Surely, Surely God Is Gracious

Psalm 73

Possible Familiar Tunes: NETTLETON; FABEN
Possible Less Familiar Tunes: DAILY, DAILY; HALL (JONES)
Meter: 8787D

Surely, surely God is gracious,
To the pure in heart always,
Surely, surely, God shall save us,
Should we stumble on life’s ways,
God our refuge, God our ruler —
Though our flesh and heart may fail,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
By your strength we shall prevail!

We had nearly lost our foothold,
Envying the arrogant—
While the smugness of the wicked
Tyrannized the innocent!
God our refuge, God our ruler —
We prefer your sacred way,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
To your praise we turn this day!

Here within your sanctuary
All pretense each one forsakes
Bring your light extraordinary
As a dream when one awakes!
God our refuge, God our ruler —
Set aside all fantasy—
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
By your truth we are made free!

Surely you are always with us,
as our hand, O God, you hold,
Guide and your good counsel, give us
Until heaven we behold!
God our refuge, God our ruler —
Though our flesh and heart may fail,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
By your grace we shall prevail!

Copyright © 2024, John A. Dalles

Star and Candlelight

For a lovely listen to composer Henry Kopczynskie III's setting of my lyrics, go to this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-stZg62oK8


Immaculate Conception Church Children's Choir

Portsmouth, NH

Director - Roxanne Raeside-Wilton

.

Star and Candlelight

.

Composed by Henry Kopczynskie III (music) and John Dalles (lyrics)

.

Featured vocalists: 11-year old Katie Mahoney (soloist)

with Jordan Lena Alto - Karrie Burnett Tenor - Chris Poulin Bass - Tim Lena Guitar - John O'Sullivan, Tim Lena Piano, Bass, Harp, Strings - Karrie Burnett Flute - Wendy Dillon Audio Engineer - Kevin Schladenhauffen

.

Composer Henry Kopczynskie III is a celebrated musician who serves as the musical director of Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Parish, 34 Amherst Street, Milford, NH. A Milford, NH native, Henry Kopczynskie is a pianist, accompanist, conductor, composer, vocalist, and vocal coach. He has served as music director for many theatrical productions throughout Southern New Hampshire. Henry holds a degree in composition from Boston's Berklee College of Music. Henry is at home working in a very broad array of musical styles, from Baroque to Broadway. He was nominated twice for best music direction by the NH Theatre Awards for 2008. Recent productions for which he served as Music Director include The Wizard of Oz (The New Thalian Players, Manchester), The Music Man (Manchester Community Theatre Players), and Oklahoma (Nashua Actorsingers). Henry offers instruction in piano, voice, music theory, and composition.

Great Potter, Shape Our Human Lives

Genesis 2:7, Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:4, Romans 9:21

Text: John A. Dalles
Tune: FOREST GREEN
Meter: CMD

Great Potter, shape our human lives—
As You shape vale and hill,
And by Your skill and grace revise
Our hearts to do Your will.
Take all of our impurity,
And temper us with care—
Till strong and useful we may be
Your blessedness to bear!

Once we were undefined and vague,
Until by grace, refined.
Now every trace of common clay,
Unto You we resign.
We bear the image and the mold
Of all Your love contains
Your gospel message to enfold,
Your wonders to proclaim.

With life abundant fill us full
As gladly we convey
Your living water pure and cool
To thirsty ones this day.
O fill us with all righteousness
With all things good and fair,
So others, by our acts, are blessed
And sense Your boundless care.

When we are crushed by bleak distress
May we return to You,
And even in our brokenness
Find You will make us new.
Great Potter hold our human lives
Formed to Your high design,
So we may do all You devise
This day and for all time!



Copyright © 2024, John A. Dalles

Peace Be With You

John 20:19-22

Text: John A. Dalles
Tune: AZMON
Meter: CM

‘Peace be with you,’ disciples heard
From Christ as He appeared
To offer them a caring word
And set aside their fears.

The hands and side which Christ displayed
Bore wounds of clemency;
Christ’s second word of peace conveyed
God’s timeless empathy.

‘Receive the Spirit as you go!’
His very breath, Christ gave.
‘As God has sent me, even so,
I send you,’ Jesus said.

May we hear Christ, and sense God’s peace.
May joy lead us to know
The Spirit’s breath eternally,
To guide where we must go.




Copyright © 2024, John A. Dalles

New Wine in Old Wineskins, Volume 2

Hi friends, I thought you would enjoy knowing that my work is included in this anthology. That is the hymn: "May God's Love be Fixed Above You".  It has already appeared in several denominational hymnals, as well as in my book published by GIA: "Swift Currents and Still Waters".

...

New Wine in Old Wineskins: A Contemporary Congregational Song Supplement, Volume 2, James Abbington, Editor, from GIA Music.

...

Here is their promotional information about the collection:

"Beginning with an edifying essay by renowned hymn text writer Mary Louise Bringle, New Wine in Old Wineskins, Volume 2 is packed with 76 hymn texts coupled with more familiar hymn tunes, creating a winning combination that provides exciting, new, yet singable, music for worship.
...

Some of the text writers of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries included in this collection are Thomas Troeger, Timothy Dudley-Smith, Delores Dufner, Adam M. L. Tice, Frank von Christierson, Albert J. Bayly, John A. Dalles, and John Thornburg. As in the previous volume, this collection includes compositions by such pioneering African American composers as Charles H. Nicks, Jr., Stephen F. Key, V. Michael McKay, G. T. Haywood, Glenn Edward Burleigh, Oliver H. Owens, and David Frazier."

You can see more about it at the GIA website.

What a great cover on that book!

THE ANGELS DANCED ON CHRISTMAS MORN

I am pleased to announce that one of my hymns has been set as an anthem by Paul A. Tate and can be found  in sheet music form, from GIA of Chicago. You can find it on the GIA website and listen to a preview of it, there.  It has a very Madrigal kind of a sound, and would be a great anthem on Christmas Day, or the Sunday after Christmas...

Paul A. Tate, a graduate of the University of Georgia, is a professional musician living in Sugar Hill, Georgia. As an active workshop presenter and concert performer, Paul has released a dozen recordings and published over 100 original songs and arrangements. His liturgical compositions appear in a number of hymnal resources, and his voice has been heard around the world on Sirius Satellite Radio.

How Would We Know...?

How Would We Know That Jesus Heals

Text: John A. Dalles, August 16, 2010
Tune: GOSHEN
Meter: CMD

How would we know that Jesus heals
If we never felt pain;
How would we know that Jesus calms
Without the thunderous rain;
How would we know the love of Christ
Without deep fears within;
How would we know that Christ forgives
Without the grip of sin?

How would we know that Jesus soothes
If we were never sad;
How would we know the joy of Christ
If never we were mad;
How would we know that Jesus cares
Without long weary miles;
How would we know that Jesus saves
If we did not have trials?

How would we know that Christ is wise
If we knew everything;
How would we know the Lord provides
Without some suffering;
How would we know the Lord makes whole
If we were never crushed;
How would we know the peace of Christ
If we were never rushed?

How would we know that Christ can solve
If we were problemless;
How would we know Christ makes us pure,
If we claimed righteousness?
How would we know that Jesus speaks
If we opt not to pray;
How would we know that He is Lord,
If our hearts turn away?


Copyright © 2010, John A. Dalles

I Am Thanking You God with a Heart That Is Full

I Am Thanking You God with a Heart That Is Full
Psalm 9

Text: John A. Dalles, August 16, 2010
Tune: SIMEON, PALESTINE, KAMPALA,

or “Believe Me If All Your Endearing Young Charms”
Meter: 12.9.12.9.D.

I am thanking you God with a heart that is full
While I joyfully join in your song.
I am praising You, God, for your greatness, and all
Of the ways you have blessed me lifelong!
There were days when my enemies turned and they ran,
When they stumbled and fell on their face,
You set everything right, it was all to your plan,
I was saved, by your mercy and grace!

You have stopped angry nations and stifled their wrath,
As forever in justice you reign.
I am praising you God for your great righteousness,
Keep me with you, and with me, remain!
Those who honor your name will forevermore trust,
When they bow down and fall on their face,
You set everything right and you never forsake,
Those who call on your mercy and grace!

O sing praise to the Lord, who is sovereign of all,
And proclaim to the world God’s great deeds!
For God reconciles goodness, and answers each call
Of afflicted ones bringing their needs.
While the schemers are caught in the snares they have set,
And descend to the depths in disgrace,
You set everything right and you never forsake,
Those who call on your mercy and grace!

If the day’s work is weary, the nighttime is long,
And my glimpses of joy are but few,
I will stop and remember, and still sing this song,
God, forevermore I will praise you!
I am thanking you God with a heart that is full
While I joyfully join in your song.
I am praising You, God for your greatness, and all
Of the ways you have blessed me lifelong!


Copyright © 2010, John A. Dalles

...

Written in response to a request for a new metrical version of Psalm 9.

While the three hymn tunes listed as possible tunes are each perfectly acceptable, the text lends itself beautifully to the lovely old song:

"Believe Me If All Your Endearing Young Charms"

...

As many hymn writers know, there has been a kind of disdain placed on "I and me" language in modern texts, with the preference of hymnal committees and editors for "We and us" language. While this is perfectly in keeping with the spirit of corporate worship, such a prohibition of singular pronouns can miss the impact of Scripture, especially, the psalms. The personal assurance and trust that is so intrinsic to Psalm 9 is much clearer when expressed in this way.

A New Christmas Carol

May We Go to Bethlehem
A Christmas Carol - For Anne Elizabeth Dalles

Text: John A. Dalles
Possible tune: GUIDANCE or FISHERMANS WHARF*
Meter: 7575D

May we go to Bethlehem,
With the ones who wait
Through long hours of the night
And who contemplate
How the precious Son of God
Chose to meet us here,
As the Lamb of righteousness,
In this Child most dear!

This hymn has three more stanzas,
but they are not shown here,
because the hymn appear in my book

"God Is the Singer's Friend"
by Wayne Leupold Editions,
published in 2013.

*(CHESTNUT HILL, while a 7676D tune, also works well)

Copyright © 2013, Wayne Leupold Editions

More about the 2010 Hymn Conference

On Tuesday night, we were all at Birmingham's Sixth Avenue Baptist Church for a remarkable hymn festival on the subject of "Unsung Hymns by Black and Unknown Bards". The festival was led by the 100-plus member choir of the church, under the direction of coordinator James Abbington and organist Nathaniel Gumbs.

Dr. Abbington is Associate Professor of Church Music and Worship at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Atlanta, and Executive Editor of the African American Church Music Series.

Nathaniel Gumbs is native of the Bronx, NY. He is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia where he received the Bachelor of Music Degree in Organ Performance, Excellence in Organ Award and was a student of Dr. Steven Cooksey. Currently, Nat is a candidate for the Master of Music degree in Organ Performance at Yale University, Institute of Sacred Music in New Haven, Connecticut and is a student of Martin Jean.

The festival began with everyone singing the processional "We Are Walking in the Light". As the evening unfolded Dr. Abbington featured works such as "Lift Every Voice and Sing", "Nobody Knows de Trouble I've Seen", "Prayer is de Key of Heaven", "A Little Talk with Jesus (Makes it Right)" (fantastic!), "Slav'ry Chain", "Give Me Your Hand", "I Ain't Goingt' Study War No More", "A Better Day is Coming", "Where Shall I Be?", "Let Me Stay Close to Thy Side", "Peace Flowing Like a River", "We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace", "Free at Last", and, as our closing hymn, "We Shall Overcome". The sound and the power of the words--indescribably moving.

Oh, there was one more selection and I must say I laughed aloud when I sang for the first time the line in "You Goin' to Reap Jus' What You Sow" that goes like this: "Let the sinner sin right on; Upon the mountain, down in the valley, You goin' to reap jus' what you sow..."

All I could think was, "Amen to that!"

Before we had entered the sanctuary, we were wowed by the beautiful leaded glass windows in the narthex, which is a double-height space with a trellis like open ceiling.

Some thoughtful members of the congregation had taken quotations from well-known hymns and made simple banners displaying those quotations. I am not sure if these are on display at all times, or not; I suspect they were made with the Hymn Society's visit in mind. 

This congregation was founded in 1881 and has strong ties to the civil rights movement. On September 18, 1962, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., preached the funeral sermon for Denise McMair, Addie Mae Collins, and Cynthia Wesley,three of the "Four Little Girls" who had been killed in the bombing of the Sixteenth Avenue Baptist Church, at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. One of the most famous sermons of the Twentieth Century, "A Knock at Midnight," was delivered at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church on December 9, 1962 by the Rev. Dr. King. This next photo is of the exterior of the church, which makes a very strong architectural statement with its geometric forms and dark brick:The next photo gives you a good look at the series of windows at the back of the sanctuary which are also the narthex windows. 

Tuesday afternoon had been a "free" afternoon. No plenaries or sectionals--and there were three outstanding choices for getting to know Birmingham. However, Judy and I had opted to go it on our own on Tuesday afternoon, making our way to the Birmingham Museum of Art, with its rare and comprehensive collections. Birmingham is an easy city to navigate--excellent roads that are very well marked. We got to the museum around lunchtime and thought we might look in the area for a place to have lunch. But then we hit on the idea that perhaps the museum has a cafe... Sure enough, it does. 

On Wednesday afternoon I presented a sectional on my new collection of hymns. 

There were many other fine new hymnals, collections and hymn resources provided at the plenary sessions and the sectionals. 

"Celebrating Grace" is a big, brand new hymnal which was introduced in a hymnal showcase on Monday, by David W. Music, Professor of Church Music and Graduate Program Director in the School of Music at Baylor University. Dr. Music served as one of the editors of this hymnal.

...

"God Gives Us a Song" is a collection of hymns by Mary Kay Beale, most of them with music by her husband, composer John Carter. Judy and I attended Mary Kay's sectional and enjoyed each on of the dozen or so songs we sang. I have to confess I have been singing the title hymn again and again in my mind in the intervening weeks. All of her music is uplifting and so singable and it was a joy to be directed by MK as she presented this brand new book.

...

The third book pictured here is "Within the Maddening Maze" by John Core, who is a Library Associate at West Virginia University. In addition to our first names, John and I have several other things in common. Among the honors John's hymns have received are first place in the Macalester Plymouth United Church hymn search, and John's work is also published by Wayne Leupold Editions.

2010 Conference of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada

I want to share my impressions of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada's 2010 Annual Conference, which was held the week before last on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

The conference was held on the campus of Samford University. This is a particularly gorgeous campus, dating from the early 1950s but looking as if it were created in the 1700s. All of the buildings on campus reflect a red-brick with white limestone Colonial / Georgian / Federalist period architecture, not unlike the campus of the University of Virginia. It is a collection of finely conceived and executed academic buildings with steeples and domes reminiscent of architects such as Sir Christopher Wren and Thomas Jefferson, and places like Independence Hall and Colonial Williamsburg.

The A. Hamilton Reid Chapel is where most of our hymn festivals and plenary sessions were held. As as we gathered together for the start of the conference, the light was remarkable; it reminded me of the famous Constable painting of Salisbury Cathedral.

This year's theme was "Sing of Justice - Sing of Peace". All of the hymn festivals and plenary sessions were designed around this theme, as were many of the sectionals. These words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. served as inspiration for the week: "We will reach the goal of freedom in Birmingham and all over the nation, because the goal of America is freedom." ("A Letter from Birmingham Jail", 1963).

For the opening hymn festival on Sunday, July 11th, our opening Hymn Festival was entitled "Free at Last: Spiritual Songs of Liberation", coordinated by HSUSC's president Mary Louise "Mel" Bringle, Andrew Donaldson and HSUSC's Executive Director Deb Loftis, with James Clemens at the piano and David Eicher at the organ. We began with the hymn "Deep in Our Hearts" by John Oldham and Ron Klusmeier, a hymn about our shared vision of unity in faith and mission. Many of the hymns were familiar favorites, including "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me", "Free at Last" and "We Shall Overcome" which left no one dry eyed. Imagine about four hundred musically enthusiastic people singing in SATB. We also sang spiritual songs of liberation from Central and South America, directed by Andrew Donaldson's joyous guitar leadership.

After the hymn festival, there were refreshments just outside the main door of the chapel. Looking up, one could see this nighttime view of the steeple..

WE TURN TO GOD - A Book of 53 New Hymns by John A. Dalles

Here is news of my brand new book, just off the presses. It is a collection of 53 of my hymns that have not been published up until now, except in worship bulletins.  

“We Turn to God” will be introduced at the 2010 Annual Conference of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, of which I am a Life Member. The book includes hymns for many worship occasions and liturgical seasons, teacher dedication, funerals, weddings, Mother’s Day, Pentecost and more. The hymns are drawn from scripture in both the Old and New Testaments and are written to be sung to well-known hymn tunes. 

Among the more unusual hymns is one called “Go Forth from Here” which is written as a congregational benediction response, What makes it unusual is that the suggested tune is by Stephen Collins Foster, the great American songwriter, and is familiar, but is not often thought of as a hymn tune, since the words normally sung to it are “My Old Kentucky Home”.

Several other pleasant surprises are in the book, including hymns set to the tune that is best known as the tune for “Danny Boy”.

Also in this collection is a hymn called “We Gather to Recall” which was created for Hospice of Lancaster County, PA, for their annual service of remembrance. Written to the ancient Jewish tune YIDGAL (which is in most hymnals with the words "The God of Abraham Praise"), the words are accessible to persons of many faiths, as befits a hymn intended for community-wide use. It has been sung annually in Lancaster since 1996.

I have been writing hymns since 1983 when my first hymn, “Come, O Spirit” (which is #127 in the 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal) was created for worship of Wabash Valley Presbytery. Since then, my hymns have appeared in many hymnals in the USA, Canada and Australia.

“We Turn to God” is published by and can be purchased from Wayne Leupold Editions, of Colfax NC, 1-800-765-3196. The cost is $15.

Christmas Anthems by Glenn Osborne and John Dalles

This morning, Glenn Osborne sent me a link to his web page on which he has placed recordings of the three anthems with my hymn texts:

Babe of Bethlehem, Draw Near!

See a Baby, See a Manger!

God We Would Hear the Angels Sing!

You can listen to them by clicking on this link and then opening each anthem in the column on the right.

http://wmglennosborne.com/audio2.html


There are other works by Glenn on the page, and I encourage you to listen to them all.

Anthems with Composer Wm. Glenn Osborne

Last night I was invited by Wm. Glenn Osborne to hear three anthems that he wrote, using my hymn texts, as sung by the Shrine Choir, the professional octet at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe at their Thursday evening rehearsal.

What a thrill it was to hear them sing this fantastic music that Glenn wrote this month.

The SHRINE CHOIR is the professional choir-in-residence at the Shrine, directed by Dr. Wiliam Picher.

The Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine Choir is the resident professional choir-in-residence at Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine, the last great Marian shrine of the Second Millennium, which opened in 1993. The Shrine Choir was formed to minister to the many thousands of tourists who attend Mass at the Shrine, and to provide the very best in liturgical choral music. The Shrine Choir's members come from all parts of the United States, and all have extensive choral experience. In addition to singing regularly at Shrine liturgies on Sundays and Holy Days, the Shrine Choir performs concerts and other outreach ministries.

Dr. William Picher (director) was born to a musical family in Portland, Maine and began taking organ lessons with his father, Frank Picher, at the age of 7. At age 13, he began study of trumpet and has continued playing both instruments throughout his career, as well as composing, conducting and teaching. Dr. Picher holds music degrees from the University of Maine, Eastman School of Music and Catholic University of America. He as has served at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Portland, Maine), the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle (St. Petersburg, Florida) and as a member of the United States Navy Band in Washington DC. He has composed and arranged several published choral and brass works. In 2000, Dr. Picher was awarded the St. Jude Medal by Bishop Robert Lynch in recognition for his service to the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle and the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Currently, Dr. Picher serves as Director of Music/Organist and the Artistic Director of the Shrine Concert Series at Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine. Additionally, he is on the music faculty of Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida.

With a repertoire ranging from the ancient chants of the Church, to selections by contemporary composers, the Shrine Choir ministers at select 9:30 a.m. Sunday masses, along with other special events.

The women and men of the Shrine Choir have such wonderful voices, they truly did justice to Glenn's setting of my words.

You can read mead more about the Shrine Choir at their webpage:

http://www.maryqueenoftheuniverse.org/choirs.html

The names of the anthems are:

...

"See a Baby! See a Manger!'

...

"Babe of Bethlehem, Draw Near!"

...

"God, We Would Hear the Angels Sing"

...

Glenn wrote these anthems because he recently had a conversation with the school music director at St. Margaret Mary. She is looking for Christmas music for her choir to sing at the Pueri Canotres festival in Rome. Glenn had one Christmas text of mine already, but wanted to know if I had any others I could share with him. I sent him several, not knowing which might work best for his purposes. Immediately he set to work and has created three stunning anthems.

About Pueri Cantores: The basis of the modern International Federation of Pueri Cantores, founded in the twentieth century, was formed on a deep ancient Christian conviction that singing can be an instrument of worshipping God. It has been a significant element determining the musical form of Christian worship over the centuries. St Paul in his letter to Colossians encourages them to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as they sing psalms, hymns, spiritual songs with gratitude in their hearts to God (cf. Col 3:16). These words prove that in the early Christian consciousness there was a strong belief that people, through singing, not only worship God, but also professes their faith. Thus singing was a tool of preaching the Gospel and a means of spiritual and moral development of a believer. An ancient conviction that "music soothes the savage beast", and allegedly St Augustine's saying that "he who sings, prays twice as much", serve as a very convincing proof. Those early Christian ideas are fundamental to the present shape of the Pueri Cantores Federation.

I wish you could have heard the Shrine Choir sing them. And I wish you could have heard their enthusiastic reactions at the end of each piece.

Let me tell you about Glenn:

William Glenn Osborne is the Director of Liturgical Music for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando, Florida. Mr. Osborne works in conjunction with the Director of Liturgy to plan all major and secondary diocesan liturgical celebrations. He also serves as a consultant to clergy and musicians throughout the diocese on relevant liturgical, musical and personnel issues.

Prior to coming to Orlando, Mr. Osborne served as Director of Music and Organist at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, NY. His duties included not only playing the organ, directing the choir and training cantors, but also organizing concerts and composing music for liturgy.

Mr. Osborne studied organ, improvisation, and composition in France, living in Aix-en-Provence and Lyon. Before studying abroad, he earned degrees from Westminster Choir College and the University of Notre Dame where he studied organ with William Hays and Craig Cramer, respectively. Mr. Osborne has given concerts in the United States, Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain, and Greece, and has placed in several national and international competitions.

With singer-songwriter Kim Harris, he composed Friends of Freedom to introduce children to spirituals, opera and the underground railroad. In 2006, he was commissioned by the Festival Celebration Choir in Albany, NY to compose a piece, “Festival Te Deum,” which premiered in honor of their 20th anniversary. In 2008, Mr. Osborne arranged pieces for papal liturgies during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to New York City.

Glenn plans to take the anthems to the AGO conference in July and I plan to take them to the Hymn Society Conference the week thereafter. Maybe at one or the other, they will find a home with a publisher.

"Sinfonia Festiva" with words by John A. Dalles

In about a month I will be presenting a new book of my hymns called "We Turn to God" at the 2010 Annual Conference of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.

I have just recently learned the happy news that last year's Annual Conference of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada included as the closing composition of the hymn festival "Hear the Children Life Their Voices" a work by James Biery called "Sinfonia Festiva". James Biery is the Director of Music of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota, where the festival was held. "Sinfonia Festiva" was presented with the first stanza of my hymn "God, Bless Your Church With Strength" printed as an accompanying text. "God, Bless Your Church with Strength" was written for the 150th anniversary of First Presbyterian Church of South Bend, Indiana.

For more about Jim Biery and his work, see: http://bierymusic.com/

For more about architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, who was Isabel Roberts' architecture professor, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanuel_Louis_Masqueray

O God, Our Lives are Parched and Dry - A New Anthem with Dorothy Frisch

In this weekend's mail I received my author's ten copies of a new anthem, with my words and music by Dorothy Frisch, called "O God, Our Lives are Parched and Dry."As with most anthems, this one has an interesting back story...

I wrote the words to be sung to the very familiar tune OLD 100TH, on June 23, 2005. So five years ago, this month. It is a hymn about living water, and the scriptural allusion most apt is from John Chapter Four. As is possible for anyone writing hymns, I posted the hymn text on The Hymn Society website, so that those who are interested in new hymns could see it and consider using it; this was on August 12, 2005. Permission for its one time use in worship was also given with that posting, which was to end at the end of 2006.

It was there that Dorothy found the words, and wrote beautiful music to go with them, setting the hymn as an anthem, very much the anthem that you see today in this new publication. While Dorothy had worked for a church in Pittsburgh at a time that coincided with my time of serving Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, there, we had never met.

The anthem was sung here at Wekiva and at Dorothy's church as well, by their respective choirs. Eventually, GIA Music in Chicago indicated an interest in the work as an anthem, and now, here it is, available for choir directors and congregations, wherever they may be.

There is more to the story of course, with lots of emails and conversations back and forth between author, composer and publisher, but this is the condensed version. Five years may seem a long time from conception to publication, but it seems to be pretty typical.

And as many of you know, Dorothy has set other of my works to music including a complete Christmas cantata and a complete Easter Cantata.

Hymn for the Merger of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and Conway Presbyterian Church

On Sunday afternoon, I had the joy of attending the service of dedication and merger for the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church here in Orlando. It was a wonderful occasion, as the former Conway Presbyterian Church and Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church united, as planned, under the Grace Covenant name. Also part of the festivities were many former members of the now closed John Calvin Presbyterian Church, whose building and property had been bought by the school district for the purposes of expansion. So while "officially" this was a merger of two congregations, in many ways it was a merger of three.

I served as the chairperson of the Merger Commission, which began in 2007 and has now concluded its work. This was the second time that I had the responsibility of serving on such a commission of Central Florida Presbytery. The last time, it was for College Park Presbyterian Church. In both of these circumstances, it is fair to say that the gifts and talents of the congregations, when combined, brought new vitality for mission and enthusiasm for ministry.

The service was lovely in every way, with a video showing the history of the three congregations. To symbolize their union, three cords were braided together—one gold, one white and one a deep burgundy. Then our Executive Presbyter spoke, declaring the merger perfected. Afterward there was cake and punch and all could tour the new facilities for the congregation, including a new gym, youth wing, day care center and more.

The concluding hymn is one which I wrote especially for the congregation for this merger celebration. The congregation sang it beautifully, filling the sanctuary with a joyful noise.

Here is the hymn…

COME PRAISE THE LORD WHOSE LIVING WORD
Dedication Hymn for Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
Text: John A. Dalles
Familiar Tune: GOSHEN
Meter: C.M.D.

Come praise the Lord whose living word
Can challenge, cheer and guide us!
Come sense anew what God can do,
With open hearts and hands!
Come sing a new song to the Lord,
Who has done wondrous things!
God’s hand brings might! God’s truth brings light!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing!

Come praise this day, Christ’s holy way,
Of true and trustful living!
Bring memory and constancy,
And joy on this great day!
Friends new, friends dear, now gather here,
Within God’s holy place,
So we may share and we may bear
God’s covenant of grace!

Come praise always God’s constant ways
Of kindness, love and mercy!
Come dedicate and consecrate
Our church, our lives, to God!
For we depend on all God sends
Us by the Spirit’s power;
So we may live and freely give,
To God our best, this hour!

Come praise once more, rejoice, adore,
God’s everlasting presence!
Come strive to be prepared as we
Do what the Lord would do!
Show forth God’s light, with promise bright,
Until Christ’s work is done,
And all shall see, eternally,
In Christ, we are made one!


Copyright © 2009, John A. Dalles
Permission granted to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church.

"God Bless the Work Your People Do"

Press Release - March 2010

Macalester Plymouth United Church of St. Paul, Minnesota, is pleased to announce the winners of the 14th annual hymn contest, a search for new hymn texts to be sung on Labor Day. The contest specifically asked for "words that especially address the plight of the unemployed. Traditionally, we have celebrated work on Labor Day. But what if one does not have work of is under-employed? Denied the opportunity to earn a living, an unemployed worker often questions his or her value and worth. We hope to explore the role of the church in addressing these issues."

The winning hymn, "God Bless the Work Your People Do", was written by the Rev. Dr. John A. Dalles, the pastor of Wekiva Presbyterian Church in Longwood, Florida. He is a graduate of both Lancaster Theological Seminary (UCC) and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PCUSA). A life member of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, his hymn texts have been published in a number of denominational hymnals.

For the past 14 years, the church has sponsored a hymn-writing contest seeking new texts that "can motivate the church to be more actively involved in social reform."

Church officials say the contest is the longest-running one they know of. It has attracted entries from around the country and much of the rest of the English-speaking world including Canada, England and Australia.

In church hymn circles, the social justice hymn contest has acquired an "American Idol" or Sundance Film Festival or Oprah Book Club sort of clout, capable of elevating a previously unknown artist to national prominence.

"It's one of the most respected competitions because it's an ongoing thing. It has a certain cachet," said Carl P. Daw Jr., executive director of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. "It has often been a kind of initial recognition of emerging hymn writers."

The St. Paul contest is funded with an endowment by A.A. "Al" Heckman, a church member and philanthropist who died in 1994.

Here is my winning hymn. If you have ever selected Jane Laurie Borthwick's celebrated Labor themed hymn "Come Labor On", it is hard to find another useful hymn for Labor Day.  I encourage you to consider singing it this coming Labor Day Sunday. Please note the copyright information at the bottom and be in touch with me, via email, if you wish to use the hymn:

GOD, BLESS THE WORK YOUR PEOPLE DO
A Labor Day Hymn
Winner 2009 Macalester Plymouth United Church Hymn Writing Contest
Text: John A. Dalles, April 3, 2009

I.
God, bless the work your people do throughout each working day,
The contributions that they make, the talents they display.
God, bless the work your people do, with minds and hands and hearts,
To benefit the common good, the sciences and arts.

II.
For all who have no respite, God, from labor without ease,
For those for whom their work is filled with danger or disease.
For all who labor without gain; or have no rest this day;
For all who labor without hope, O God, we humbly pray;

III.
We pray for those who cannot work, or seek for work in vain,
Great God, we pray your mercy shall encourage them, again!
We pray for those whose work is hard, on body, spirit, soul,
The underpaid, under-employed, who fill a vital role.

IV.
Grant unto each a day designed for worship, joy and rest;
A Sabbath time of holiness, in which they may be blessed.
As you achieved creation’s work, then rested from your task,
God bless the work your people do, and call it good, we ask!
Meter: CMD
Suggested Tunes: FOREST GREEN or ELLACOMBE

Copyright © 2009, John A. Dalles

Permission for use must be obtained in writing from the author.

At the time that the winning hymn was announced, articles sharing that news appeared in several different places, including: ''Notes About People'' - By Jerry L. Van Marter of the Presbyterian Church (USA); ''Lancaster Online'' - Article by Lori Van Ingen; and ''Hymn Contest Winner'' - By Deborah Lofts, Executive Director of The Hymn Society.

Since its selection, this hymn text has found its way to many places, often sung in congregations on Labor Day weekend.  it also is included the hymn book called ""Sing of the World Made New: Hymns of Justice, Peace, and Christian Responsibility" by editors Jeffrey Rowthorn and Russel Schultz-Widmar. You can see it as hymn number 116.