Hymn Blog - January 8, 2012

January 8, 2012 – Baptism of Jesus

GPTG 28 – Every Night and Every Morning. This hymn text, reflecting on our Genesis 1 text, is from A Greener Place to Grow (2011), the second collection of hymns by Adam Tice, published by GIA. Tice, a Mennonite pastor in the Washington, DC area, is one of the most talented young hymn poets writing today, and is an active member of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.  The hymn is set to NETTLETON, an American folk hymn which first appeared in Wyeth’s Repository of Sacred Music, Part Second (1813). Usually associated with the text “Come, O Fount of Every Blessing” (VU 559), the tune takes its name from the famous nineteenth century American evangelist Ahasel Nettleton, although there is no evidence that he was the composer.

VU 449 – Crashing Waters at Creation. This baptismal hymn was written in 1987 by Sylvia Dunstan, and appeared in her collection In Search of Hope and Grace (1991). Dunstan had a variety of religious influences in her upbringing, having been raised by grandparents with Methodist and Salvation Army backgrounds, and then being trained in music by Sister Gregory at St. Joseph’s convent. She earned basic and advanced theology degrees at Emmanuel College, and served as an ordained United Church minister in chaplaincy positions. Her hymns, rich in theological content, have been included in many recent denominational hymn books. She died of cancer in 1993 at the age of 37. The setting, CRASHING WATERS, was submitted to Voices United by William A. Cross, a United Church minister from Winnipeg

MV 175 – May We But Wait. Our prayer response is by Will Petricko, who has a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Winnipeg and who serves his community as a spiritual care provider.

MV 161 – I Have Called You by Your Name. This wonderful Hymn of commitment, and its tune, KELLY, were written by Dan Damon. Damon is an internationally published writer of hymn texts and tunes. He is pastor of First United Methodist Church, Richmond, California and serves as adjunct faculty in church music at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. He is an active member of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. Dan plays jazz piano in clubs in the San Francisco area.

MV 214 – May God’s Sheltering Wings. This beautiful song of blessing uses feminine imagery for God. Author and composer Judith Snowdon was born in England but completed her formal music education in Canada. A recipient of ARCTs from The Royal Conservatory of Music in both Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy, she completed her formal composition studies at Canadian Mennonite University (Bachelor of Church Music) and the University of Winnipeg (Gold Medalist – Bachelor of Arts). An award winning composer and accomplished church musician, Judith also managed a successful private studio for over twenty years and currently teaches piano at The Chocolate River Conservatory in Dieppe, NB. Judith also works part-time for the Mennonite Central Committee and serves as organist/choir director at McKees Mills United Church in New Brunswick where she lives.