What Makes a Hymn a Hymn?

What Makes a Hymn a Hymn?

The structural elements

of a hymn

What is a hymn?

A hymn is a combination of

doctrine (dogma)

and

praise (doxa)

for worshipers to sing in a corporate setting.

Dogma/Doxa

“Theology is Doxology.

Theology must sing.” Martin Franzmann (1907-1976)

Hymns are theological “pearls”“If our theology is to be doxology, then it must be our best.

Franzmann wanted no part of the everyday, sentimental poetry, which, unfortunately is so common in our churches today. In their mad rush to be “relevant,” to reach the person in the pew ‘at his or her musical or poetical level,’ to ‘give them what they want to hear,’ our churches often cast out the pearls of the church’s song for the gaudy trinkets of our modern age. This is a style which is like a river that runs a mile wide but is only a few inches deep.”—R. Brinkley

Thy Strong Word The Enduring Legacy of Martin Franzmann by Richard Brinkley

A good hymn passes two tests

“A good hymn is one that passes two tests: 1. As a piece of craftsmanship in literature it must be without blemish.

It must not offend against the rules of grammar or syntax. 2. It is necessary that when written the hymn shall do, precisely and in full,

the thing it was designed to do. A hymn is designed to be a congregational act of praise. If therefore it is not the kind of thing a congregation can sing, being more suitable for personal devotion, it fails: and if it is not praise, that is, addressed to God and dealing with the things of God, it fails. Furthermore, if it distracts the congregation from the act of worship by obscurity, by irrelevance, or by seductive language or music, it fails, and if it offends a particular congregation by making it say what, on that day and at that time, it could not possibly be wanting to say or required to say, it fails.”

Hymns and Human Life by Erik Routley (1917-1982)

Text…always primary in a hymn

“The text is always primary in a Christian hymn. It is the hymn’s soul and body. The soul of a hymn is the text’s scripturally generated and controlled matter, substance, and meaning. Its body, the instrument or vehicle for the expression of its spirit and meaning, is language. For language gives external form and utterance both to the mental and emotional aspects of the text’s meaning and spirit.” (Jaroslav Vajda)

Lutheran Worship, History and Practice edited by Fred Precht

To Jordan Came the Christ, our Lord

To Jordan came the Christ, our Lord,

To do His Father’s pleasure;

Baptized for us the Father’s Word

Was given us to treasure.

This heavenly washing now shall be

A cleansing from transgression

And by His blood and agony

Release from death’s oppression.

A new life now awaits us.

Martin Luther, trans. Elizabeth Quitmeyer (LSB 406:1)

See This Wonder in the Making

See this wonder in the making:

God Himself this child is taking

As a lamb safe in His keeping,

His to be, awake or sleeping.

Far more tender than a mother,

Far more caring than a father,

God into Your arms we place him/her/them,

With Your love and peace embrace him/her/them.

Jaroslav Vajda (LSB 593:1,3)

God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It

God’s own child, I gladly say it:

I am baptized into Christ!

He, because I could not pay it,

Gave my full redemption price.

Do I need earth’s treasures many?

I have one worth more than any

That brought me salvation free

Lasting as eternity!

Erdmann Neumeister, trans. Robert Voelker (LSB 594:1)

This Is the Spirit’s Entry Now

This is the Spirit’s entry now:

The water and the Word,

The cross of Jesus on your brow,

The seal both felt and heard.

Let water be the sacred sign

That we must die each day

To rise again by His design

As follow’rs of His way.

Thomas E. Hebranson, (LSB 591:1,3)

O Blessed Spring

O blessed spring, where Word and sign

Embrace us into Christ the Vine:

Here Christ enjoins each one to be

A branch on this life-giving Tree.

Christ, holy Vine, Christ living Tree,

Be praised for this blest mystery:

That Word and water thus revive

And join us to Your Tree of Life.

Susan Palo Cherwien (LSB 595:1,5)

Christ Be My Leader

Christ be my Savior in calm as in strife;Death cannot hold me, for He is the life. Nor darkness nor doubting nor sin and its stain Can touch my salvation: with Jesus I reign.

Timothy Dudley-Smith (LSB 861:3)

Lord of All Hopefulness

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe: Be there at our labors and give us, we pray, Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Jan Struther (LSB 738:2)

Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense

Jesus, my Redeemer lives; Likewise I to life shall waken.He will bring me where He is; Shall my courage then be shaken? Shall I fear or could the Head Rise and leave His members dead? No, I am too closely bound By my hope to Christ forever; Faith’s strong hand the Rock has found, Grasped it, and will leave it never; Even death now cannot part From its Lord the trusting heart.

Berlin, 1653 tr. Catherine Winkworth (LSB 741:2,3)

Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart

Lord, let at last Thine angels come,To Abram’s bosom bear me home, That I may die unfearing; And in its narrow chamber keep My body safe in peaceful sleep Until Thy reappearing. And then from death awaken me, That these mine eyes with joy may see, O Son of God, Thy glorious face, My Savior and my fount of grace. Lord Jesus Christ, My prayer attend, my prayer attend, And I will praise Thee without end.

Martin Schalling tr. Catherine Winkworth (LSB 708:3)

Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me

Jesus, Thy boundless love to me, No thought can reach, no tongue declare;Unite my thankful heart to Thee, And reign without a rival there! Thine wholly, Thine alone, I am; Be Thou alone my constant flame.

Paul Gerhardt, 1607-76; tr. John Wesley 1703-91 (LSB 683:1)

Union of Text and Tune

Music is the servant of the text.

Music either supports the text

or it

detracts from the text.

A Theology of Music

1. Music is a divine gift.2. Music is a gift in which all the angels and

heavenly hosts join mortals without ceasing.3. Music is ordained for use by the church.4. Music teaches the church. Lex orandi, lex credendi (The law of prayer is the law of belief) i.e., the practice of the Church teaches the Church.5. Music carries the confession of the faithful.

A Theology of Music

6. Music is to be a full-throated response

of praise and thanksgiving to God.

7. Music heals, soothes, and drives away the devil.

8. Music is powerful.

9. Music in the church requires understanding

and a proper spirit.

10. Music in the church is led by those who are skilled.

Richard Resch, Logia, Vol. 3, No. 2 pp. 33-34

Every tune has a NAME

ADESTE FIDELES; BRONXVILLE; CONVERSE; DIX; ELLERS; FARLEY CASTLE; GO TELL IT;

HAMBURG; ISTE CONFESSOR; JESU, MEINE FREUDE; KINGSFOLD;

LLANFAIR; MISSIONARY HYMN; NICEA;OLIVET; PICARDY; QUEM PASTORES;

REGENT SQUARE; SINE NOMINE; TALLIS’ CANON; UNION CITY; VATER UNSER;

WACHET AUF; YIGDAL and…ZPIVEJMEŽ VŠICKNI VESELE!

An Old Testament hymn…

Here is the introduction to this Old Testament hymn:

Psalm 45For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies”

Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.A wedding song.

The Sacred and the Profane

There are some tunes that are not churchly in character and best reserved for other uses.

Jesus, Our Lord and SaviorJesus, our Lord and Savior Came to us on Christmas DayAnd if you love the Savior, You will follow in His way. All of the rooms were taken There was no room in the inn. They wouldn’t let poor Mary, Find a place to rest within.On that starry Christmas Day, Jesus came to earth.Angels and the shepherds came To celebrate His birth. Oh how the children love Him; He takes each one upon His knee. Because all His precious children, Will live with Him eternally.

Laura Cordova tune: RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER

My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less

My hope is built on nothing lessThan Jesus’ blood and righteousness; No merit of my own I claim But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain: On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.

Edward Mote (LSB 575*:1 , 576**:1)We sing this text to the tune *MAGDALEN by John Stainer.and to the tune **SOLID ROCK by William Bradbury.But what about…MELITA by John Dykes?

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me!I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see!

John Newton (LSB 744:1)We sing this text to the tune NEW BRITAIN by J. Carrell and D. Clayton

Amazing GraceBut what about two stanzas joined together and sung to… THIRD MODE MELODY by Thomas Tallis?

Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come;His grace has brought me safe so far, His grace will lead me home.Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail And mortal life shall cease,Amazing grace shall then prevail In heaven’s joy and peace. John Newton (LSB 744:3,4)

How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord,Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He has said Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

John Rippon (LSB 728:1)

In LSB we sing this text to the tune FOUNDATION by J. Funk.

Was this an improvement over the tune FIRM FOUNDATION by Bernhard Schumacher, TLH 427?

The Tree of Life

The tree of life with ev’ry goodIn Eden’s holy orchard stood. And of its fruit so pure and sweet God let the man and woman eat. Yet in this garden also grew Another tree, of which they knew; Its lovely limbs with fruit adorned Against whose eating God had warned.

Stephen P. Starke (LSB 561:1)Inspired by and written to the tune WEXFORD CAROL. Sung to the tune TREE OF LIFE in LSB 561Other recent tunes: ST. PETER’S NORWALK, WILTON

God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It

God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ!He, because I could not pay it, Gave my full redemption price. Do I need earth’s treasures many? I have one worth more than any That brought me salvation free Lasting as eternity!

Erdmann Neumeister, trans. Robert Voelker (LSB 594:1) In ELH, sung to JESU MEINES LEBENS by W. Weissnitzer In LSB, sung to BACHOFEN by Johann Caspar Bachofen

Sing, My Tongue

Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle; Sing the ending of the fray. Now above the cross the trophy, Sound the loud triumphant lay; Tell how Christ, the world’s redeemer, As a victim won the day.Venantius Honorius Fortunatus,6th cent., tr. J. M. Neale (LSB 454:1)

Tune: FORTUNATUS NEW by Carl Schalk much better than: PICARDY (United Methodist Hymnal)much better than : PANGE LINGUA plainsong chant (Yale hymnal)

Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me

O grant that nothing in my soul May dwell, but Thy pure love alone;Oh, may Thy love possess me whole, My joy, my treasure, and my crown! All coldness from my heart remove; My ev’ry act, word, thought be love.

Paul Gerhardt, tr. John Wesley (LSB 683:2) Tune: RYBURN by Norman Cocker Tune from LW: VATER UNSER by Martin Luther

Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying“Wake, awake, for night is flying,”The watchmen on the heights are crying; “Awake, Jerusalem, arise!” Midnight hears the welcome voices And at the thrilling cry rejoices: “Oh, where are ye, ye virgins wise? The bridegroom comes, awake! Your lamps with gladness take! Alleluia! With bridal care

Yourselves prepare

To meet the Bridegroom, who is near.” Philipp Nicolai, trans. Catherine Winkworth, alt. (LSB 516:1)

Tune: WACHET AUF by Philipp Nicolai

A Mighty Fortress Is Our GodWith might of ours can naught be done,

Soon were our loss effected;But for us fights the valiant One,

Whom God Himself elected. Ask ye, Who is this?

Jesus Christ it is, Of Sabaoth Lord

And there’s none other God; He holds the field forever.

Martin Luther, tr. composite (LSB:656:2)

Tune: EIN FESTE BURG by Martin Luther

Rhyme and Stress

A hymn text rhymesrhymes. (It is dogmatic and doxological poetry

under very strict discipline.)

The textual, syllabic stresses

must matchmust match

the musical stresses within the tune.

3 Vows for a Writer of Hymns (Brian Wren)

Clarity: Though the hymn may have hidden depths of meaning, it should be

clear enough to catch the meaning

in a moment.

(As a person sings a text,

there is no time in that instantto ask for additional information!)


Simplicity: “verbal economy”

Choose your words very carefully.


Obedience to rhythm: Hymns are a form of poetry in which rhyme, meter, and stress are

all very important. Some syllables have a greater emphasis

over others. (The natural “drumbeat” of the words.)

Poetry is organized into “feet”Poetry “walks” or “marches”

A “foot” consists of two or more syllables with one accented and the others unaccented.

(In classical poetry the number of feet was important, i.e., iambic pentameter meant five groups of feet with

the pattern of “weak-strong”.)

Today we count the number of syllables in a line rather than feet, and we call that group of numbers which

make up a stanza the meter.

Some “Common” MetersCommon Meter (CM) 8 6 8 6

Long Meter (LM) 8 8 8 8Short Meter (SM) 6 6 8 6D indicates “Double” thus: CMD is 8 6 8 6 8 6 8 6LMD is 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

Other frequently used meters: 8 7 8 710 10 10 1011 11 11 5

The King of Love My Shepherd IsST COLUMBA 8 7 8 7 a b a b

The King of love my shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never;

I nothing lack if I am His

And He is mine forever.Henry W. Baker (LSB 709:1)

Salvation Unto Us Has ComeES IST DAS HEIL 8 7 8 7 8 8 7 a b a b c c d

What God did in His Law demand, And none to Him could renderCaused wrath and woe on ev’ry hand For man, the vile offender. Our flesh has not those pure desires The spirit of the Law requires, And lost is our condition.

Paul Speratus tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941 alt. (LSB 555:2)

No Temple Now, No Gift of PriceKIRKWOOD 8 8 6 8 8 6 a a b c c b

No temple now, no gift of price,No priestly round of sacrifice, Retain their ancient pow’rs. As shadows fade before the sun The day of sacrifice is done, The day of grace is ours.

Timothy Dudley-Smith (LSB 530:1)

Greet the Rising SunLE P’ING 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 a b c b d e f e

I hope today will be good Lord, I will today relying on Jesus every moment, On Your love rely; above me the blue sky, Let no evil thought, in my heart no evil thought, Cloud the clear blue sky. so joyful that thin clothes warm me, Joyful and content that coarse grains to eat do not vex me; With life’s simpler things, in all and every task, Knowing all I need may the Lord aid me. From Your kindness

springs.Chao Tzu - chen, English version: Stephen P. Starke (LSB 871:3)

At the Name of JesusKING’S WESTON 6 5 6 5 D a b c b d e f e

At the name of Jesus Ev’ry knee shall bow,

Ev’ry tongue confess Him King of glory now.

‘Tis the Father’s pleasure We should call Him Lord, Who from the beginning

Was the mighty Word. Caroline M. Noel (LSB 512:1)

God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say ItBACHOFEN 8 7 8 7 8 8 7 7 a b a b c c d d

God’s own child, I gladly say it:

I am baptized into Christ!

He, because I could not pay it,

Gave my full redemption price.

Do I need earth’s treasures many?

I have one worth more than any

That brought me salvation free

Lasting as eternity!

Erdmann Neumeister, trans. Robert Voelker (LSB 594:1)

Saints, See the Cloud of WitnessesWOJKIEWIECZ 11 11 11 5 a a b b

Saints, see the cloud of witnesses surround us;

Their lives of faith encourage and astound us.

Hear how the Master praised their faith so fervent:

“Well done, My servant!”

These saints of old received God’s commendation;

They lived as pilgrim-heirs of His salvation.

Through faith they conquered flame and sword and gallows,

God’s name to hallow.

Stephen P. Starke (LSB 667:1,2)

Lord of Our LifeISTE CONFESSOR 11 11 11 5 a a a b

Lord of our life and God of our salvation,

Star of our night and hope of ev’ry nation:

Hear and receive Your Church’s supplication,

Lord God Almighty.

Matthäus A. von Löwenstern, tr. Philip Pusey (LSB 659:1)

Come, Thou Fount of Every BlessingNETTLETON 8 7 8 7 D a b a b c d c d

Oh, to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be;Let that grace now like a fetter Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, oh, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.

Robert Robinson (LSB 686:3)

This Is the Threefold Truth ACCLAMATIONS 12 12 12 a a b

This is the three-fold truth on which our faith dependsAnd with this joyful cry worship begins and ends: Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ will come again!!

This is the three-fold truth which, if we hold it fast,Changes the world and us and brings us home at last: Christ has died! Christ has risen! Christ will come again!

Fred Pratt Green (HS 863:1,5)

Imagery and Freshness of Language

A hymn is a form of poetry.

Poetry uses image-drenched words to help people see something in a new and fresh way. In the case of a hymn, vivid imagery and fresh language can help the worshiper see a truth about God in a new way or consider the work of God from a different perspective.

Christ, Mighty SaviorINNISFREE FARM 11 11 11 5 a b c d

Now comes the day’s end as the sun is setting,

Mirror of daybreak, pledge of resurrection;

While in the heavens choirs of stars appearing

Hallow the nightfall.Mozarabic, tr. Alan McDougall and Anne Le Croy (LSB 881:2)

The Day Thou GavestST. CLEMENT 9 8 9 8 a b a b

We thank Thee that Thy Church, unsleeping

While earth rolls onward into light,

Through all the world her watch is keeping,

And never rests by day or night.John Ellerton, 1826-93 alt. (LSB 886:2)


As o’er each continent and island

The dawn leads on another day,

The voice of prayer is never silent,

Nor dies the strain of praise away.John Ellerton 1826-93 alt. (LSB 886:3)


The sun, that bids us rest, is waking

Thy children under western skies,

And hour by hour as day is breaking,

Fresh hymns of thankful praise arise.John Ellerton, 1826-93 alt. (LSB 886:4)

Weary of All TrumpetingDISTLER 7 6 7 6 D a b a b c d c d

Captain Christ, O lowly Lord

Servant King, Your dying

Bade us sheathe the foolish sword,

Bade us cease denying.

Trumpet with Your Spirit’s breath

Through each height and hollow;

Into Your self-giving death,

Call us all to follow. Martin Franzmann (HS 883:2)

O God of LightATKINSON 11 10 11 10 a b a b

From days of old, through blind and willful ages,

Though we rebelled, You gently sought again,

And spoke through saints, apostles, prophets, sages,

Who wrote with eager or reluctant pen. Sarah Taylor (LSB 836:2)

All the Earth With Joy Is SoundingMICHAEL 8 7 8 7 3 3 7 a b a b c c c

Christ, the devil’s might unwinding,

Leaves behind His borrowed tomb.

Stronger He, the strong man binding,

Takes, disarms his house of doom;

In the rout

Casting out

Pow’rs of darkness, sin, and doubt. Stephen P. Starke (LSB 462:2)

These Things Did Thomas Count as RealREALITER L M a a b b

These things did Thomas count as real:The warmth of blood, the chill of steel, The grain of wood, the heft of stone, The last frail twitch of flesh and bone.

His reasoned certainties deniedThat one could live when one had died, Until his fingers read like braille The markings of the spear and nail.

Thomas Troeger (LSB 472:1,3)

How Clear Is Our Vocation, LordREPTON 8 6 8 8 6 6 a b a a b b

But if, forgetful, we should find

Your yoke is hard to bear;

If worldly pressures fray the mind,

And love itself cannot unwind

Its tangled skein of care:

Our inward life repair. Fred Pratt Green (LSB 853:2)

A Stable Lamp Is LightedANDUJAR 7 6 7 6 6 6 7 6 a b c b b d e d

A stable lamp is lighted

Whose glow shall wake the sky;

The stars shall bend their voices,

And ev’ry stone shall cry.

And ev’ry stone shall cry,

And straw like gold shall shine;

A barn shall harbor heaven,

A stall become a shrine. Richard Wilbur (HS 810:1)

Preach You the WordO HEILAND, REISS DIE HIMMEL AUF

L M a b c b & a b a b Preach you the Word and plant it home To men who like or like it not, The Word that shall endure and stand When flow’rs and men shall be forgot.

We know how hard, O Lord, the task Your servant bade us undertake: To preach Your Word and never ask What prideful profit it may make.

Martin Franzmann (LSB 586:1, 2)


L M a b a b & a b c b The sower sows; his reckless love Scatters abroad the goodly seed,Intent alone that all may have The wholesome loaves that all men need.

Though some be snatched and some be scorched And some be choked and matted flat, The sower sows; his heart cries out, “Oh, what of that, and what of that?”



L M a b a b & a b c b Of all his scattered plenteousness One-fourth waves ripe on hill and flat, And bears a harvest hundredfold: “Ah, what of that, Lord, what of that!”

Preach you the Word and plant it home And never faint; the Harvest Lord Who gave the sower seed to sow Will watch and tend His planted Word.


Now the SilenceNOW Peculiar Meter

Now the silence

Now the peace

Now the empty hands uplifted

Now the kneeling

Now the plea

Now the Father’s arms in welcome


Now the hearing

Now the pow’r

Now the vessel brimmed for pouring

Now the Body

Now the Blood

Now the joyful celebration


Now the wedding

Now the songs

Now the heart forgiven leaping

Now the Spirit’s visitation

Now the Son’s epiphany

Now the Father’s blessing

Now Now Now

Jaroslav Vajda (LSB 910)

O Blessed SpringO WALY WALY L M a a b b

Through summer heat of youthful years,Uncertain faith, rebellious tears, Sustained by Christ’s infusing rain,

The boughs will shout for joy again.

When autumn cools and youth is cold, When limbs their heavy harvest hold,

Then through us, warm, the Christ will move With gifts of beauty, wisdom, love.

As winter comes, as winters must,We breathe our last, return to dust; Still held in Christ, our souls take wing And trust the promise of the spring.

Susan Palo Cherwien (LSB 595:2,3,4)

Your Kingdom, O God, Is My Glorious Treasure

GLORIOUS TREASURE 12 8 12 8 D a b a b c d c d

Your Kingdom, O God, is alive with the power Your Word and Your Spirit bestow.

Like yeast, they affect the whole measure of flour-- Enabling Your kingdom to grow.

Empower me, Lord, as I live Your commission, Though humble my service will be

And bring ev’ry planting to perfect fruition, A mustard seed grown to a tree.

David Rogner (LSB 654:2)

Thine the Amen, Thine the PraiseTHINE 7 7 7 7 8 7 14 a a b b c d d

Thine the kingdom Thine the prize

Thine the wonder full surprise

Thine the banquet then the praise

then the justice of Thy ways

Thine the gloryThine the story

Then the welcome to the least

Then the wonder all increasing

at Thy feast at Thy feast.

Herbert Brokering (LSB 680:4)

The Creative Circle by Brian Wren

BlueprintWorking out themes, ideas

(conscious, rational)

ForgeCreation of phrases, images

(often not under conscious control)

AnvilThe process of sifting and ordering

(rhymes found, lines abandoned)

Theological points to consider1. Gospel-centered (Christ-centered…where’s the Lamb?)2. A single hymn text cannot say everything about God.3. Be catholic and ecumenical, not sectarian or individualistic.4. Be faithful to Scripture in both content and imagery.5. God-centered and not man-centered. Express God’s worth, not

your own creative urges or ideas. Use “I” and “me” sparingly.6. Should “say something”. Avoid speaking for God (text written

as if God were speaking.)7. Balance traditional emphases in hymnody with present needs

and concerns and the contemporary ways of seeing things.

Principles for Words of Hymns by the Lutheran Church of Australia

Linguistic points to consider1. Language is clear and free from all ambiguity and obscurity, not too subtle or complicated, yet not simplistic or banal.2. Demonstrate a mastery of form: meter, rhyme, structure.3. Style neither artificial, overly-formal nor colloquial, slangy.4. Words should be appropriate--the right words in the right places.5. The sound of the words should be appropriate, should be singable; features such as alliteration and onomatopoeia should be carefully controlled.6. Strong imagery, not flowery or far-fetched.7. Freshness of expression, not mechanical repetition of things already said.8. Avoid complicated inversions. Active voice is preferred over passive voice. Specificity over abstraction; avoid theological jargon, archaisms, abbreviations.9. “You” not “Thee/Thou” when addressing God for people in the 21st century.10. Avoid all words which may offend or have acquired unfortunate connotations.

Principles for Words of Hymns by the Lutheran Church of Australia

Profile of a Hymn WriterKnowledge of theology, worship, hymnic needs and gaps in

the hymn corpus;

The gift of poetry and developed skill in hymn writing;

A knowledge of music;

Originality;

The application of Scripture teachings to faith and life.

Something to Sing About by Jaroslav Vajda

Profile of a CongregationLifelong Christians and recent converts; middle class white urban Americans and ethnic Americans; church families and visitors; conservatives and liberals; males and females; children and adults, youth and the elderly; employed and unemployed; healthy and the sick; normal families and broken homes; married and single, widowed and divorced;extroverts and introverts; scholars and the uneducated; politically active or inactive and socially active or inactive.

Something to Sing About by Jaroslav Vajda

Hymnographer

Sometimes I have to chisel at the rock

to find an adverb, never mind a line;

I toil at the unyielding granite block

and rise as one emerging from the mine.

Hymnographer

But sometimes I just brush away the sand

and find a shape already firm and trim;

the mind is far too rapid for the hand;

here stands this couplet, stanza, this whole hymn.

Hymnographer

More often yet, some mixture of the two,

when finding just the word and just the rhyme;

I know the verse which soon took wings and flew

and those which struggled through the upward climb.

Hymnographer

But when God’s people stand, the music sings,

then we can thrill to more important things.Anonymous

Documents

What Makes a Hymn a Hymn?