New Hymnals Dedicated


Donations support FPCA’s purchase of Glory to God BY LAURA RABENOLD


On Sunday, January 26, our congregation’s newly acquired Presbyterian hymnal, Glory to God, was dedicated in all worship services. A hymnal drive, which began the first Sunday of November 2019, resulted in donations that supported the purchase of 800 hymnals. Over 650 book plates were printed and placed inside the front cover of the new hymnals. Many anonymous donations also supported this drive. Te Worship Team involved in this campaign was overjoyed and so very grateful for the support of folks from all styles of worship—traditional, alternative, Arabic, and Chin.


On Dedication Sunday, worshippers throughout the church participated in a common Call to Worship, an Introduction to the Dedication, Dedicatory Prayer, and the singing of “Amazing Grace.” Te old hymnals in the Sanctuary, balcony, and Chapel were removed and replaced with Glory to God. Te remaining new hymnals were placed in the Choir Room and for reference by the pastors and church staff in the main offices.


New hymnals are printed roughly once a generation. Our former hymnals were published in 1990; Glory to God was published in 2013. With a purple cover and use of new printing technologies, the new Presbyterian hymnal is about the same size as our former hymnal but contains 800-plus songs, compared with 600-plus songs in the 1990 hymnal. Updated with a blend of the old and new, this new hymnal includes songs of diversity, justice, and global traditions based in the Reformed tradition of the history of salvation.


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Producing a hymnal is no small task, and our new hymnal was first envisioned in 2006, when the General Assembly authorized the research, development, and production of a new edition. Te committee examined over 10,000 submissions for singability, theology, and textual clarity. Te committee met for over three years before submitting a complete hymnal in a proposed order.


Te new hymnal opens with services of worship and creeds. Following that, the bulk of the hymnal consists of songs grouped by categories: God’s Mighty Acts (Creation), Te Church at Worship (Salvation), and Our Response to God (Final Transformation). Songs include traditional four-part hymn settings, global settings, gospel arrangements, and single-note melodies that include chord symbols for a variety of instruments. Tere are new texts mixed with old. Hymns were chosen to inspire and embolden God’s people.


For several weeks, all the 1990 hymnals were on display in the back of the Sanctuary, organized alphabetically by donors’ last name. Congregants could browse through the old hymnals and take any donated 30 years ago by friends or family members. Tere was also an “anonymous” stack of hymnals available for anyone who wanted a 1990 hymnal for personal use.


Glory to God is a symbol of a community of believers looking toward the future of the church. Tank you for making this possible. Praise God for music and a voice to sing!


“…sing psalms


and hymns and spiritual songs


among yourselves,


singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts…” —EPHESIANS 5:19


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