"Our Lutheran Heritage in Hymns" Is a Hymn Festival For May 18, 2014

What makes a hymn a “Lutheran” hymn?

When I think of Lutheran hymns, I think of texts from our tradition that were written by Lutheran pastors or theologians, follow Lutheran theology, and might also come from ethnic groups with largely Lutheran populations – such as Germany and parts of Scandinavia. 

I am not suggesting we should only sing Lutheran hymns, but I am suggesting we should pay special attention to the ones from our heritage.  I am also not suggesting that we should ignore hymns from other traditions, because we sing many of them!  I don’t refer to these hymns as “non-Lutheran” to exclude them, but rather to honor the traditions they came from.  I particularly love to sing English hymns.  They soar with long phrases and wide unexpected intervals where Lutheran hymns (at least the ones that haven’t been modified to an isometric form) tend to dance with accents that occur off the beat.

Not all hymns I would call “Lutheran” hymns are old.  Wonderful texts and tunes are being written by people who are alive today.  Sometime, check the index in Evangelical Lutheran Worship for texts by Susan Palo Cherwien and Jaroslav Vajda.

We have designated May 18^th as Lutheran Heritage Sunday.  A big part of that day will be a hymn festival with a service filled exclusively with Lutheran hymns interspersed with readings by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the great Lutheran pastor and theologian who dared to speak out against the Nazi regime.

In case you want to start warming up, the festival will include:

We All Are One in Mission (ELW 576)

Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word (ELW 517)

Salvation unto Us Has Come (ELW 590)

Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices (ELW833)

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (ELW 351)

Evening and Morning (ELW 133)

 

The service hymns for the day will also be Lutheran hymns, including:

Dearest Jesus, At Your Word (ELW 520)

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (ELW 504)

Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart (ELW 750)

Now Thank We All Our God (840)

This also marks the beginning for the summer worship schedule at St. Mark’s, so there is one service at 10:00 a.m.

Singing together has always been an important part of Lutheran worship. We sing together as one community, or, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it, “It is the voice of the church that is heard in singing together.  It is not you that sings, it is the church that is singing, and you, as a member of the church, may share its song.”  Amen.

Photos
Top: Philipp Melancthon baptizing an infant

Bottom: Hymn singing is for all ages as evidenced by these two young girls singing at a hymn festival at St. Mark's.