Hymn Blog - March 21, 2010

March 21, 2010 – Fifth Sunday of Lent

VU 121 – Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery. Author and composer Marty Haugen is a liturgical composer from Eagan, Minnesota. For the past fifteen years he has presented workshops across North America, Europe, Australia, and Central America for both Roman Catholic and Protestant liturgical ministers. His music appears in numerous hymnals produced for Canadian and Australian Roman Catholics, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and numerous other Protestant denominations. Seven of his works are in Voices United and three in More Voices. He has set this tune, THOMAS, in the Lydian mode, giving it a mysterious quality to go with the title.

VU 703 – In the Bulb There Is a Flower. This “Hymn of Promise” was written by Natalie Sleeth as an anthem and it was later adapted for congregational singing. It was dedicated to her husband, a Methodist pastor and homiletics professor, who was diagnosed with cancer shortly after the anthem was written. It was first sung at his funeral.

VU 590 – Brian Wren’s text, based on today’s gospel lection and its parallel text in Matthew, comes from his collection “New Beginnings” (1993). It is a profound text. The first stanza tells the story of the woman anointing Jesus. The second stanza looks forward to Easter morning, with the story of Christ’s rising brought by a woman. The third stanza reflects how the gifts of women have been rejected by the church over the centuries and the concluding stanza reflects that it is the Spirit who calls out those who lead and inspire us, children, women and men. The setting, MEGERRAN, is by Walter K. Stanton, editor of the BBC Hymn Book (1951).

MV 144 – Like a Healing Stream. The text and tune are by Bruce Harding, a singer/songwriter, worship leader, and hymnologist who was Managing Editor for “More Voices”.   He has a PhD in the development of hymn tune repertoire in the United Church, a passion for worship song from around the world, and over twenty years' experience in both sacred and secular music fields. With his partner, Cheryl, he leads congregational singing at Crossroads United Church in North Delta BC and the Pacific InterChristian Community in Vancouver BC., and tours regularly across Canada encouraging gatherings large and small to sing with spirit and conviction.