Music for Worship September 16

FirstLight worship will begin with “No Higher Calling” by Greg Gulley and Lenny LeBlanc and the old standard, “Glorify thy name,” written by Donna Adkins in 1976. A music colleague once remarked if a “contemporary” song was written more than three years ago, it’s already “old” and belongs in a hymnal! Donna Adkins’ song has been around almost 30 years, and is in several hymnals, but is still a compelling song of praise for contemporary worship. “No higher calling” contains some wonderful poetic paradoxes: “down at your feet, O Lord, is the most high place.” It has a level of poetic finesse not always found in contemporary songs. Also in the opening set of songs is Matt Redman’s “Heart of Worship.” The Prophets will sing another Indelible Grace tune, “Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul,” at the offering. The closing song for FirstLight will be the perennial favorite, “Amazing Grace.” Most folks think they know the story behind this song, and probably do know some of the tale. One of the best books on the history of this hymn is by Steve Turner (Amazing Grace, 2002, ISBN 0060002182). Not only does he discuss the story of the origin of the song, but he also traces the hymn’s appearance in hymnals and its recording history. Turner’s is a fascinating documentation of the hymn’s place in American culture and pathos.

Congregational hymns at 11 AM will include “Alleluia, Sing to Jesus” (Hyfrydol), “My Faith Looks Up To Thee” (Olivet) and “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart” (Marion). Ray Palmer (1808-1887) wrote “My Faith Looks Up To Thee” in 1830 while a teacher at a women’s college and while preparing for ordination in the Congregational Church. Originally 6 stanzas, most hymnals now include the four we find in the Presbyterian Hymnal. Lowell Mason (1792-1872) dashed off the tune Olivet in a matter of days, a fact that alto singers might cite to explain the remarkably boring part they are given in standard arrangements! Ralph Vaughan Williams tried to improve some of the part development for the altos and tenors, but his arrangement has not taken hold widely, appearing only in the English Hymnal of 1906. Other songs for worship include the African worship song “Jesus We Are Here” and Hal Hopson’s “We Are Forgiven.”

The choir anthem this Sunday will be Natalie Sleeth’s classic “Joy in the Morning.” Natalie Allyn Wakely Sleeth (1930-1992) wrote this anthem to commemorate her husband’s inauguration as president of West Virginia Wesleyan College in October 1976. The anthem has a certain sound that for some is reminiscent of Appalachian folk tunes. The music and lyrics, though, are newly composed by Sleeth. Sleeth worked for a few years as music secretary of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, where she met Lloyd Pfautsch who recommended that Choristers Guild publish Sleeth’s first choral work in 1969. “Joy in the Morning” is published by Hope Publishing and is their number one selling anthem of all time. We will close of worship with Sleeth’s “Go Now In Peace.”