A New Hymn for the First Church of Weymouth's Four Hundredth Anniversary (1623-2023)

 Here is a remarkable story.  In Weymouth, Mass., you can worship on any given Sunday, with a congregation that began in 1623.  Just three years after Plymouth Rock!  It boggles the mind, that this congregation has been gathering for worship every Sunday since then, and is considered to be the oldest church in the USA offering continuing weekly worship.

As you might guess, a church this old also must have some interesting stories to tell about its many years of faithfulness. And you would be correct.  Regarding their history, nothing stands out for me as much as the association with the Smith family.  As in Abigail Smith Adams, who grew up in this congregation before marrying John Adams (in the church parsonage) and becoming the second First Lady of the United States, a celebrated letter writer, and one of the chief definers of the role of First Lady.  Her father was the pastor of the church, and its longest tenured minister - serving a total of 46 years.  Awesome as that is, there is more to tell about Rev. Smith.  Indeed, he was one of the first people anywhere to read the newly written Declaration of Independence to a gathered crowd, in this case, from the pulpit of the church which is still in use, to this day.

I love this kind of history.  And so I am glad to say that the church has given me the responsibility of writing their 400th Anniversary Hymn.  It is written, and in the hands of the church's music director, Jane, who has written a brand new tune to go with my words.  Exciting indeed.

The church has been celebrating its 400th all year long, and had a special concert several weeks ago.  

I enjoyed working on this new hymn with Jane Cleary, who is the music director and also a long time part of the congregation.  Here is how it unfolded...  I sent Jane a list of questions to consider as we began our work.  Jane sent me a nice informational email answering many of the questions and adding additional helpful details.  From it, I was immediately inspired to write their hymn “Four Hundred Years Before Us”.  When it was done, I sent the first draft to Jane.  Jane loved it.  Better yet, she composed a brand new hymn tune to go with it, which she completed on October 28, 2023. 

Anniversary Sunday is still on the horizon, December 10th of this year.  The hymn will have its debut on that day in worship.  I am so honored to be a part of their amazing and wonderful 400 years in this way.

175th Anniversary Hymn - Trinity United Church of Christ, East Petersburg, PA

 

Trinity United Church of Christ, in East Petersburg, Pennsylvania (Lancaster County) is celebrating its 175th Anniversary tomorrow in worship.  I have mentioned previously that they commissioned me to write a hymn for their anniversary.  

I grew up in East Petersburg, and while we were not members of this congregation, we have many friends who were and are, and have happy associations with the church.  So I was particularly pleased to be asked to write their hymn.

The church is justly famous for its warm hospitality and well-known for its beautiful stained glass window shown here:

Here is a look at the bulletin for the Anniversary Sunday (tomorrow).  The worship service is streamed on Facebook.  The hymn will be sung for the first time, as the conclusion of worship.

Update:

Here are several photos from the anniversary worship service, showing the church's pastor Chris Rankin and one of the sanctuary windows.  The camera never showed the congregation, otherwise I would include that as well.

South Church - 300th Anniversary Hymn by John A. Dalles

 This past Saturday evening saw a festive celebration concert at the South Church in Bergenfield New Jersey.  They were celebrating a remarkable anniversary - 300 years!  Imagine, the church was begun long before we had the Declaration of Independence.  Indeed, a decade before the birth of Founding Father George Washington. 

I was glad to be part of the celbration.  There was music from various periods n the church's 300 year history.  There were instrumentalist, pianists, soloists, and organist, as well as the church choir.  And as the finale of the evening, the congregation sang the 300th Anniversary Hymn that I had written for them. They sang it with verve.  It was wonderful to hear them.

I wish I could have been there - but thankfully, I could participate remotely on line.  

New 225th Anniversary Hymn Sung at Sycamore Presbyterian Church on October 15th, 2023

 "God is Forever Near" is the name of the hymn that I wrote for Sycamore Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati Ohio.  

The Sunday before last, I tuned in to their online Sunday Morning worship service and it was almost like being there in person.  

The service was lovely in every way.  Much of it was written by and presented by the children of the church - which on an anniversary Sunday is a perfect way to highlight the present and future of the congregation.  

The sermon by the associate pastor Rachel was right on target, focusing on Jesus' words, "Let the children come unto me."  

There was lots of good music, and the hymn I wrote for them was the concluding hymn of the morning.  The congregation sang it with what I can only call gusto, so I believe they were enjoying singing it as much as I enjoyed hearing it.  

What a treat!

 

"Whosoever On the Night of Christ's Nativity" Anthem to Be Published by MorningStar Publishing

Breaking news...

Word was just received that the well-known sacred music company MorningStar will be publishing an anthem that I wrote in collaboration with Glenn Rudolph.  The piece is entitled. “Whosoever on the Night of Christ’s Nativity”.

It is an anthem for Christmas Eve.  My words were inspired by an anonymous quotation.  Here's the quotation.  My words will have to wait for the anthem's publication...

This Christmas Eve Hymn was inspired by the following anonymous quotation:

Whosoever on the night of the nativity of the young Lord Jesus, in the great snows, shall fare forth bearing a succulent bone for the lost and lamenting hounds, a wisp of hay for the shivering horse, a cloak of warm raiment for the stranded wayfarer, a bundle of brushwood for the shivering widow, a garland of bright red berries for one who has worn chains, a dish of crumbs with a song of love for all huddled birds who thought that song was dead, and various lavish delicacies for such children’s faces that peer from lonely windows, to them shall be offered and returned gifts of such an astonishment as will rival the hues of the peacock and the harmonies of heaven; so that though they live to the great age when they go stooping and querulous because of the nothing that is left of them, yet shall they walk upright and remembering, as those whose hearts shine like blazing stars, in their chest.

-          Author unknown, 

Glenn took my lyrics in hand and crafted the music to go with it.  As I like to say, Glenn is the George (music) and I am the Ira (words).  It is a joy to share in this - and a treat that it will be published.  

The anticipated publication date is April 2024, in time to promote it for use at Christmas 2024.

I have another piece published by MorningStar, called "God of Wonder" with music by Donna J. Butler.

Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania 50th Anniversary Hymn

I should have shared this some time ago. In 2020 in fact....

In anticipation of the 50th Anniversary of their founding at Shadyside Presbyterian Church the Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania held a hymn search to help mark the occasion.  At the time, I was very much enjoying my time of serving as the Interim Senior Minister at Shadyside, and I decided to write something for the hymn search.  For two reasons.  First, I admire their work.  Second, the celebratory event was already on the calendar for the spring of 2020 to be held in the Parish Hall of Shadyside Presbyterian Church where it all began.  And it made me think how cool would that be if my song were selected and sung right there where I was currently serving. 

So that is what I did.  

I completed the hymn on December 20, 2019. As these hymn searches go, one sends in the submission in such a way that there is no indication on the submission who the author is.  Off it went, and then all I had to do was wait until the judges had made their decision.

As I waited, something else happened...  

The spring of 2020 will forever be remembered for it.  Covid-19.  The coronavirus pandemic.  When it hit, it hit hard, and churches were put in a tough position.  Do we stop having in person worship or not?  The US government did not give us any guidance in that matter.  I guess they were afraid of later church and state type lawsuits.  So each church in every community had to wrestle with the decision.  We at Shadyside reluctantly decided that out of the utmost concern for our members and guests, we would curtail in person worship, and do online worship only.  We also closed the building to all other activities.  As you can guess, in such a busy church, there were many many activities that were therefore scratched from the calendar in the months ahead.  

And yes, along with weddings, and concerts, and meetings, and classes, we had to cancel that 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania.

Then one fine day the phone rang.  

And it was the person charged with contacting the winner of the hymn search, to tell them that news...  Or I should day to tell me that news, that my submission had been selected by the judges.  Great news! But as you can imagine, I was disappointed that the convergence of the event at Shadyside, and the hymn by Shadyside's pastor, just couldn't occur.

Oh, by the way, the hymn is called: “May We Walk the Way of Jesus”, and it is sung to the familiar hymn tune: CROSS OF JESUS. Let me know if you would like to receive a copy of it.... since we are back to normal, and can gather as usual for worship now, in 2023.

New Work with Glenn Rudolph

As you may recall, I have been creating new hymns and anthems with Pittsburgh sacred music composer Glenn Rudolph for many years.  Looking back, I think the first piece we did together was around 2000, but I will double check to be sure.  Some of these new pieces have been published and are available for church musicians to select and present in their congregations.

Not long ago, Glenn asked me if I would write the text for a new anthem he was writing.  Based on an old and beloved tune, but modified and adapted by Glenn for our present age.  I was glad to give it a go.

Sometimes, working on hymns, it takes a lot of time, trial and error, and fine tuning to get the hymn text into a singable form that I am pleased with.  That is part of the creative process, and something I enjoy doing.  I anticipated this request would go something like that.  But I was happily surprised.  This hymn text practically wrote itself. In a very brief period of time.  Did I feel particularly inspired?  Yes indeed.  And the result not only worked, it was also "as it was meant to be".

At least I thought so.  And then, I sent it to Glenn to see what he thought of it.  His immediate answer back was: "Perfect!"

Isn't it great wen a plan comes together like that?  

So, here's the thing.  Glenn tells me that BEFORE he seeks publication for a new piece, he shares it with friends and colleagues, so they have a first chance preenting it, and also they can give some good feedback on how it was received, both by the choir presenting it and the congregation that received it.  He has done that.  And encouraged me to do the same.  So I sent it out, and have had some encouraging replies from friends who are anticipating presenting it in the near future.  As I learn when they will do so, I will update this post, so you can have a chance to hear it.

The anthem is called "Rejoice! Salvation's Come!" and it begins with the line "Why am I thankful every day?"  the tune is known to those who know the old old hymn "The Gate Ajar for Me" - except Glenn has giving it a new extra verve.  When I heard it, I told him he has a hit on his hands.  At least, that is my conviction.

Stay "tuned" for updates as they come!

New Hymns for Churches Celebrating Special Anniversaries

I have completed several new anniversary hymns for congregations marking special milestones.

The Sycamore Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, is marking their 225th anniversary - remarkable isn't it - in a Sunday Morning worship celebration on Sunday, October 15, in less than two weeks from now.  Rev. Ross Reddick is their pastor and they have a robust and warm fellowship.  You can watch their worship that day on line, or see it later in their archive of recent services.

Trinity United Church of Christ in East Petersburg, Pennsylvania is marking its 175th anniversary in 2023.  At the request of the church’s pastor, Chris Rankin, I wrote a hymn for the church entitled “Now Hear God’s Word for Us This Day”, which is sung to the tune JERUSALEM.  East Petersburg is my hometown (where I lived from 1971 to 1982). Although we were members of Highland PC in Lancaster, Trinity UCC played a special part in my formative years, and I have a great fondness for them. (And a first hand knowledge of their past 50 or so years of their 175!).  This hymn will have its debut on Sunday, October 29th; you can worship with them on line to hear it, or consult their worship archives thereafter.  

 

South Presbyterian Church is marking 300 years in Bergenfield, New Jersey. Since 1723 this congregation has been a source of inspiration and strength for the community and a landmark in the local landscape.  As part of their yearlong celebration, I crafted  a new anniversary hymn text, called ”We Praise You God This Day”; it is sung to the familiar hymn tune VRUECHTEN, which is a tune beloved by the congregation and reflects their heritage.  Rev. Osvaldo 'Osy' Nuesch is the church's pastor.  The hymn will first be sung at a celebratory anniversary concert - as the finale - on Saturday, October 21, with the webcast starting at 7 p.m.  You can see it via the church website.

 

The Derry Presbyterian Church in Hershey, Pennsylvania will mark its 300^th anniversary in 2024.  For the Derry congregation, I have penned a hymn called “Bourne By the Waters, Braving the Waves”, which is sung, as the anniversary committee requested, to the tune of the “Skye Boat Song”, thus connecting to their Scots Irish Presbyterian roots.  Rev. Stephen McKinney-Whitaker is their pastor.  The hymn will first be sung the first Sunday in April 2024.  The congregation anticipates singing the hymn throughout their anniversary year.   

 

“These churches each have a remarkable and laudable history.  I am glad to lift up aspects of their congregations’ life in a hymn that is theirs alone, that they can sing during their anniversary celebration and in the years to come.”

Currently, I am at work on several other pieces for churches who are marking special anniversaries in the coming year.