Comments on: in defense of the (whole) hymn http://ericbjorlin.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/in-defense-of-the-whole-hymn/ my mind in words Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:52:19 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: The Rev'd R E LANGFORD Jr, FAPC, ELCA pastor (ret.) http://ericbjorlin.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/in-defense-of-the-whole-hymn/#comment-979 The Rev'd R E LANGFORD Jr, FAPC, ELCA pastor (ret.) Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:50:18 +0000 http://ericbjorlin.wordpress.com/?p=276#comment-979 I read somewhere that the original, untranslated, verses of the hymn went to a total of eight. Only the first two were put into English. The third in English is not part of the original supposedly. Has anyone else seen, or researched, such a rumor? Lutherans (LBW type) suggest this as a "Hymn of The Day" for today, Day of Saint Michael and All Angels, 29 September. IMO what we need is a suitable verse addressing commemoration of Saint Michael (and All Angels) to be sung to "By all your Saints in Warfare" or some such hymn. BLESSINGS, R E LANGFORD JR I read somewhere that the original, untranslated,
verses of the hymn went to a total of eight. Only
the first two were put into English. The third in
English is not part of the original supposedly. Has
anyone else seen, or researched, such a rumor?

Lutherans (LBW type) suggest this as a “Hymn of
The Day” for today, Day of Saint Michael and All
Angels, 29 September. IMO what we need is a suitable
verse addressing commemoration of Saint Michael (and
All Angels) to be sung to “By all your Saints in Warfare”
or some such hymn.
BLESSINGS,
R E LANGFORD JR

]]> By: Andrew http://ericbjorlin.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/in-defense-of-the-whole-hymn/#comment-941 Andrew Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:07:57 +0000 http://ericbjorlin.wordpress.com/?p=276#comment-941 I wholeheartedly agree. "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is another one that you just can't skip around in, especially with the first/last verse model that many employ. You hit the fourth stanza and ask... "what word?" For me, the distinguishing factor for hymns is a continuity of thought, a progressive exploration of who God is, what he has done, or the process of salvation. Praise songs you can jump from verse to verse, sing a chorus a couple times, and not lose the continuity. But hymns just don't fit into that flexibility. As to the lack of content in praise songs, often identified as only one verse sung over and over or even one phrase repeated, I have mixed feelings. They certainly aren't my favorite songs, but there is scriptural basis for them. Psalm 117 is a single stanza, and 136 repeats "for his steadfast love endures forever" in every verse! Certainly these shouldn't be the only songs we sing (there are 148 other psalms, after all), but we can't say they have no place in worship. (Not saying that's your stance, but I have run into that opinion before.) As for the Garrison Keillor shout out, bring on the PHC. I wholeheartedly agree. “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” is another one that you just can’t skip around in, especially with the first/last verse model that many employ. You hit the fourth stanza and ask… “what word?”

For me, the distinguishing factor for hymns is a continuity of thought, a progressive exploration of who God is, what he has done, or the process of salvation. Praise songs you can jump from verse to verse, sing a chorus a couple times, and not lose the continuity. But hymns just don’t fit into that flexibility.

As to the lack of content in praise songs, often identified as only one verse sung over and over or even one phrase repeated, I have mixed feelings. They certainly aren’t my favorite songs, but there is scriptural basis for them. Psalm 117 is a single stanza, and 136 repeats “for his steadfast love endures forever” in every verse! Certainly these shouldn’t be the only songs we sing (there are 148 other psalms, after all), but we can’t say they have no place in worship. (Not saying that’s your stance, but I have run into that opinion before.)

As for the Garrison Keillor shout out, bring on the PHC.

]]> By: Steve Basselman http://ericbjorlin.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/in-defense-of-the-whole-hymn/#comment-935 Steve Basselman Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:08:09 +0000 http://ericbjorlin.wordpress.com/?p=276#comment-935 Hey Eric, THis worship planner RARELY drops verses. I ALWAYS read through the entire text of the hymn before making any decision about cutting verses. You'll never see me cutting any of the 8 verses of "For All the Saints" - you simply can't - it tells a story! I have to agree with you about the lack of theological content in so many newer praise songs. It would be very difficult for me to serve as a worship planner in a congregation that didn't use good solid hymnody! Thank you for your comments. Steve Hey Eric,

THis worship planner RARELY drops verses. I ALWAYS read through the entire text of the hymn before making any decision about cutting verses.

You’ll never see me cutting any of the 8 verses of “For All the Saints” – you simply can’t – it tells a story!

I have to agree with you about the lack of theological content in so many newer praise songs. It would be very difficult for me to serve as a worship planner in a congregation that didn’t use good solid hymnody!

Thank you for your comments.
Steve

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