Which hymnal does your church use?

2008 Baptist Hymnal

 

I'm sure that we could find a copy of a hymnal somewhere in the office or bookshelf of one of our worship leaders, but none at all in the everyday activities of our church.

Of note, however, we do not dismiss the ancient and recent hymns. Our worship leaders often arrange or re-arrange them into a more modern presentation (musically) while retaining the words as written. We have gifted musicians in our church -- beyond the sort of people that can just play music -- we write, record, and produce our own music and have our own studio as a part of our main campus.

Here is our music arts website:
http://www.sojournmusic.com/

The picture is our worship set in a regular Sunday service -- and from appearances, quite recent.

One of our recent projects is the Issac Watts Project: "Over the Grave" inspired by Watts' hymns.

http://www.sojournmusic.com/albums/over-the-grave/

You can preview some of our songs on the site.

 

ProPresenter

 

Baptist Hymnal--the one before the 2008 edition, some time in the early 1990's. We use Power Point to project all our hymns but still keep the hymnals in the pew pockets. If the sermon is uninspiring (rarely), I like to peruse the hymnal. You can learn a lot by reading the footnotes in these books. You find out who wrote these songs and who put them to music. You learn the era in which they were written. You also learn many of the Biblical references to the words of the hymns. I hope we keep the hymnals.

 

Soul Stirring Songs & Hymns compiled by John R. Rice, D.D. and Joy Rice Martin, M.F.A,
Sword of the Lord Publishers

 

The Baptist Hymnal (1991). It was intentionally titled "The Baptist Hymnal" instead of "Baptist Hymnal," which was used previously, because the convention leaders knew a split was coming, as it had been brewing a long time. "The" in the title was a statement from the music people of unity.

T. York, one of my Baylor professors, was project coordinator of the 91 hymnal.

Yeah, don't get rid of hymnals. Printed word is far too important to let go. Plus, having books instead of projections gives a permanence to the songs and collection.

We're so pragmatic!

 

'91 Baptist hymnal.

 

Why are you so curious, Jerome?

 

Grace Hymns (Published by Evangelical Press)

 

Our church hasn't used a hymnal in years. Our worship leader does a great job of incorporating hymns into our praise time, but does so by modernizing the musical presentation of them and also by updating the verbage used, which I appreciate. I don't think the Lord hears us any better if we say You and Yours versus Thee and Thou.

I'm thankful for his leadership in this area also because I want my children to grow up knowing the hymns. So many churches today don't incorporate the hymns at all into their worship time, and I think that's sad for the next generation.

 

Well said! Hymns themselves are not the problem. It is this idea that ONLY something that we inherited is of value. We can just as well write new hymns today as were written in the early 1900s and before.

Some of the most blessed music we sing in our church are old hymns arranged in a modern musical style.

There is a place for singing "psalms" and "spiritual songs" as well according to the Scriptures.

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Even a place for modern instruments (which are very much like ancient instruments)!

Psalm 150:1-6 (ESV) Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

 

Doesn't anyone use Sankey's Sacred Songs and Solos anymore? 1200 hymns in one book!

Cheers,

Jim

 

My church currently uses The Baptist Hymnal (1991). But, we are getting ready to order the Celebrating Grace Hymnal, the new production from Mercer.

Tim Reynolds