Things that make you go Hymn...
In a little over a week's time, the congregation will be holding a "Jubilee Memorial and Celebration Hymn Sing" --for those of you who don't already know what it's about, it's a chance for people in the congregation to pick their favorite hymn, and dedicate it either in memory or in honour of someone. It's been a really useful exercise, in that not only is it a chance for people to take some ownership in their favorite songs of the faith, but it's also an opportunity for me to learn exactly what those favorites are.
Admittedly, the learning process is always a struggle. As I have learned with this congregation, there is a wide variety of expectations when it comes to music, and keeping everyone satisfied tends to come in ebbs and flows. I had originally thought when I was going through my education for ministry, that this'd be easy, given that I have a fair bit of musical training. I should have known better...
Last Sunday was one such instance, where I had intentionally kept all of the hymns as familiar (at least in my understanding) as possible. I had picked the children's hymn to be "O Master let me walk with thee" --one which was considered to be one of the chestnuts of children's hymns when I was growing up. Yet I could tell from the congregation's response in singing it that whether or not it was well known, this was certainly not one that worked well as a children's hymn... Okay, maybe crash, burn, and exploding fuel tanks would be a far better metaphor... so back to the drawing board. At least the rest of the hymns got a favourable response.
With the hymn sing coming up, I've been examining the issue of church music with a bit more focus. Earlier tonight, I was looking through the 1997 Book of Praise's suggested list of Children's Hymns. If you have a hymn book nearby, it's on page 1056, way at the back. In taking a careful look, only about 1/4 to 1/5th of the hymns in that list are actually ones this congregation would be familiar with. Many of them are much newer hymns and songs that always seem to be a bit of a struggle whenever we try to introduce them. I've had some successes, but not always.
At the Nurture Committee last night, a few people said something that I found rather revealing. In terms of what we consider to be "good" children's hymns, they're usually the ones that we sang when we were children. The challenge being, is that the definition of we changes depending upon the generation. Whenever it comes time for the children's hymn, if anything, I think many in the congregation want to be transported back, to have a reminder of their own childhood, perhaps to grasp onto that treasured innocence of youth. We resonate most strongly with those experiences that are familiar, and certainly singing the old favorites does grant a great deal of comfort.
I look at the pool of children's hymns in the "new" hymnbook which is now coming up on its tenth anniversary of publication. So many of them are great, and have a powerful depth to them that can really communicate the gospel, and yet so many of them remain as unknowns. I am left to wonder how to walk this fine line of balance of renewing our faith, and yet being able to speak words of comfort and hope to all generations. It's not a hopeless cause, to be sure, but it has its challenges. The fact that the people of Clarkson Road have selected more than 38 different hymns for the upcoming hymn sing shows there's a diversity in this congregation that I don't think everyone is aware of.
Anyway, I could probably write a lot more than this, but I know I will be constantly coming back to this issue. I'd appreciate any comments that any of you who are reading this have to offer... just click the "comments" link just under this entry...
Admittedly, the learning process is always a struggle. As I have learned with this congregation, there is a wide variety of expectations when it comes to music, and keeping everyone satisfied tends to come in ebbs and flows. I had originally thought when I was going through my education for ministry, that this'd be easy, given that I have a fair bit of musical training. I should have known better...
Last Sunday was one such instance, where I had intentionally kept all of the hymns as familiar (at least in my understanding) as possible. I had picked the children's hymn to be "O Master let me walk with thee" --one which was considered to be one of the chestnuts of children's hymns when I was growing up. Yet I could tell from the congregation's response in singing it that whether or not it was well known, this was certainly not one that worked well as a children's hymn... Okay, maybe crash, burn, and exploding fuel tanks would be a far better metaphor... so back to the drawing board. At least the rest of the hymns got a favourable response.
With the hymn sing coming up, I've been examining the issue of church music with a bit more focus. Earlier tonight, I was looking through the 1997 Book of Praise's suggested list of Children's Hymns. If you have a hymn book nearby, it's on page 1056, way at the back. In taking a careful look, only about 1/4 to 1/5th of the hymns in that list are actually ones this congregation would be familiar with. Many of them are much newer hymns and songs that always seem to be a bit of a struggle whenever we try to introduce them. I've had some successes, but not always.
At the Nurture Committee last night, a few people said something that I found rather revealing. In terms of what we consider to be "good" children's hymns, they're usually the ones that we sang when we were children. The challenge being, is that the definition of we changes depending upon the generation. Whenever it comes time for the children's hymn, if anything, I think many in the congregation want to be transported back, to have a reminder of their own childhood, perhaps to grasp onto that treasured innocence of youth. We resonate most strongly with those experiences that are familiar, and certainly singing the old favorites does grant a great deal of comfort.
I look at the pool of children's hymns in the "new" hymnbook which is now coming up on its tenth anniversary of publication. So many of them are great, and have a powerful depth to them that can really communicate the gospel, and yet so many of them remain as unknowns. I am left to wonder how to walk this fine line of balance of renewing our faith, and yet being able to speak words of comfort and hope to all generations. It's not a hopeless cause, to be sure, but it has its challenges. The fact that the people of Clarkson Road have selected more than 38 different hymns for the upcoming hymn sing shows there's a diversity in this congregation that I don't think everyone is aware of.
Anyway, I could probably write a lot more than this, but I know I will be constantly coming back to this issue. I'd appreciate any comments that any of you who are reading this have to offer... just click the "comments" link just under this entry...
posted by John Crowdis at 11:28 p.m.
1 Comments:
John - I think your analysis (and that of your committee) is right on. I've had this discussion with elders at my congregation too - about what a children's hymn is, and what we should be singing as the "children's hymn". Sometimes it's just the definition of "hymn" that is the stumbling block.
In my case, I think the fact that I was raised in a different denomination (not PCC) is another stumbling block in some eyes.
I'd be interested in hearing more about the hymn sing evening and the 38 favourites...
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