Unbound at Hymn Society
Unbound staff and text authors who attended the Hymn Society Annual Conference recount the experience and share the music that moved them.
“We believe that the holy act of singing together shapes faith, heals brokenness, transforms lives, and renews peace.”
The holy act of singing....I always come away from Hymn Society with these holy moments of song that fill me with such gratitude for the shared work that we do to enable the faithful to praise God through music. This year’s workshops and festivals were no different. Mark Miller sharing vulnerable stories of friendship and loss in song. Sally Ann Morris joyfully leading us through the gift of her new collection, Ways Will Open. Chris Shelton shifting our perspectives on Christmas texts and tunes. You could see the passion each of these individuals, and so many others, have for the holy act of sung prayer. It is their purpose and their mission and their witness allows us to enter in holy moments of song that we take with us to help us inspire others to join us in our song.
-Victoria Zibell Sacred Music Managing Editor, GIA Publications, Inc.
Those Hearts that We Have Treasured
music: Sally Ann Morris text: Sylvia G. Dunstan
I was glad to hear both familiar and new songs for contemplative worship compiled by Marty Haugen in the collection Open Our Hearts. This meets an important need in our spiritual lives in a time of great turmoil. One song that is new to me is Tony Alonso and Michael Mahler’s “Come to Us, Remain with Us,” which I hope to use during Advent prayer this coming year.
-Hannah C. Brown Pastor and hymn writer
At this point I have attended over 20 Hymn Society Conferences, and every one of them has been special. “Christmas in July” (presented by Chris Shelton) was both a template for creating a Service of Lessons and Carols and an opportunity to sing Advent songs that were completely new to me. I was especially struck by Carol Meier’s text, “O Mary of Nazareth (God of the Least)”. I loved these lyrics: “O Mary of Nazareth, who could have known / the fingers that formed you would curl round your own.” That gives me goosebumps!
-Jacque B. Jones, Fellow of the Hymn Society Hymn writer
Every year at the Hymn Society I experience an ecumenical feast of song. Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Mennonites, and folks from many other traditions come together to sing. We encounter styles and sounds from a variety of times, places, and perspectives; not glossing over our differences, but celebrating what unites us. Marcell Stuernagel’s festival included his tune for John Thornburg’s We Are One in Christ, a powerful reminder of that unity.
-Adam M. L. Tice, Fellow of the Hymn Society Editor for Congregational Song, GIA Publications, Inc.
We Are One in Christ
music: Marcell Steuernagel text: John Thornburg