#1 || 10·06·26··10:32 || Mike the Mad Theologian

It is a shame many good and substantive hymns are marginalized over time to be replaced by current hymns that may not be as good. Thank for the attempt to revive some of them.

#2 || 10·06·26··11:09 || Kim in ON

I'm looking forward to seeing these. I have been thinking a lot about how hymns lately. I just started reading the book Why Johnny Can't Sing Hymns, and the author quotes from the preface to the Trinity Hymnal:

"It is well known that the character of its song, almost equal with the character of its preaching, controls the theology of a church."

#3 || 10·06·26··11:42 || David

I believe that by the time I was saved at age 19–20, my theology was almost entirely wrapped up in the hymns I had learned as a youth. Not that I had learned from them alone — I had certainly had some fine Sunday School teachers, especially in my elementary years — but it is the hymns that stuck with me.

We used to play a game here in which the kids would take the hymnal, read a hymn title, which I was then challenged to sing from memory. If it was a song they knew, then I definitely knew it. If not, I still more often than not knew at least one verse, and very often all four.

Now, name a Scripture reference and see if I can recite it, or read the day’s text and see if I can quote the preacher on it the same day he preached it. Be shocked if I can.

#4 || 10·06·26··13:27 || rebecca

The pastor at my dad's little country church is a former Lutheran. He often picks wonderful hymns for them to sing and then he's surprised to find out that he's the only one who knows them. Not that the church sings contemporary songs (they don't), but they seem to only know the gospel hymns. Last year when I was there he chose "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" and he and I were the only ones who sang as the hymnist stumbled through in the background. Good times.

#5 || 10·06·26··16:32 || David

Ah, old-time Lutherans ...

When I get my time machine, I’m going back about fifty years to a little country church in northern Minnesota. The hymns will be divine, accompanied by ladies named Gunderson and Stendahl (probably sisters who married farm-boy neighbors) on piano and organ. A somewhat dry but solid sermon will be preached by a pastor Bjorge. The bulletin will say “coffee* in the basement following the service.”
____________________
*Coffee: noun. A sacrament signifying warm fellowship around the elements of lefse, flabread, krumkake, cookies, cake, sandwiches, and hot a beverage made by percolation from the roasted and ground seeds of a coffee plant. Often confused with lunch, which includes all of the above plus roast meats, vegetables, casseroles, salads, and jello.

#6 || 10·06·26··17:33 || Bill Weber

Like you, I grew up in the Lutheran Church, and am thankful for many things in my Lutheran upbringing, including its hymnody. Quite frankly, the theology of many of the Lutheran hymns is superior to what we sing in the "blended" worship of my Reformed/Evangelical church of which I am a member. Here is where I go to sing Lutheran hymns in my devotions out of Concordia's Treasury of Daily Prayer: http://heidelbible.blogspot.com/

About a month and a half ago I decided to try and write hymns to match the doctrine taught in each Lord's Day of the Heidelberg Catechism. I have made it through 18 of the Lord's Days, so I am about a third of the way. I have posted a few of the hymns at my blog: http://heidelbible.blogspot.com/. My belief is that, overall, the evangelical and Reformed churches are becoming more and more illiterate about the faith, and a big part of this is that we are not singing our faith, but the shallow faith of the contemporary Christian music situation, including a big dose of charismatic theology. I am hoping to do my small part in changing that situation. May the Lord be pleased.

#7 || 10·06·27··04:58 || Kim in ON

My daughter has opted to attend a conservative, Missouri Synod Lutheran church when she is at school. It's within walking distance and I've heard the pastor's sermons online, and they're just as good, and sometimes better than what is being offered at my own church. One of the other reasons she likes it is that she says she likes the hymns.

#8 || 10·07·02··14:47 || WhiteStone

I, too, grew up in the Lutheran Church, attending Sunday School and Church every week. Not only do I love the old hymns, I distinctly remember reciting the Apostle's Creed each week and how meaningful it was. I never saw it as rote for each time we recited my mind was experiencing and understanding the points therein. I loved singing the doxology, "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" and still sing it myself even though our current church does not know it.

#9 || 11·04·21··21:24 || R. Lee

You may be glad to know about the newer (and still in print) Ambassador Hymnal, an updated revision of the the old Concordia ... which is the beloved hymnal of my youth, too.

#10 || 11·04·22··04:27 || David Kjos

R. Lee — of AFLBS/AFLTS?

I know about the Ambassador. I don’t doubt it’s a better hymnal, but it has no sentimental value for me, you see. Besides that, I’m stubbornly resistant to new things.

#11 || 11·05·06··20:59 || R. Lee

David - of David and Kelly?

Just mentioned the Ambassador Hymnal in response to a post that mentioned with sorrow that the Concordia is out of print. Also, some may be interested in "The Concordia Companion" by Don Rodvold (hard to acquire), which provides the story of each hymn.

#12 || 11·05·07··04:54 || David Kjos

I confess, it is me.

Thanks for that. “Hard to acquire” is right. I’m usually pretty good at finding old books, but there is apparently not a single copy of Rodvold’s book for sale anywhere online.

#13 || 11·10·01··22:02 || T. Hanson

I too grew up singing out of the Concordia Hymnal, in fact the Lutheran Church with the largest attendance in Fergus Falls, MN still has it in its pews.
I am now a choir director and organist in Moorhead who still loves to sneak in an old Concordia gem that is no longer found in our new ELW hymnal.
p.s. I attended AFLBS and studied under the wise teachings of R.Lee.

#14 || 11·10·02··06:25 || David Kjos

I also attended AFLBS (1985–1986). It was a good year.