Eastertide 2012

This past Sunday at St. Bartholomew’s, after 40 days of Lent, and then the contrast of joy and passion during Holy Week, we welcomed Resurrection Sunday (Easter) with joy and gladness, lift our voices in songs of “Alleluia!”

We began the services with  a new acclamation, based on the traditional Easter proclamation:

LEADER: Alleluia! Christ is risen!

PEOPLE: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

I wrote this setting  to be easy for both celebrant and congregation to sing, with a desire that in its simplicity it not be trite or quickly boring. For “learning-as-we-go,”  it seemed to go pretty well on Sunday. I’ll use it each week of Easter up until Pentecost. For a PDF of the score, which you are free to reproduce and use if you desire, click [HERE].

We began the Processional with a choral introit I had written last year for the choir, based on Antiphon 2 the Antiphons for Easter, segueing to “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”

Lent 2012

Today marks the first Sunday in Lent, our 4o day, 6 week journey to the Cross and then to Resurrection. During the season of Lent, we bein the Sunday service with the acclamation:

LEADER: Bless the Lord who forgives all our sin. 

PEOPLE: His mercy endures forever. Amen.

For our church (St. Bartholomew’s Nashville) I wrote a new setting (available here at no cost) that we introduced this morning. We’ll use it

Guest blog by Allison Lynn

Keith Getty Inspiration!

I just watched a great interview with Keith Getty (of “In Christ Alone*” fame). He and Nashville worship leader, Eric Wyse, were interviewed by the director of Lifeway Worship about songwriting, music planning, and art in worship.

The whole thing is quite brilliant, but here are a few of my favourite moments:

- Keith talked about a creative approach to Sunday worship, and the importance of making each Sunday the best is can be. Best quote of the interview: Imagine each “Sunday’s your next Carnegie Hall.”

- Keith wasn’t afraid to speak about the beauty and mystery of Art. Both Keith and Eric talked about the wonderful, varied, and sometimes messy processes that occur in the writing of a song.

- Keith reminded us that the definition of “hymn” vs “song” is relative. I know this from my own experience of living in two countries. Many pieces that we’d consider Gospel songs here in Toronto are standard hymns in the South.

- Eric talked about the importance of encouraging the creativity and unique musical voice of each congregation.

- The interviewer brought up the point that many hymn-writers of the past were also pastors, but this doesn’t seem to be the trend anymore. I’ve never given this any thought, but I am reading a book about John Newton who, of course, was both. Thoughts were discussed, but it would be interesting to discuss this with a group of pastors. Maybe lyric writing seems too daunting? Too difficult? Maybe it’s seen as a distraction from preaching? I don’t know, but it’s an interesting question.

To see the whole video, please visit here.

*Included in The Christian LIfe Hymnal

"THE RISEN CHRIST" HYMN #189

One of the modern hymns included in The Christian Life Hymnal is “The Risen Christ”, written by Phil Madeira & Keith Getty. While it is appropriate any time of the year, in this season of Easter it is especially fitting. Not only is the melody singable, memorable, and interesting, but the lyric is Trinitarian in form, with the final verse a Trinitarian Doxology.

Verse 1 invokes the Holy Spirit (“O breath of God…”)

Verse 2 the Son (“O Word of God…”)

Verse 3 the Father (O Love of God…”)

And then the final verse sums it all up doxologically (“May God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit…”).

During Easter season last year at my church, I used the final verse in place of the traditional “Praise God from Whom…” for the Doxology when the offering is brought to the front of the church and it fit very well in the Easter season. (Note: in the topical index of the hymnal you’ll find on page 676 a listing of all last verse doxologies that would work at this point in a service.)

If this is a new hymn to your congregation, here’s one way to introduce it:

• Verse 1 can be sung by a soloist accompanied by piano as a call to worship to start the service.

• Verse 2 can be sung by a choir before the sermon to prepare to hear the Word of God

• Verse 3 can be sung by all, led by a soloist or choir during communion as a reflection on God’s love, and the spiritual nourishment and refreshing found in communion

• Verse 4 sung by all, accompanied by organ and piano, or band, or all instruments as a benediction/final blessing.

I’d love to hear from you if you’re using this hymn in your services, and how it is being introduced.

If you’d like to hear a vocal sample recording of the hymn, it can be found at Getty Music

A full-length recording is available on New Irish Hymns 2

A full-length Easter musical, built around this hymn, was created by ClearCall Music (distributed by LifeWay Music). It was nominated for a GMA Dove Award this year. Click here for more information: THE RISEN CHRIST