Some of our hymns proclaim the basic tenets of what it means to be Lutheran. Which ones would you include on a short list? Do these hymns make more than occasional appearance in your congregation’s worship? Are the younger generations learning these hymns so they do not fade from our collective consciousness?
Thanks to the Rev. Rolf Jacobson, a professor at Luther Seminary, and his keynote address to the Synod Assembly of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin for this thought.
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Of course, you can sing!
Singing
Sing to the Lord a new song
Two excellent and underused musical resources for the Lutheran faith are the Jay Beech Band and Dakota Road. Both offer a wide range of songs that deal with format and copyright issues in a sensible and modern way. The classic “The Church Song” by Jay Beech frames who we are as the body of Christ in a fun upbeat musical style that brings smiles to the congregations face every time we sing it. Other favorites from Jay Beech are “The Healing Hand of Jesus” and “Let us go to the House of the Lord”. Dakota Road’s “Child of the water” is a wonderful baptismal hymn as is their new one, “Right by the Water”. If your congregation has not taken advantage of the gifts to the church you are missing two wonderful Lutheran resources with the depth of classical hymnody and the freshness of modern upbeat music that will add life to your congregational singing. Just google Dakota Road Music and The Jay Beech Band and give a listen.
Wesley manages to nail it more often than not. Luther's songs tend to be entirely theology as well. Easter and Christmas hymns generally seem to get it better, too.
Most definitely, "Christ Be Our Light"! Great Hymn. Great Lutheran Theology. Sang it this morning.