In the late 20th and early 21st century world, the life of a mainline denomination hymnal is about 25 years. When the world was a quieter and slower place, a 30-35 year life was not unusual. The increasing rapidity of technological advances have facilitated a shorter shelf-life for published expressions of our world, expressive of a living and breathing theology, changing social mores, all with an identifiable relevance to a 21st century world. We live in a society where news reaches us almost the moment it occurs. Thanks to the cellphone, smart phone, internet and computer technology we are all much more attuned to the wider world than in past times. At the least, we are exposed to news from all over our planet, having seen humans walking on the moon; photographs sent back to earth from Mars, Saturn and Venus. . . unimaginable just a few decades ago. It is in this environment that the Presbyterian Church (USA) is publishing a new denominational hymnal, Glory to God.
Available for distribution in September of this year, this landmark book has been prepared by a committee comprised of lay persons, clergy, musicians, of many races and ethnic backgrounds, indeed, a microcosm of the Presbyterian Church worldwide. The result promises to be reflective of the diversity of the Church incorporating music from many world traditions: American–including Folk hymns, Gospel, Native American; jazz; and African American music; British; Hispanic; European; Korean; Plainsong; Taizé; metrical psalms; and many more. Most of the hymns that we currently sing are included in this new book.
Many special events are planned throughout the country to introduce the music from Glory to God. Locally, the first of these will take place next week, Saturday, March 2, 2013, 9:30 a.m. at the FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH in Ft. Worth. They are sponsoring a Hymn-Festival and have invited all interested people to attend. There will be printed acknowledgment of local congregations who have already purchased the book. St. Stephen ordered and paid for the hymnals in May, 2012.
Glory to God (2013) will be printed during the summer and distributed in September, 2013. In addition to the kick-Off event listed above, St. Stephen will sponsor three events in the next 8 months.
There are three events planned at St. Stephen relating to the new hymnal: (1) Sunday, April 14th, immediately following the late worship service, we will have a luncheon followed by a program which will be presented by The Reverend Michael Waschevski, Associate Pastor at Fort Worth’s, First Presbyterian Church and a member of the Hymnal Committee responsible for this new resource; (2) Sunday, June 23, another luncheon followed by further “get-acquainted” session led by Mark Scott and St. Stephen Musicians; and finally, (3) A Hymn Festival and Dedication Service for the new books. It is scheduled for September 22, Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., in our sanctuary. This date could be pushed into October if the publication is delayed.
The purchase of a new hymnal is a major event in any church. It is one of the ways that faith and our understanding of biblical teaching can remain relevant in today’s world. In the past 62 years, St. Stephen has had only 2 hymnals: The Hymnal (1933); and The Presbyterian Hymnal (1990). Many of the hymns recently printed on bulletin inserts have been taken from hymns that are included in this new 2013 hymnal.
Come and sing, old and new songs, joining with our sister congregation on Saturday, March 2nd , 9:30 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 1000 Penn Street, Fort Worth. Mark Scott (February 2013)