As the summer of 2009 draws to a close, our choir returns from vacation and
Godly Play resumes. The start of the academic year represents the turning of a
page, a time of new endeavors and new beginnings.
The Episcopal Church has authorized the Standing Commission on Liturgy and
Music to conduct a feasibility study on the need for revision of The Hymnal
1982. The Resolution, which passed at General Convention this summer,
further states that if warranted a new Hymnal could be published in 2018. At
present, there are eight official supplements to The Hymnal 1982, with
still others in the pipeline. For parishes wishing to experience diversity, or
to explore a more contemporary musical style, it has become all but impossible
to juggle all the different hymnbooks.
Saint Thomas' is fortunate to own the software that allows us to insert music
into the weekly bulletin and to draw from various sources. Over the summer, you
may have noticed an increased use of hymnody from Wonder, Love and Praise,
Voices Found, and Lift Every Voice and Sing II.
One of the desires often expressed to me is that our music reflect a
multi-cultural approach. In order to enrich our repertory of service music, we're
going to be using a new Sanctus and new Fraction Anthem from the Red Lake
Service, edited by Monte Mason. Even though Western notation can never fully
capture the subtleties of Folk music, even so Mason has made an effort to
preserve the repertoire of Ojibway song. Fortunately, Paul Donnelly has
finished building a drum just in time!
We will also begin to sing the Lord's Prayer using a setting recently composed
by Marilyn Haskell. Marilyn is the Music Director of St. Paul's Chapel in
Manhattan where a liturgy derived from St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco
has been instituted. Her prayerful setting of the text may be sung in unison,
or in parts, and is particularly suitable for our congregation with its
concentration of lower voices.
Another year in the life of Saint Thomas' Parish will soon begin, and I hope
that each of you will lift your voices and join in the song.
