Consecration Sunday: An Adventure of the Spirit

While congregations often want to cling to the safety of still waters, the vision of vital and life-transforming worship and music calls them to an adventure of the spirit. As every traveler knows, even small steps can lead to adventurous journeys. Singing an eclectic repertoire enables us to look beyond our own little world and to experience the expansiveness of God's realm. Expanding our repertoire beyond just a single genre or two and a handful of "golden oldies" enlarges beyond measure our view of God, the world, and humanity.

We encourage worship leaders to be bold in this proclamation of faith. It is not about aesthetics—about what we like or dislike. It is about singing our faith in our local community while opening ourselves to new possibilities for singing and worship.

--from "Singing an Eclectic Repertoire" by Bruce G. Epperly and Daryl Hollinger [click here to read the entire article]

If you remember my comments on "contemporary music" last month, you'll find Epperly and Hollinger's thinking familiar. I am planning some small steps in this direction for "Consecration Sunday." 

• We open with a  traditional Hebrew melody (#488) The hymn "The God of Abraham Praise" shares the tune of the music used in the wedding scene in Fiddler on the Roof. If we simplify the harmony and speed up the tempo, the dancelike nature of the song will manifest itself.
• We'll sing a mid-nineteenth-century American children's hymn (#304: "Jesus Loves Me") as we celebrate the baptism of 4-month-old Madeline Grace Becker.
• After the sermon, I've chosen #200 "To Bless the Earth" sung to a German chorale melody "Christus Der Ist Mein Leben." 
• As we dedicate our pledge cards, we'll hear a pop recording of a Latin-American hymn "¿Con Que Pagaremos?" (#557 in our hymnal) sung by Fernando Ortega  The words are more moving in Spanish than English! The simple stewardship message is that all God desires is the gift of our hearts.
  
• Our closing hymn is an African-American spiritual (#369) "I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me."
• And, as always, we close with our modification of Natalie Sleeth's 1974 "Blessing"

I'll be grateful for your comments and suggestions as we take these small steps toward more adventurous musical journeys. 

--Jack Lohr, Interim Pastor