Black History Month: Lead Me, O Lord, Lead Me!

Many of my congregation's favorite hymns are appropriate for Lent. This one is no exception.

Check out this recording of "Lead Me, Guide Me" by Doris Akers. Doris wrote the text and tune, and sings all three parts on the recording.

The early part of Lent is more about our struggle and spiritual warfare with the evils of this world, as it kicks off with the Temptation of Our Lord. We ask God in this hymn to lead us through our times of trial just as we pray in the Our Father, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." A modern rendering of this text is "Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil."

Lead me, guide me along life's way,
For if you lead me I cannot stray.
Lord, let me walk each day with Thee;
Lead me, O Lord, lead me.

Here's a few members of the world-renowned Kentucky State University Concert Choir hanging out in their hotel room while on tour. They decided to record this video of Lead Me, Guide Me in their downtime. The kids can sing!

You can find the complete text in Lutheran Service Book, #721.

This song can be used to supplement other hymns, say, during the offering as a solo or choral piece, or perhaps as a closing hymn, as we ask God to lead us throughout the week.

Richard Proulx post updated

It came to my attention that one of the pieces in the Richard Proulx post wasn't actually his!  I was youtubed, if you know what I mean ;)

Anyways, click here for the updated post.

I didn't want to edit out Canticle of the Turning, so I worked around it. 

Youtube is a dangerous thing.  More dangerous than Wikipedia!  I followed the "Related Videos" right to a piece that wasn't even his.  Then I listened to 5-10 of them to pick out just the right one.  Live and learn...

Historic Moments: Do You Believe in Miracles?

It was 30 years ago today that the US Olympic hockey team defeated Russia in the semifinals and went on to bring home the gold against Finland in the finals.

Those of you who watched US vs. Canada last night probably noticed that these were primarily professional players from the NHL.  The US Olympic Committee did not allow professional players in 1980, so it was our amateur team that went up against the Russian pros.

Here is the highlight reel, including Sportscaster Al Michaels' famous line, "Do You Believe in Miracles?"

US Coach Herb Brooks was noted as saying, "This is your moment" during his pregame pep talk. Here is the dramatization from the movie Miracle.

On a personal note, I was in 4th grade at the time. Layoffs were prevalent at the local automotive plants and the economy was in the tank. GM was losing marketshare and some of my friends' dads were out of work for a seemingly endless timeframe. Enter the 1980 US Hockey Team. The defeat of against the Russians signaled a new hope for America. The US team inspired a nation with an economic recession and a self-esteem in depression.

And speaking of inspiration, here is a 4 year old with a retelling of the movie version of Herb Brooks' pregame speech.

Can you hear the crowds?

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

UPDATE: Composer Richard Proulx, 1934-2010

Kind of eerie, if you ask me, that on the same day a prominant Lutheran composer dies, so does a prominent Catholic composer.

Less is written about Richard Proulx, such as his actual birth date or information about a memorial service.

I count him among Catholic composers since he served Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago from 1980 to 1994 and founded the Cathedral Singers in 1991.  He also served St. Thomas (Episcopal) in Medina, WA, as well as Temple Hirsch Sinai in Seattle.

He has served as a consultant for such hymnals as The Hymnal 1982, New Yale Hymnal, the Methodist Hymnal, Worship II & III, and has contributions in the Mennonite Hymnal and the Presbyterian Hymnal.

I have less personal knowledge of this composer, so check out this tribute video for more info.

UPDATE: I thought my favorite Proulx composition is "Canticle of the Turning." He had nothing to do with it!  Credit goes to Chris of LutheranKantor.com for the correction.  Here are the corrected details on the work.

Text and tune are by Rory Cooney.  This is a versification of the Magnificat. Honestly, here, I am not sure the prose text of the Magnificat is captured as well here as the Calvinist tradition of setting Scripture to meter might have done.  None the less, I think my Irish Protestant Grandmother from the Holiness tradition would probably have liked this one!

If I were to use this in the Divine Service (or at Evening Prayer in place of the Magnificat) I would probably place it during the Advent season. The anticipation of Advent is captured with the repeated line, "...the world is about to turn."

Meanwhile, getting back to Richard Proulx, here is the Sanctus, the "Great Mystery of our Faith," "Amen," and Agnus Dei from his Mass for the City. Youtube, don't fail me now!!!

Composer Richard Hillert, March 14, 1923-February 18, 2010

Facebook Friend Dale Witte notes on his blog the loss of many great church musicians over the last year or two. Richard Hillert is no exception.

If you are familiar with Lutheran Book of Worship (the "green" hymnal), you will recognize him as the composer for "Holy Communion, Setting One."

If you are familiar with Lutheran Worship (the "blue" hymnal), you will recognize him as the composer for "Divine Service Two, Setting One."

If these hymnals are long past in your mind and you have transitioned to Lutheran Service Book (we call this one LSB instead of referring to its color), you will recognize him as the composer for "Divine Service, Setting One."

Still a little confused? Richard Hillert is probably best known for "Festive Canticle: Worthy Is Christ," commonly known as "This Is the Feast."

If you are in the Chicago area, a funeral service for Richard Hillert will be held this evening, February 22, 2010, at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, Illinois.

You can learn more about Dr. Hillert at this Wiki entry, which was posted by his daughter.

 Here is Dr. Hillert's setting of a hymn by Martin Luther.

A Multitude of Mighty Fortresses: Lent 1

The First Sunday in Lent focuses on the Temptation of our Lord. After a 40 day fast in the wilderness, Satan wants his way with the Messiah, and tempts him three times. Since Jesus is God and born without sin, he is able to withstand this temptation.

The Hymn of the Day for Lent I is "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." For years I asked myself, "Why?" Last year, my parish was in vacancy. I suggested to our vacancy pastor that we sing the appointed Hymn of the Day. He felt it was an unusual choice as well.

Here's the deal... Instead of viewing this hymn as the "Battle Hymn of the Reformation" it is good to think of this hymn as the "Battle Hymn against Satan." No matter how hard he and his legion of demons try, they cannot overpower the Christ and His Church!

Here is a wonderful arrangement, sung in German. The congregation sings an isorythmic version on stanzas 1 and 4, while the choir gets a rhythmic version on stanzas 2 and 3. Unlike the English versions, these German settings are in the same meter.

Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott



For more on this series on A Mighty Fortress, click the "Fortress" label.

Black History Month: Were You There?

In any congregation, there can be some "have-tos," such as...

• Singing "Silent Night" in candlelight on Christmas Eve
• Easter brunch after the Sunrise Service
• A Christmas program lead by the children

In my congregation, one of those "have-tos" is singing "Were You There" on Good Friday.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh - - -
sometimes it causes me to
tremble...
tremble...
tremble...
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Oh - - -
sometimes it causes me to
tremble...
tremble...
tremble...
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh - - -
sometimes it causes me to
tremble...
tremble...
tremble...
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?

Were you there when He rose rose up from the tomb?
Were you there when He rose rose up from the tomb?
Oh - - -
sometimes it causes me to
tremble...
tremble...
tremble...
Were you there when He rose rose up from the tomb?

The final stanza has been rendered in different ways, including this in Lutheran Service Book (hymn 456).

Were you there when God raised Him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised Him from the tomb?
Oh - - -
sometimes it causes me to
tremble...
tremble...
tremble...
Were you there when God raised Him from the tomb?

Another rendering is...

Did you know He is risen from the dead?
Oh - - -
Sometimes I feel like shoutin'
Glory!
Glory!
Glory!
Did you know He is risen from the dead?

One use of this spiritual might be to intersperse verses into the Passion reading on Good Friday, in a similar way that the Passion chorales are used.

Some verses might include traditional verses mixed with newly written stanza (and these definitely need tweaking, but you get the idea):

Before the reading of the Passion
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

After John 18:11
Were you there in Gethsemane that night?

After John 18:24
Were you there when the high priest questioned Him?

After John 19:2
Were you there when they crowned Him with the thorns?

After John 19:15
Did you shout, "Crucify Him!" with the throng?

After John 19:27
Were you there when John took His mother home?

After John 19:37
Were you there when they pierced Him in His side?

After John 19:42
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?