New Hymns

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Jobam said:
I love the Church in The Wildwood - its wording is limited by its time of writing, however, the tune is steadfast and memorable. I bet you won't find many that know the song who are under 30.
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Perhaps because of unnatural concerns of modernity?
 
Nutmeg said:
Hi, Bette,
The writer. John Newton, refers to himself as a wretch because he was in the horrid business of hauling kidnapped Africans into slavery in England and the Colonies. He repented of his sin, but spent much of his life in the slave trade before doing so and becoming an abolitionist. Hence, he was a "wretch", at the very least, because of his miserable trafficking in human beings.
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Thank you, nutmeg; yes, I knew the history of the writer as former slave trader. However, I still maintain that a constant focus on one's sins, one's past, is a sure-fired recipe for an unhealthy today.
 
The*O logos ... a spot in time where just about everything is beyond the concern of the necrosis of narcissism ... slowly eating away at its social functions leading to excretion ... self-elimination as pistis Sophia over the losses of wisdom with cultivation of free wiles!

I did mention JR Saul in another string on the matter of Equilibrium ... natural balance is out of wack ... or so the thought impacts my desires ... almost like a knock out or knock off ... copious volumes of stuff few read into ... as reading old stuff is a lost art!

Consider the folks that sneer at old philosophers and seers ... like Isaiah ... that has a really peculiar translation in Hebrew script ... they do respect learning and education with heart ... a core hurt? The there are those Nordic clusters ... the ones that were against militant spread ... ohmy Bas?

When you can't say much about lack of critical intelligence ... a myth will be conjured ... these will appear out of nothing ... that O icon sometimes seen as Zero Sum ... tis nothing to the powers of avarice ... and volition (as defined critically)!

But there is a great question that can ensue ... like what do we really know as continuing truth? Very little as it appears ethereal ... thin space in Celtic Legend ... then wasn't Legend a collective of 40 swine? Then some consider the pig good luck .. the poorer semi ET IHCs would sense not as ideas in the sans (once understood as institution out there for those out of it). Whos' out ... second base question ... beyond those that believe they are richly in control ... and without a thought ... they don;t have time with all the economical cares ...

Are there religious side dishes?
 
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BetteTheRed said:
Thank you, nutmeg; yes, I knew the history of the writer as former slave trader. However, I still maintain that a constant focus on one's sins, one's past, is a sure-fired recipe for an unhealthy today.
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Is good common sense enslaved to great desire ... contrary to pragmatic definition (what's good has to good for all ... that's god in minor sum). Really those in power will not take the subjects without objection ... tis not their responsibility considering the present spot ... that can change ... abruptly ...
 
Jobam said:
@revsdd - Thanks! You bring up an interesting conversation. If you have to know the theology and/or history of a hymn song then what is it's value to the regular people in the pew, and/or kids in church who don't know the history or for that matter care.
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Knowing the theology of a hymn doesn't require theological training. It is a matter of listening to the hymn, and then discerning what the hymn writer is saying. It means asking what makes me comfortable or uncomfortable with the hymn, and then asking why.

Finding the history of a hymn is simple. There are all sorts of books and websites that will fill one in on the background of a hymn of particular interest. Pastors should also take on some of that role. It's not uncommon for me to introduce a hymn with some reference to the hymn's background.

If people "don't ... care" then that's a problem. Are they in church to be entertained or discipled? If the latter, they care. If the former, let's just close up shop now because there are lots of things more entertaining than going to church.

Jobam said:
MVU uses a lot of poetic and flowery lyrics which kids can't relate to thus I wonder of their validity in a few years...
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I would agree with your critique of More Voices.

Jobam said:
In the US many contemporary music groups/artists have writers who write their songs. Are there no professional current song writers that the UCC can tap into? Our sister church, The United Church of Christ in the states has the same issue.
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Many of the best known ones would promote a theology that most in the United Church (of either Christ or Canada) would be uncomfortable with. And we mustn't be challenged by things that make us uncomfortable.
 
If an eternal light (Christ) would much of it be beyond us? Kinda out there ... allowing for some humor in church ... Levy's?

Tis like a bank along the river ...
 
In UU'ism, the joke that people read ahead in the hymn book to see which lines to skip has a grain of truth in it. It's really hard to "go deep" theologically in UU hymns/songs because no two UUs will necessarily read things the same way and the humanist UU over there might see the hymn in a totally different light than the Buddhist UU over there or the Buddhist's partner who is a Christian UU. It also makes getting that head:heart balance real difficult in some settings. Some people want more head, some want more heart, some want a good balance (me). Makes both liturgy and hymnody a challenge at times.
 
revsdd said:
Knowing the theology of a hymn doesn't require theological training. It is a matter of listening to the hymn, and then discerning what the hymn writer is saying. It means asking what makes me comfortable or uncomfortable with the hymn, and then asking why.

Finding the history of a hymn is simple. There are all sorts of books and websites that will fill one in on the background of a hymn of particular interest. Pastors should also take on some of that role. It's not uncommon for me to introduce a hymn with some reference to the hymn's background.

If people "don't ... care" then that's a problem. Are they in church to be entertained or discipled? If the latter, they care. If the former, let's just close up shop now because there are lots of things more entertaining than going to church.


I would agree with your critique of More Voices.


Many of the best known ones would promote a theology that most in the United Church (of either Christ or Canada) would be uncomfortable with. And we mustn't be challenged by things that make us uncomfortable.
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I didn’t know the history of Amazing Grace. Somehow, I always thought that it was the story of a prostitute being saved.
 
so I live between 2 women who have written songs for More Voices. Linnea Good sometimes reminds folks that she is the youngest composer in Voices United. and Keri Whelander (sp?) is not much older. and sometimes they collaborate on a song.
 
Tabitha said:
so I live between 2 women who have written songs for More Voices. Linnea Good sometimes reminds folks that she is the youngest composer in Voices United. and Keri Whelander (sp?) is not much older. and sometimes they collaborate on a song.
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Cool. I've corresponded with UU songwriter Jim Scott about trying to arrange for him to visit my fellowship. Fell through for various reasons. Link below goes to the track list for his album "Gather the Spirit" with some of his lyrics. The title track is in our main hymn book and I've used it in services many times.

Gather the Spirit -

Jim in action singing "Gather the spirit" with a band. We usually just had piano.

 
Mrs.Anteater said:
I am not kidding. I guess, I just had that image that “ a wretch like me” must be a prostitute.
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Newton was speaking of himself of course and reflecting on his wretched past as a slave trader and slave ship captain. Even after his conversion and his ordination and his realization of grace he was tormented by the thought of those he had delivered from Africa to slavery in America and that God would show him grace was truly amazing to him. He became quite active in the abolitionist movement in England.
 
Mrs.Anteater said:
I am not kidding. I guess, I just had that image that “ a wretch like me” must be a prostitute.
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In the book, "What's so Amazing About Grace" by Philip Yancey, there is a story about a prostitute in the first chapter I believe. Maybe that's the connection?... if you read it?
 
Mrs.Anteater said:
I am not kidding. I guess, I just had that image that “ a wretch like me” must be a prostitute.
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Could it be a mind screwed by authoritarian tyrants screaming ... don't think!

I always process in terms of soul-spirit complexity in the two side of the brain ... a mystery dwelling in the darkness between the ears and behind the eyeing over of the object able ... ...
 
Mendalla said:
And I was. I can't resist mildly smutty wordplay.:D
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Smut is fecund ... immaterial stuff that can enter that strange dimension ... the mind is considered a real bitch to those that don't like Hur speaking from the deep silence ... some of us find Ur a decent friend for excretion ... thus in the end ... that part leaves the house pistis can be ... as a host of folk don;t wish to learn a' dam 'd thing ... especially from the Shadow under that exotic tree ...
 
Nutmeg said:
Hi, Bette,
The writer. John Newton, refers to himself as a wretch because he was in the horrid business of hauling kidnapped Africans into slavery in England and the Colonies. He repented of his sin, but spent much of his life in the slave trade before doing so and becoming an abolitionist. Hence, he was a "wretch", at the very least, because of his miserable trafficking in human beings.
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Again your wide knowledge base is amazing
I wish I had gotten to peek in to you teaching Sunday school :3
 
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