Capping off Black History Month with Peaceful Authority

Here's Peaceful Authority an a capella quartet comprised of police officers from Flint, MI.

America the Beautiful



~~~~~

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot



~~~~~

Gimme that Ol' Time Religion



~~~~~

The Star-Spangled Banner
please rise

Black History Month: Take My Hand, Precious Lord; Lead Me Home

Chicagoan Thomas A. Dorsey is often considered the father of modern gospel music.

To be sure, there are two Tommy Dorseys living and working around the same time. One left his mark on the church, and the other left is mark on the music industry as a Big Band conductor. The latter could be seen filling in for Doc Severinsen as leader of the Tonight Show band. The former made it big in his own way, both in the secular realm early in his life and in the sacred realm later in his life.

As a parish musician, I can relate to Thomas A Dorsey's reflection, "I've been thrown out of some of the finest churches around!" For Dorsey, it was his progressive music that got him in trouble. For me, it was mostly budget cuts. At least that's what they all told me...

Where the black church had been using the spirituals up through this time, Dorsey introduced a new style of music. The spirituals had their roots in the rural south, while Dorsey's songs had their roots in the urban north.

Dorsey was music director at Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago from 1932 to 1983, so apparently at least one church decided to keep him around!

Pilgrim Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois

Pilgrim Baptist Church, Easter Sunday, 1940

I don't know if Thomas A. Dorsey ever went on the Tonight Show like his contemporary Tommy Dorsey did, but you might have found his song, "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," sung by long-time collaborator Mahalia Jackson. This recording artist helped Dorsey's music burst onto the scene. She appeared on many variety shows including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

And if you aren't familiar with Mahalia's rendition, you might be familiar with the one by Elvis Presley.

Getting back to Mahalia, she has a definite style for solo voice. This doesn't always translate into congregational song (anymore than an aria from Handel's Messiah would). Trust me on this, though, Mahalia's style has been used successfully in corporate worship! You need the right congregation, though. Here is a better pace for congregational singing.

Like "Lead Me, Guide Me," Precious Lord is an good choice to supplement your hymnody in the early Lenten season.

For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize
with our weaknesses,
but one who in every respect
has been tempted as we are,
yet without sin.
Let us then with confidence draw near
to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help
in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:15, 16

You can find the complete text for Precious Lord, Take My Hand in Lutheran Service Book, #739.

Richard Hillert: Update on Visitation and Funeral

Last Monday I reported the funeral for Richard Hillert was that evening.

It seems I was confused about that (and a lot of other things that day).

Anyways, here are the details from lcms.org:

The funeral service was set for 7 p.m. March 1 at Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, an independent Lutheran congregation. Visitation will be at the church 6-9 p.m. on Feb. 28 and 4-7 p.m. on March 1.

What Sweeter Musick
setting by Richard Hillert

Just for Fun: The Butterfly Song!

If I were a butterfly,
I'd thank you, Lord, that I could fly;
And if I were a robin in a tree,
I'd thank you, Lord, that I could sing,
And if I were a fish in the sea,
I'd wiggle my tail and I'd giggle with glee,
But I just thank You, Father, for making me me.

UH-HUH!

OH!

You gave me a heart and you gave me a smile,
You gave me Lord Jesus and You made me Your child,
But I just thank you, Father, for makin' me me.

UH- HUH!



OH!

If I were an elephant,
I'd thank You, Lord, for raising my trunk,
And if I were a kangaroo,
you know I'd hop right up to you,
and if I were an octopus,
I'd thank You, Lord, for my fine looks,
But I just thank You, Father, for makin' me me.

UH-HUH!

OH!

You gave me a heart and you gave me a smile,
You gave me Lord Jesus and You made me Your child,
But I just thank you, Father, for makin' me me.

UH- HUH!



OH!

If I were a squiggly worm,
I'd thank You, Lord, that I could squirm,
And if I were a fuzzy-wuzzy bear,
I'd thank You, Lord,
for my fuzzy-wuzzy hair,
And if I were a crocodile,
I'd thank You, Lord, for my big smile,
But I just thank You, Father, for makin' me me.

UH-HUH!

OH!

You gave me a heart and you gave me a smile,
You gave me Lord Jesus and You made me Your child,
But I just thank you, Father, for makin' me me.

UH- HUH!



OH!

But I just thank you, Father, for makin' me me.

UH- HUH!

OH!

Black History Month: Michigan's First Black Lutheran Congregation

Here's an article on Michigan's first Black Lutheran congregation over at the Detroit News.

Back then, segregation in the church and the nation was the norm.  "Separate but equal" was the mantra.  Of course, nothing was equal, but everything was separate.

Looking ahead, here's the South African Girls singing at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, CA.  This would NOT have happened when St. Phillip, Detroit, was founded in 1930.

Note to African-American Lutherans everywhere, I need some youtube footage!

Special thanks goes out to Facebook friend Robert for reposting the article.

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...