Presbyterian Hymnal Project Blog

Official wording and copyright info for "Many Voices, One Song"

Great news!  We (and now you) have permission for congregations to reproduce music and words for each of the "Many Voices, One Song" Sampler selections.  Permission has been granted for bulletin or projection use.  Each congregation must use the copyright lines printed underneath the selection in the Sampler, followed by  “Permission granted by the copyright holder for use in worship service on [insert specific Sunday date].”  This is not a blanket permission for reproduction on dates outside of the "Many Voices, One Song" campaign; individual permissions must be sought for other requests.

As you advertise within your congregation, you may want to use our official wording:

For such a time as this.  In celebration of our journey toward the new hymnal, and in recognition of our continued call to unity in the midst of diversity, Presbyterians are invited to a sing-along.  “Many Voices, One Song” is a new initiative inviting all Presbyterians to sing the same hymn/song in worship on the same day.  Lift up your voices in praise to God and in union with Christian brothers and sisters around the world.

Sept. 4, 2011 (Labor Day) --  Blest Be the Tie That Binds ; 1990/Blue Hymnal #438

Oct. 30, 2011 (Reformation Sunday) --  A Mighty Fortress is Our God ; 1990/Blue Hymnal #260

Jan. 8, 2012 (Epiphany/Baptism of the Lord) -- Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me ; Sampler #6

March 18, 2012 (Lent 4) -- Give Thanks to God Who Hears Our Cries ; Sampler #5

    This hymn is a metrical setting of Psalm 107; the lectionary Psalm of the day.

April 8, 2012 (Easter) -- Jesus Christ is Risen Today ; 1990/Blue Hymnal #123 

June 3, 2012 (Trinity Sunday) -- As the Wind Song ; Sampler #3

Later dates and songs will be announced in the spring of 2012.  More information can be found online at www.presbyterianhymnal.org .  Please join us in song!

This will be featured on our newly redesigned website -- to be posted soon.  Be watching for the debut!

Schedule for "Many Voices, One Song"

You have spoken. We have heard.

 

Here is a schedule of songs to be sung in our "Many Voices, One Song" sing-along:

Sept. 4, 2011 (Labor Day) --  Blest Be the Tie That Binds ; 1990/Blue Hymnal #438

Oct. 30, 2011 (Reformation Sunday) --  A Mighty Fortress is Our God ; 1990/Blue Hymnal #260

Jan. 8, 2012 (Epiphany/Baptism of the Lord) -- Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me ; Sampler #6

March 18, 2012 (Lent 4) -- Give Thanks to God Who Hears Our Cries ; Sampler #5

    This hymn is a metrical setting of Psalm 107; the lectionary Psalm of the day.

April 8, 2012 (Easter) -- Jesus Christ is Risen Today ; 1990/Blue Hymnal #123 

June 3, 2012 (Trinity Sunday) -- As the Wind Song ; Sampler #3

 

Later dates and songs will be announced in the spring of 2012. 

Please join Presbyterians in song!

Sampler Sing-Alongs

"Don't worry if it's not good enough for anyone else to hear - just sing!  Sing a song!"  Thus seems to be the motto of some enthusiastic Presbyterians in Long Island.  They received their Samplers and immediately put them to use.  This report of their recent adventure is worthy of sharing:

On the commuter train to the Presbytery’s meeting site, Presbytery members reviewed and sang a number of the hymn selections (much to the delight of the Long Island Railroad conductors and fellow passengers), and each was favorably received.

May each of us be so bold as to sing God's praises wherever we go!

Sampler Sightings

Here today, gone tomorrow!, or, a brief history of the first printing of Hymnal Samplers:

The Samplers were expected to arrive in mid-June -- just in time for Mo-Ranch and Montreat Worship conferences. Plans were in place to send them to congregations and conferences over the next year.  As soon as the FedEx truck arrived, however, Samplers quickly disappeared into the hands of music enthusiasts.  Over 10,000 Samplers were distributed within four weeks!  A second printing of Samplers is now in process.  You may continue to call or email the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation to request Samplers for your congregation, presbytery, or event.  They should be available in mid-August.

 If you haven’t had an opportunity to see the Sampler, it is a brief collection of music and liturgy being considered for the new hymnal.  Amongst the pieces included are “The Canticle of the Turning”, “The Hymn of Promise (In the Bulb There is a Flower)”, and “Shall We Gather at the River”.  (For a complete list of songs, see the previous post.)  The Sampler intends to show people some of the new material being considered, as well as be a short-term resource for classes, conferences, and congregations.  Although over half of the contents of the upcoming hymnal will be “old” or familiar, the Sampler focuses on songs that have never been included in a Presbyterian hymnal.

 In the meantime, members of the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song (PCOCS) march steadily toward their finish line.  Ongoing conversations have continued discussions about Trinitarian language, as well as started organizing the Psalter section of the hymnal.  Traditional metrical settings were compared to praise choruses and other global songs, seeking the most singable and textually accurate lyrics.  The Psalter’s contents will comprise a large part of the committee’s agenda at their next meeting in Louisville (August 29-31).  Remember that no decision is final yet – the PCOCS has until November to winnow and whittle the song list.  A complete song list and a more extended Hymnal Sampler will be published next summer – just in time for the 220^th General Assembly (2012) . 

Finally, be sure to join our “Many Voices, One Song” campaign.  This is a new initiative to draw attention to congregational song.  Essentially, we’re starting a sing-along!  Over the next two years we will invite all Presbyterians to sing the same hymn/song in worship on the same day.  The first one is just around the corner; join in singing “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” on September 4, 2011.  Please take pictures and video of your congregation singing, then email files to Rev. Meg Flannagan (Hymnal Advocacy & Relations Coordinator, mflannagan@presbypub.com ).  You might find yourself on YouTube, or, as someone suggested our channel name: PewTube.

Much is happening in the Hymnal Project office!  Stay tuned for news!

 Coming soon:  the release of the cover color and the title!

Contents of "A Sampler of Hymns and Songs for Worship"

The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation is excited to share material being considered for the upcoming hymnal/songbook.  A Sampler is now available for individuals, congregations, and conferences to use.  In addition to a Service for the Lord's Day, the Sampler contains the following hymns:

*  "Come Now, O Prince of Peace  (O-So-Suh)"
*  "Canticle of the Turning"
*  "As the Wind Song"
*  "Day of Delight and Beauty Unbounded"
*  "Give Thanks to God Who Hears Our Cries"
*  "Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me"
*  "Go to the World!"
*  "God, We Honor You"
*  "Hallelujah!  We Sing Your Praises  (Haleluya!  Pelo tsa rona)"
*  "In the Bulb There Is a Flower"
*  "Jesus Calls Us"
*  "Lamb of God"
*  "My Life Flows On (How Can I Keep From Singing)"
*  "Now the Silence"
*  "O Look and Wonder  (Miren que Bueno!)"
*  "Oh, Sing to the Lord  (Cantai ao Senhor) (Cantad al Senor)"
*  "Shall We Gather at the River"
*  "Ten Lepers Facing Constant Scorn"
*  "We Are Called"
*  "What Is the World Like"

Accompaniment information is inside the front cover.

To request a Sampler, please fill out the following form .  To order multiple (10+) copies, please email Rev. Meg Flannagan, Hymnal Advocacy & Relations Coordinator, at mflannagan@presbypub.com  .