the pulse of the
accompaniment changes in texture and is augmented with the voices of the choir and
the text to simulate the sound of a hammer declaring, “For me didst bear the
nails and spear and manifold disgrace.”
In response to the image of Christ paying for our sins on
the cross, in an a cappella section the choir whispers, this time asking a
rhetorical question, “Why, O blessed Jesus”, should I not love thee?” The text further clarifies that the love
being expressed has nothing to do with gaining or loosing heaven or hell or
with some vile attempt at obligating God to us.
The one and only foundation of this pronouncement of love for God is
simply because He first loved us and gave himself on the cross. The final declaration of the text states, “Solely
because Thou art my God, and my Eternal King!”
For those of you who will be with us Sunday Morning, I hope
you experience as much joy in worshipping our Lord and expressing love to him
as we will as we share this piece. May
God bless you and your family as we worship God in awe and wonder.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Seek the Lord
Anthem for Sunday, 10/14/2012
Text: Isaiah 55:6-7
Music: John Carter (No, not the one who visited Barsoom)
MSCL#0172
Composer’s Biography:
John Carter and Mary Kay
Beall are not only husband and wife, but they collaborate on a full-time basis
on musical works of all kinds. They have been writing as a team since 1978 and
have created several hundred pieces of music together. John Carter is
recognized as one of the most productive and skillful writers in choral
composition today. Before he and Mary Kay began their collaboration, he had
nearly 200 published works to his credit.
Together, John and Mary Kay
have over 30 years experience writing and directing music for choirs of all
types and of all ages: elementary, junior high, high school, college and
church. Many of their works are commissioned by various groups across the
country to be performed for commemorative occasions. As a team, the Carters
have produced a dozen musicals and a sacred opera in addition to their many
choral works. They have been widely performed, and their music exhibits a broad
versatility in writing styles.
The Carters have been
involved in church music as soloists, Directors of Music and Sacred Choral
Editors. Presently, John is Director of Music at the University
Baptist Church
in Columbus , Ohio
John and Mary Kay are
members of ASCAP and the American Choral Directors Association. They have
received ASCAP awards annually since 1984 for their ongoing contributions to
choral literature. (http://www.alfred.com/Company/Authors/JohnCarter.aspx)
An Offer Ya Canna Refuse
The message of Isaiah 55 is
about being restored into a right relationship with God. It opens with the assumption of hunger and
thirst for the things of God, a characteristic our society currently ignores
being satisfied temporarily by the many diversions our western culture provides
us. Verses 1-4 call for us to come and
receive the free things of God, His water, food, wine and milk that cannot be
purchased, rather than spend our hard earned funds on the things that do not
satisfy.
His message, primarily to Israel who is facing imminent judgment from God,
includes a promise and an encouragement that one day Israel will summon nations they do
not even know of unto themselves. This is
a prophetic picture of the gentiles being grafted into the promises of Israel as the
church. (vs.3-5)
Then, in our key passage the
promise to the wicked and the evil that God can be found “while he is near”. This serves as a reminder to us that
repentance is not on our time table or merely at our convenience. The opportunity for this repentance and
restoration must be grabbed, “while He is near.” The repentance should be characterized by not
only a surrendering of how one thinks, but also how he acts. We must “forsake (our) way” as well as “(our)
thoughts”. Christ said his sheep hear
his voice and respond. Here in Isaiah
the sheep are encouraged to “return to the Lord that He may have mercy on
(them)… for He will abundantly pardon”.
Who can resist this offer? Quit
spending your money to be happy. Come
get free pardon and restoration from God and you won’t need the diversions that
our technology, fads, clothing, cars, and entertainment provide. (vs. 6-7)
Having made an offer you can’t
refuse, the message of Isaiah goes on to explain why the God of heaven would
make such an offer. This fact is a
mystery that confounds all people, but perhaps our age more than any. Why would the Holy God of heaven who is
creator, judge, jury and executioner and hates and despises sin offer
pardon? He offers these things to us because;
He is so different from us. (vs8-9)
How secure can we be of this
incredible offer? If it is too good to
be true, then it probably is, right? But
we have an illustration given in vs. 10-11 that God’s word is as secure and
definite as the water cycle. The agrarian
world knows that the rains and snows come. The waters provide nourishment for the seeds
and plants, thus sustaining life and nourishment. Then and only then does the water return and
do it all over again. God’s Word is even
more dependable than that. As the going
forth of the rains and snows give life, so the going forth of God’s Word gives
life.
Lastly, a celebration is in
order. Vs. 12-13 picture a celebration
of man and nature together worshiping God.
When man gets right with God, the blessings of God are poured out on the
world around him. As the creation fell
with man and is corrupted, so it is blessed when man is in a right relationship
with God.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Create in Me a Clean Heart O God
Anthem for Sunday, 10/07/2012
Text: Psalm 51: 10-13
Music: Carl F. Mueller
MSCL#0236
Composer’s Biography: Carl F. Mueller
Born: Sheboygan ,
Wisconsin
Graduated: Elmhurst College
Career info: organ
recitalist, having studied with C. G. Stranger, Wilhelm Middelschulte, Clarence Eddy
and Clarence Dickinson.
Key Dates/events:
1915 : Married Lenore Ann Eckardt and
became the Director of Music at Grand Avenue Congregational Church in Milwaukee , Wisconsin
1927: Moved to New Jersey
where he met John Finley Williamson, founder of Westminster Choir
College
1927-1953: Organist/Choir Director Central Presbyterian
Church, Montclair , NJ
1928-1954: Taught at Montclair State College and Union
Theological Seminary’s School
of Sacred Music
1931: Founded Montclair Acapella Choir (a community choir)
1937: Mueller obtained Westminster ’s
earned Fellowship
1940: Became member of ASCAP
1941: Published Create in Me a Clean
Heart O God (2 million copies sold)
1953-1962: Organist/Choir Director First Presbyterian
Church, Red Bank, NJ
Appox. 500 compositions
published; held honorary doctorate from Strassberger Conservatory of Music in St. Louis , Missouri
1982: Died, November 2, Lakewood ,
NJ
(from http://beta.rider.edu/sites/default/files/Carl_F._Mueller_Finding_Aid.pdf)
The Text in Context of the Whole Psalm
Psalm 51 is of course the
Psalm David gave to the chief musician when Nathan the prophet came unto him
after he had gone in to Bathsheba. The
Psalm can easily be divided into three main sections. Verses 1-6 deal with confession of the
sin. Verses 7-15 deal with purification
from the sin. Verses 16-19 deal with
worship of God.
Confession VV. 1-6
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:
that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Our worship and adoration of
God is impeded by the sin and filth of our lives. Once confronted with his sin David took the
steps to bring himself back into a right relationship with God. Calling on the mercy of God he honestly
confessed his wrong. David recognized
his sin was his own and it was against God. He attempted to hide his sin so he
would not be ruined politically, but he could not hide from God. Exposed there was nothing else to do but
confess and come clean. Notice that
David’s journey of repentance did not begin until he was first convicted of his
sin by the Lord through the word of the prophet. In our depravity, we too are not able to
recognize our sin and respond to it apart from the Lord’s intervention in our
hearts and spirits.
Purification VV. 7-15
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:
and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
David also recognized his
inability to be purified through his own actions. In verses 7-15 he uses the visual
illustration of being purged by hyssop.
Hyssop is used to apply blood ceremonially throughout the Old Testament and
draws its historical beginning from when it was used to apply the blood of the
paschal lamb on the doorposts of the Israelites before the exodus. Like the Israelites of old David did not
deserve the mercy of God, but seeks it by the power of the blood. He turns to God so the “bones which (God) has
broken may rejoice”. Here the cry of our
anthem is uttered. A call for God to
create a new heart and renewal for the spirit that is dark and low. A plea to not be cast away as is deserved,
but rather that God would restore and uphold.
He desires this that he may once again be a teacher and instructor to
sinners. This may sound like David is
making a deal with God. “Lord, forgive
me and I’ll be a missionary!” No, David
is not making a deal. The natural
progression for one forgiven should be from confession to purification to
proclamation. David desires to be able
to live beyond his error, learn from it, and help others to find their way back
to God when they err as well.
Worship VV. 15-19
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
The final verses of the
Psalm deal with the restoration of worship of God. God is not impressed with sacrifices of
animals or great deeds or actions. Those
are important parts of the worship of God in the Old Testament and have their
place, but they mean nothing without a broken, contrite repentant heart
offering them up. Likewise, our walk and
worship is meaningless if we are not broken before God over our own sin.
It is a fitting prayer/anthem
on the day we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
A time in which we should be reminded of our sin and recognize our need
for forgiveness and the uplifting hand of God to heal us, restore us, and
create within us the new heart of salvation and purification we so desperately
need to be able to show light to others and worship our Lord.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)