Hymn Blog - April 25, 2010

April 25, 2010 – Easter IV

VU 748 – God is My Shepherd. The text is based on the Scottish Psalter 1650 (see VU 747 for the original text) and adapted by Lavon Bayler, a United Church of Christ (USA) minister. She is a well known author of worship resources and a hymn poet. The tune, BROTHER JAMES’ AIR was written by James Leith Macbeth Bain (Brother James), a Scot who left the orthodox church to pursue a healing ministry. Like St. Francis, he combined the spiritual genius of the mystic with the irresistible charm and trust of the child who loves all men and all creatures. The hymn tune was adapted from a choral anthem by British composer Gordon Jacob, based on Bain’s melody.

MV 93 – What Calls Me from the Death. This lovely text by Mary R. Bittner is based on the story, found in John 11, of Jesus bringing Lazarus back from death. The words are Lazarus’ contemplation of the meaning of this event and, by extension, a challenge to the listener to contemplate the potential implications of finding new life in Christ. Mary Bittner was a graduate of Penn State University and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary/Northwestern University, and was director and/or organist in Baptist, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches, most recently at Knox Presbyterian Church in Naperville, Illinois. Her first collection of hymn texts, Water from the Rock, was published in 2004. More Voices is the first hymn supplement to include Bittner's work, sadly released only a few months before her death after a long battle with cancer. The setting, NEW IDENTITY, is by Fred Graham, Assistant Professor of Church Music, University Organist, Director of Chapel and Director of the Master of Sacred Music Program at Emmanuel College.

VU 359 – He Came Singing Love. Our closing hymn reminds us, in a metaphor of singing, that we are called to take up and carry on Jesus’ work in the post-resurrection period. Author and composer Colin Gibson was born in Dunedin, the south island of New Zealand. He has been writing hymn texts and hymn settings for over 20 years. His works have been published and performed in Africa, Canada, the United States, Asia and Australasia, Great Britain and Europe. He is organist and director of the Mornington Methodist Choir, Dunedin, New Zealand, a lay preacher, and retired in 1999 as Head of the Department and Donald Collie Professor of English at the University of Otago where he currently heads the Department of Theatre Studies and continues to lecture on English Literature as Emeritus Professor. He has conducted numerous hymn workshops in New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain, and has been co-editor of a number of hymn collections. His frequent collaboration with Shirley Erena Murray is represented in several publications, and he has several of his own published collections of hymns.