As a fairly new UCC pastor (ordained April 2012) I have often struggled with New vs. Old music. My primarily older congregations (I pastor a rural charge) prefer some stability, but the hymnals are not always helpful (especially the congregation using the 1941 E&R Hymnal.) Plus there are themes specific to my congregation or to the message I am giving that sometimes don't have a good option for hymns.
Add to that the seminary prof, who I will forever be grateful to, who encouraged us to respond to biblical studies with creative endeavor.
So I write hymns. But just the words. Unfortunately, I am not a music writer, and I need the music to write the words, to get them to come. So I write new hymns to old melodies. So my congregation can engage in new theology with some feeling of comfort (yeah, I love new music as well, but use that in moderation.)
Join me on the journey. I'll periodically post hymns I've written, generally both lyrics, and pdfs of the lyrics in their musical setting. I may also post pieces of liturgy I've written, or ideas for multi level worship.
I'm publishing online under a creative commons 4.0 Attribution/Non Commercial license. More on that later today.
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