tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20264561402679859392024-02-06T18:46:21.307-08:00New Hymn Texts of John A. DallesThis is a sampling of some of my hymn texts.Try them in worship. You may sing the hymns that appear under my copyright here, for one-time use in worship, with proper copyright information. Let me know if you do, by sending an email. Afterward, send a copy of the bulletin. I don’t charge a fee for one-time use, but encourage a donation of your discretion, to Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, 616 N Highland Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15026, "In honor of the hymns of John A. Dalles".John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-54442916563181291592023-12-18T08:38:00.000-08:002023-12-18T08:50:06.338-08:00Fort Street Presbyterian Church, in Detroit, Michigan - 175th Anniversary<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">1849 = 175 Years<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Fort Street Presbyterian Church, in Detroit, Michigan, is an absolutely impressive church. In 2024 they are celebrating their 175<sup>th</sup> anniversary. My work with the church began with Pastor Garrett Longmann. From the conversations we had together, emerged a new hymn for them. </span></p></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCJvCmjIF0cgXRRExrasxubS6qdwyVYtiJ4MkE0OWlvWPSpC0wIYgEFo6gd-K63aefrlF1ZHkG3xGA3GWTxyY8XUoks71LE8AEKON63Yl-7SGLDTrWfdXmlMlkG-PXIA4bQUodoiXG2dGT6twLmAeDLHkyJ_Wak_LjqNF4ZcTNoEY_nR9BLAYMLG8Sgc/s775/IMG_2357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="775" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCJvCmjIF0cgXRRExrasxubS6qdwyVYtiJ4MkE0OWlvWPSpC0wIYgEFo6gd-K63aefrlF1ZHkG3xGA3GWTxyY8XUoks71LE8AEKON63Yl-7SGLDTrWfdXmlMlkG-PXIA4bQUodoiXG2dGT6twLmAeDLHkyJ_Wak_LjqNF4ZcTNoEY_nR9BLAYMLG8Sgc/w640-h638/IMG_2357.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">The anniversary hymn I created for them is called: </span><i style="text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">“Christ, Who Once Beckoned”.</i><span style="text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> I sent it to them on November 15, 2023. </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwA8MsrtXs2a37xBspG8Nz6UJHXUeGT3Z_z8CbvfXkmt-AKnrl_pdzXiF00vn5QSlp8sbJ9dA4PZ5JjPRN5sbpoCexjuskv6SeYn472q_4zmmo-X03mWvCkymzSXwzhXfaxt8WwQwwsw9MEMXXBQCTJdHtvL7GRmIRcLNGwJbzGHf9fAsasUIV4m4-N1w/s1152/IMG_2358.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="779" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwA8MsrtXs2a37xBspG8Nz6UJHXUeGT3Z_z8CbvfXkmt-AKnrl_pdzXiF00vn5QSlp8sbJ9dA4PZ5JjPRN5sbpoCexjuskv6SeYn472q_4zmmo-X03mWvCkymzSXwzhXfaxt8WwQwwsw9MEMXXBQCTJdHtvL7GRmIRcLNGwJbzGHf9fAsasUIV4m4-N1w/w432-h640/IMG_2358.jpg" width="432" /></a></span></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></u></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Garrett got back to me on November 16</span><sup style="text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">th</sup><span style="text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">. He told me that they have a new music director Patrick Kuhl, and that Patrick would respond directly regarding the new hymn.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-GB6UwG4fChn6egcrOTFELIsgPOWOlnfm9lt2_Z8H1Q9BK2WDsJJPToof6J9nCZEa75E-D5f7kOhVUp38laDEUh_eOQ6K3R8ianyrI2QVpnmY2_XBJrdW6GEsZwSxZCswU40atldhCnFHYslzcBWXjefpbjBFpGGTloGovDpdYkyn0Jxb9MPfWJ-0Z8/s1169/IMG_2359.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="777" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-GB6UwG4fChn6egcrOTFELIsgPOWOlnfm9lt2_Z8H1Q9BK2WDsJJPToof6J9nCZEa75E-D5f7kOhVUp38laDEUh_eOQ6K3R8ianyrI2QVpnmY2_XBJrdW6GEsZwSxZCswU40atldhCnFHYslzcBWXjefpbjBFpGGTloGovDpdYkyn0Jxb9MPfWJ-0Z8/w426-h640/IMG_2359.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></u></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> I had an email from Patrick on November 21, 2023, saying that he approves and plans to use the hymn to the familiar tune i suggested, JERUSALEM.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHrJ4bBvjQDCQxFk1A0HiMeZ8YtRzughvOwrkP0qijftdASl5HMDcMuUgcVTXUUlcwlP7RHWRANF3GrQGZsQpeC1RNZedpXQqcjTjvZU-rLkdco4_ux9u8gmcIwaik0Sg6FhNFqxlR72u0KuXjRRWYlcrfkjkQAdTvQGmk6a1aJH_ko0vV2GYSDNsOLE/s775/IMG_2360.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="775" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHrJ4bBvjQDCQxFk1A0HiMeZ8YtRzughvOwrkP0qijftdASl5HMDcMuUgcVTXUUlcwlP7RHWRANF3GrQGZsQpeC1RNZedpXQqcjTjvZU-rLkdco4_ux9u8gmcIwaik0Sg6FhNFqxlR72u0KuXjRRWYlcrfkjkQAdTvQGmk6a1aJH_ko0vV2GYSDNsOLE/w640-h478/IMG_2360.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 16pt; text-align: left;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 21.33333396911621px;">These gorgeous photos of this incredible church building were made by Helmut Ziewers for Historic Detroit. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-30942661302605539862023-12-18T07:40:00.000-08:002023-12-18T08:30:35.961-08:00A New Hymn for Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Hamilton Union 1824 – 200 years.<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Celebrating 200 years, the Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church is located in Guilderland, New York. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53fsgJJMhYygjyZ0MoXclutrjTcQU3_qOgsVKYvojFa__tBIDxH2iMRU_UH43eUjp9yn8vbdvDKCbYNf2I9BvNmt-sdOXTfgIMTY7x6FLuytZnC1b0K2kkXPOz6BxyNH68YXOJiw_42vbJyqeBH5GTtGhPNvVfCRhB7FvREDjvABGc18palOA7zvl5aE/s828/IMG_2351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="828" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi53fsgJJMhYygjyZ0MoXclutrjTcQU3_qOgsVKYvojFa__tBIDxH2iMRU_UH43eUjp9yn8vbdvDKCbYNf2I9BvNmt-sdOXTfgIMTY7x6FLuytZnC1b0K2kkXPOz6BxyNH68YXOJiw_42vbJyqeBH5GTtGhPNvVfCRhB7FvREDjvABGc18palOA7zvl5aE/w640-h420/IMG_2351.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFXo00BUEm6B_xBx5dlI7nTSx9-V5lRUvbMEiPSyrdsYZp6U89el5uBKxztbSmifQ74NxD5_vD4CpPXyDIY8JqH0W2ox3CPG-CM4owHHgeBduHacQonKuJAmfDeDNzRZwYm8j8G-VBzEqP9Z3_P4RoPgpzNzBVPs99g7qAbYPFNzc0rgUHZvMHPcueRk/s999/IMG_2352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="828" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFXo00BUEm6B_xBx5dlI7nTSx9-V5lRUvbMEiPSyrdsYZp6U89el5uBKxztbSmifQ74NxD5_vD4CpPXyDIY8JqH0W2ox3CPG-CM4owHHgeBduHacQonKuJAmfDeDNzRZwYm8j8G-VBzEqP9Z3_P4RoPgpzNzBVPs99g7qAbYPFNzc0rgUHZvMHPcueRk/w331-h400/IMG_2352.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGCGIiQDe_Xi07YMOt9fIf6K8kKyOIWuBMTm3Sa7WI3gNbzQ1N1JFFEy7tcnfIfvF4Gq6k3Vo-d0gphHMIICV9KxC6fOtPVoGN-TF-dL2-lK77FNXj2HEOQB_DMwjEX_Nn4Uc5iauoVclZyI4mr-n4EvZv0U_GKPAdUakvUBCWPWvwKh34WL6W_W264g/s604/IMG_2353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="604" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGCGIiQDe_Xi07YMOt9fIf6K8kKyOIWuBMTm3Sa7WI3gNbzQ1N1JFFEy7tcnfIfvF4Gq6k3Vo-d0gphHMIICV9KxC6fOtPVoGN-TF-dL2-lK77FNXj2HEOQB_DMwjEX_Nn4Uc5iauoVclZyI4mr-n4EvZv0U_GKPAdUakvUBCWPWvwKh34WL6W_W264g/w640-h452/IMG_2353.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_KxJxYidVxtpFgd8ChbIZVPJ0ZDvrJmctUfk5nI4XX19TEXfExY3VBVrerw5kCTJFVhZZsIqOTrxl6KzEToUuzLuAYp-HGQewXkJ8NWc6xz6j02mjSr57y27IiDUT8J8TCOnorQ5uoAv2deUmh-8iUdJElUoSmE5GBMkeIvRIusJ1T0P0d1VlLB8UNk/s828/IMG_2354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="828" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_KxJxYidVxtpFgd8ChbIZVPJ0ZDvrJmctUfk5nI4XX19TEXfExY3VBVrerw5kCTJFVhZZsIqOTrxl6KzEToUuzLuAYp-HGQewXkJ8NWc6xz6j02mjSr57y27IiDUT8J8TCOnorQ5uoAv2deUmh-8iUdJElUoSmE5GBMkeIvRIusJ1T0P0d1VlLB8UNk/w640-h488/IMG_2354.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>Carol Scott is Choir Director and Organist. We began </span><span>planning</span><span> the </span><span>anniversary</span><span> hymn a few months ago. From its inception, we envisioned that Carol would write a new tune to go with my new anniversary text. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Thereafter, I wrote and sent to Carol “<i>With Tenderness, You Shaped The Past”</i>. Carol liked the hymn, and plans to write the new tune for it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>Also, as you can see from the photograph of the interior of the sanctuary, this congregation sings from the correct blue 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal. Good for them!</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-81050122348784493882023-12-17T09:33:00.000-08:002023-12-17T11:41:41.202-08:00Wekiva Presbyterian Church - Live Worship Webcast History<p><span style="font-size: large;">Back in mid-2004, while serving as the senior pastor of Wekiva Presbyterian Church in Longwood, Florida, and while dreaming about new initiatives for the church, an idea began to form in my mind...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was trying to think of how we might reach others who for one reason or another were not able to be with us in person on a Sunday morning </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now, I knew that TV broadcast was one way, but the cost of setting up such a ministry seemed out of the realm of possibility. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I also remembered fondly from my Pittsburgh roots that the Rev. Dr. Hugh Thomson Kerr had initiated regular radio broadcasts of worship at Shadyside Presbyterian Church, during his tenure there - the first church anywhere to do so. It would be great to do as he did (a minister I have long considered among the very finest ever). But, again, the cost of a weekly radio broadcast seemed daunting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Fortunately, my thoughts moved from the past to the present day. </i> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One was hearing that businesses were having meetings virtually, rather than in person. If a business meeting could happen via computer, I wondered if perhaps worship meetings on Sunday morning would be able to do the same.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I don't pretend to be technically savvy but I know someone who is very much so.... David Larson who is the youngest Charter Member of Wekiva Presbyterian Church. So sometime in the summer, I asked him if he would be willing to look into the possibility of our doing worship on the internet each Sunday. Dave liked the idea, and said he would research it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After having done so, he told me that it wasn't possible. That the technology wasn't there. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I was naturally disappointed, but of course understood. So I put that idea completely out of my mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Fast forward a few months later. One fine day, Dave telephoned me. After we had said our hellos, without further ado, he said, <i>"We can do it!" </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I - having forgotten about my earlier request - said, <i>"Do what?"</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Dave explained that he had done more research. That a member of his staff had a brother in Puerto Rico who had managed to do live worship in his church there, for a special occasion, and that fortuitously, Dave's office and computer hardware were just within the proper distance to allow the webcast to be sent there and then broadcast on the internet from there. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He asked me to visit him at his office so he could explain it in more detail. Which I did. And which he did.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You know those visuals of a rocket scientist at a huge blackboard working out an intricate equation? It was like that. A huge whiteboard was in Dave's conference room. While I sat watching, he started at the left, and began making his way to the right. Numbers. Diagrams. Arrows. They filled the board. It was totally impressive. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>And I was t totally lost, after the first few markings Dave wrote...</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When he got to the far end of the whiteboard, he turned around toward me grinning, and said, <i>"There you have it!"</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I could tell he was expecting a wise and informed response. What I did manage to say was this, pointing first to the left end of the board: <i>"So you video the worship service there..."</i> and then pointing to the far right of the board, <i>"And the worship service appears on people's home computer, there."</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Exactly!"</i> Dave said. With a huge smile. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So we had the plan. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Being Good Presbyterians, we took the plan to the Session of the church for their approval. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0ImjQHCzMJdRGl7HGQCwiQnuKhoWceKbUnKqDoEOw1Da1XFpy0U2Xk819ohHdV9_QK5OG7ySS8X5vvWElV6YEYO0TWbcLueKU-GOe7YxdTANc5GHxI6RcWUNk1IbS5akPbPo3rG2HWtfU9XcMJQ1q6Sj6EcqZgpgDykUUhJqcY7Ql5trbDJP_x_HgTg/s1462/A3C17398-5FA7-4EEA-9F3B-02D471633AB4-1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1462" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0ImjQHCzMJdRGl7HGQCwiQnuKhoWceKbUnKqDoEOw1Da1XFpy0U2Xk819ohHdV9_QK5OG7ySS8X5vvWElV6YEYO0TWbcLueKU-GOe7YxdTANc5GHxI6RcWUNk1IbS5akPbPo3rG2HWtfU9XcMJQ1q6Sj6EcqZgpgDykUUhJqcY7Ql5trbDJP_x_HgTg/w640-h462/A3C17398-5FA7-4EEA-9F3B-02D471633AB4-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And we set the first Sunday in January 2005 as our launch date. Which went off as it should have, and began a live worship webcast that Wekiva had continued each week, up to today - and on to the future. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It is good that what was brand new <i>then</i> has become a universal aspect of churches everywhere, <i>now. </i> I am glad to have been a part of its inception. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>There's a sequel to the story, which I will add at some time in the future. </i> </span></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-15569027934471275032023-12-17T09:05:00.000-08:002023-12-17T11:42:07.029-08:00Bethesda MD Congregation will Celebrate Its Anniversary with a John Dalles Hymn...<p><span style="font-size: large;">If you live in metropolitan DC you may already recognize the Hermon Presbyterian Church. It is the quintessential white frame church with a center tower at the doorway, that you will see depicted in many illustrations, especially at Christmas time. It looks like a child's drawing of <i>"The way churches are supposed to look".</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you are looking for a small church worship and community and you're in the DC area, you should visit. The congregation has a full mission ministry, and is a very welcoming place.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNjXPbyQeGITRoH4i1nxV966bszuCn9SLXe6qWHnRPOaK8dJ76ZmayOgdJMK31uCHABkHxnsTqq9lTfgMsR-60sM0nIfusXJp5OaatiUovaeFOq34CI3mySgZej8ql-jPOpTl-tx_kxC4aN5SBCIrGJdbIul6fDYnfwcYk_DG6SH9Sd-f5qUlNGn2zB0/s804/IMG_2322.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNjXPbyQeGITRoH4i1nxV966bszuCn9SLXe6qWHnRPOaK8dJ76ZmayOgdJMK31uCHABkHxnsTqq9lTfgMsR-60sM0nIfusXJp5OaatiUovaeFOq34CI3mySgZej8ql-jPOpTl-tx_kxC4aN5SBCIrGJdbIul6fDYnfwcYk_DG6SH9Sd-f5qUlNGn2zB0/w574-h640/IMG_2322.jpg" width="574" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3YyK8e_AMC_bfptR7S8a5H2FBOBPEJvJd1cVNDH0-NP1a3CYBaDKjEwEpN1pvqIlqZwY7rDUfHlo7BPa7jFPiIJwl9cZN8_YSnQYfXFjuEVdeTiXXH6bi6DUqeu2coFh_xMLZoNkC3XkMGDKoVUuFTZyF_O7FkZnyiXYtDrM7EfW5K-ZBNplcLFJmvg/s828/IMG_2323.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="828" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3YyK8e_AMC_bfptR7S8a5H2FBOBPEJvJd1cVNDH0-NP1a3CYBaDKjEwEpN1pvqIlqZwY7rDUfHlo7BPa7jFPiIJwl9cZN8_YSnQYfXFjuEVdeTiXXH6bi6DUqeu2coFh_xMLZoNkC3XkMGDKoVUuFTZyF_O7FkZnyiXYtDrM7EfW5K-ZBNplcLFJmvg/w640-h630/IMG_2323.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLes_DXDYEQGooVpq64Gbp9FLU-cHAQfK9g5gKerfrilAb-GURIU2PyBkg8lIU2ZdLuy3XWamFpyoCBfTGxO2Ycfi2BbktBNpxP7mL-ooFzX8mKNhU6SOVhi9ScurycJ5CjLF3vh9nHM9S2z4nDoQWgoJXfv2Oy0rDF_4cpc_y9qEX-zr7BcHP7LU8NeE/s827/IMG_2324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="827" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLes_DXDYEQGooVpq64Gbp9FLU-cHAQfK9g5gKerfrilAb-GURIU2PyBkg8lIU2ZdLuy3XWamFpyoCBfTGxO2Ycfi2BbktBNpxP7mL-ooFzX8mKNhU6SOVhi9ScurycJ5CjLF3vh9nHM9S2z4nDoQWgoJXfv2Oy0rDF_4cpc_y9qEX-zr7BcHP7LU8NeE/w640-h630/IMG_2324.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They are about to celebrate a milestone anniversary, and I am glad to be part of it, even if remotely, by having written an anniversary hymn for them to sing. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>It is great to be able to be with the church in spirit, if not in person, for their special day. Here is how the new hymn came into being:</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>I worked with Andrew Corson, who is a church Elder and who grew up in the church. In response to my <span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">request</span> for idea starters, Andrew </span><span>provided Hermon’s beautiful and thoughtful Welcome Statement, as well as some photos of the current restoration work being done on the church. Andrew indicated that they like singing ROCK OF AGES, A MIGHT </span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">FORTRESS</span></span><span>, and GOD OF AGES. So I selected from those ROCK OF AGES, to which I wrote </span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">their</span></span><span> new anniversary hymn called: <i>“God of Blessings, On This Day…”</i> and emailed it to him in early </span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">December</span></span></span><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">. I'm looking forward to hearing how the congregation enjoys singing it.</span><b style="color: #7030a0; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p> </p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-63687934500966091512023-12-17T08:59:00.000-08:002023-12-18T09:17:41.307-08:00Coronation Anthem by Handel Updated for Use on Easter Day.<p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the happy connections that hymn writing has proved me is the connection with Wendy Bamonte, the music director at the Lake Grove Presbyterian Church in Oswego, Oregon. Wendy is very energetic and creative. She has been planning for Easter 2024, and as a result of her planning, she contacted me with what I consider to be a delightful request.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She loves the anthem "Zadok the Priest" which George Friedrich Handel wrote as a Coronation Anthem. But of course, the lyrics to the original - which are scripturally based - deal specifically with the crowning of a new monarch. Indeed, the most recent occasion on which the anthem was heard worldwide was for the coronation of Charles III. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8YatyFkUGkf624yL5O6jKCKAI_m6xOemj65ik-8oaxzNBWES3htS4Np6Bup3J8TdWBMb1ge10-MyrXPp0AUtplxbhSij0I0BpStGjW32t6mu-B4pTkDoMgWcixarW5rbH2yzbBC7n-Gi66mU_tqnFSIdv8Rro13bzwDsEGnctEVPjqRjIWKYwguZmB8/s828/IMG_2321-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="828" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8YatyFkUGkf624yL5O6jKCKAI_m6xOemj65ik-8oaxzNBWES3htS4Np6Bup3J8TdWBMb1ge10-MyrXPp0AUtplxbhSij0I0BpStGjW32t6mu-B4pTkDoMgWcixarW5rbH2yzbBC7n-Gi66mU_tqnFSIdv8Rro13bzwDsEGnctEVPjqRjIWKYwguZmB8/w640-h598/IMG_2321-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>(You can hear a wonderful rendition of the original by the choir of Westminster Abbey on YouTube.)</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Zadok the Priest" was written in 1721 for the Coronation of George II. The original lyrics were based on I Kings 1:38-40. when Zadok the Priest anointed Solomon as King of Israel. The passage has been sung since the 900s at British coronations, set by a number of </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>composers, until Handel wrote the definitive version that has been sung at coronations ever since George II's. At that first presentation of the anthem, the choir of Westminster Abbey actually sang it at a wrong part of the service. It is nice to know that even on great occasions of state, these matters that sometimes challenge worship planners on a Sunday morning, happen. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Wendy asked me to modify the lyrics, so that the anthem could be sung at Lake Grove on Easter Day, 2024. It was a lovely request, and I enjoyed fulfilling it for her. She tells me that the anthem with my new words will debut this coming Easter. I will be sure to worship with them via the web to hear the premier.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-61091203609727299862023-12-17T08:51:00.000-08:002023-12-17T10:48:55.965-08:00New Psalm Contest - Two Honorable Mentions!<p><span style="font-size: large;">New Psalm Contest - Two Honorable Mentions!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBP5JW8SurEmmWN5wMg4Y5L48sr8Q9XsaXDfusAtZPrbmdRErYHRyfUxTs8obmqDwm3Wve0GDDniuBO6HKGDF3v6GNIyUdWce4rkX23NR4ABre6NzIXCppqJR76q8PfESmzBeeoSkk7Fn5rAGOHtrDHrhfDoYFX-IXH5kpsi8m9kcTVZ-Wn4ff_xc22sE/s828/IMG_2319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="828" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBP5JW8SurEmmWN5wMg4Y5L48sr8Q9XsaXDfusAtZPrbmdRErYHRyfUxTs8obmqDwm3Wve0GDDniuBO6HKGDF3v6GNIyUdWce4rkX23NR4ABre6NzIXCppqJR76q8PfESmzBeeoSkk7Fn5rAGOHtrDHrhfDoYFX-IXH5kpsi8m9kcTVZ-Wn4ff_xc22sE/w640-h588/IMG_2319.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGP6qqdriLZ0U9ZqHaDld30mHgj79GFF58vFBKIJM-nJsPF5Y5ByiC9nP1bn4_OG86b6KyG-Pmtu3BS8QZziKrhbkjoBAIfStHHYPYzRaNTdukTejGawhgegXwhbbHBDjdLlOPlNIlARVG7XS0NzI8lIW7IYiqyE8zH-UnK6uufaTZhrTizMB0LMILIg/s828/IMG_2320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="828" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtGP6qqdriLZ0U9ZqHaDld30mHgj79GFF58vFBKIJM-nJsPF5Y5ByiC9nP1bn4_OG86b6KyG-Pmtu3BS8QZziKrhbkjoBAIfStHHYPYzRaNTdukTejGawhgegXwhbbHBDjdLlOPlNIlARVG7XS0NzI8lIW7IYiqyE8zH-UnK6uufaTZhrTizMB0LMILIg/w640-h574/IMG_2320.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You may remember that earlier in this year, composer Glenn Rudolph and I submitted two new psalms for congressional singing to the 2023 New Psalm Contest, which is sponsored annually by the Church of the Servant in Grand Rapids, Michigan.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Recently we received word that not one, but both of them, were given honorable mention by the team of judges. The hymns are available to be seen and heard on the church's website.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-21673576109134070862023-12-17T08:45:00.000-08:002024-01-25T08:38:38.579-08:00The Congregational Church of Westborough, Massachusetts - A New Hymn<p><span style="font-size: large;">The Congregational Church of Westborough, Massachusetts - A New Hymn</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I am happy to share that recently I completed hymn for the 300th anniversary of the Congregational Church of Westborough, Massachusetts. They will be having a big celebration on February 11, 2024, and this hymn will be part of it.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWIqk3_MzypLUc5KKvWhQgm5P4BzApdB57SbZe4Du73loe4xbpdApsxG-nRsufbgRRDLmCNR1jbPyoT8GqtVeBofH7ePZMVtE_26NKYoOevGgRLm-4UbNeWDbQIWUUyv0dXkDqqvXSoa8okBFHFXudkOEnq4CmlVC7zm_u53NKL-DahWkNq30HgrI00E/s828/IMG_2318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="828" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWIqk3_MzypLUc5KKvWhQgm5P4BzApdB57SbZe4Du73loe4xbpdApsxG-nRsufbgRRDLmCNR1jbPyoT8GqtVeBofH7ePZMVtE_26NKYoOevGgRLm-4UbNeWDbQIWUUyv0dXkDqqvXSoa8okBFHFXudkOEnq4CmlVC7zm_u53NKL-DahWkNq30HgrI00E/w640-h464/IMG_2318.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">An interesting fact about this congregation is that for many years, the bell in their steeple was one that had been made by Paul Revere. That same bell now resides in the belfry of old South Church in Boston. The photograph you see is from the cover of a book that was written for the history of the church 25 years ago. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The new hymn emerged as follows...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>The planning </span><span>began</span><span> in conjunction with Catherine "Cathie" Achorn, who is the chairperson of their 300</span><sup>th</sup><span> Anniversary Committee. Thereafter, there were o</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">ngoing emails with Tom Morgan, their church historian, as well as with Cathie.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);"> </span><span>Cathie sent me the 275th anniversary </span><span>church history </span><span>book.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">Tom sent a link to the lecture he gave about the history of the houses of worship in Westborough.</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);"> </span><span> From this great information, I wrote a hymn called </span><b><i>“Three Hundred Years of Faith”</i></b><span> for them. I sent the hymn on November 26, 2023 which they thereafter approved the next day. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Their motto for the anniversary is: <i>"300 Years of Faith, Hope, and Service".</i> That served as the inspiration for my hymn, which is entitled: <i>"300 Years of Faith!"</i></span></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-44556849813050860482023-12-17T08:38:00.000-08:002023-12-17T11:43:27.893-08:00Lake Grove Presbyterian Church in Oswego, Oregon<p><span style="font-size: large;">Lake Grove Presbyterian Church in Oswego, Oregon, will be celebrating it Centennial in 2024. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSoY0fvtF6OtmYUHUvS4Fv-hpZlV3X0pn3kssMdDbYbZgNiQl2AMBnCMgwRL_d6AQth1LmBLHKJn74vXMxMfAJ1A5F7h1ISJWlgmlhhJUQFcOXqig1k3E6fNvsbKNZ36avlbxiXM838bSBRXqA-vddbz5d0bkZSsRuXcsCuyjlGxRHZOLSub1iTFCp_s/s828/IMG_2316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="828" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheSoY0fvtF6OtmYUHUvS4Fv-hpZlV3X0pn3kssMdDbYbZgNiQl2AMBnCMgwRL_d6AQth1LmBLHKJn74vXMxMfAJ1A5F7h1ISJWlgmlhhJUQFcOXqig1k3E6fNvsbKNZ36avlbxiXM838bSBRXqA-vddbz5d0bkZSsRuXcsCuyjlGxRHZOLSub1iTFCp_s/w640-h490/IMG_2316.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTAkCkr00PmhF3-HXn7Q-YxhOvpPJ-EH8N_SdB4YNyXKn1Hb-zL4Gfrg5WVDNGbQhQDa3apmVD_LV4hL-ZlfEZt6m_2JtRV8fzOGVR_K7JEAq44YplOn6z-Ui8AC9XzZ-7ZSLkewKcTrE4tQrHlsUPb-gX2g1yaNvsUQdfF8SeUQI0-wt-wzsiKpm58k/s828/IMG_2317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="828" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTAkCkr00PmhF3-HXn7Q-YxhOvpPJ-EH8N_SdB4YNyXKn1Hb-zL4Gfrg5WVDNGbQhQDa3apmVD_LV4hL-ZlfEZt6m_2JtRV8fzOGVR_K7JEAq44YplOn6z-Ui8AC9XzZ-7ZSLkewKcTrE4tQrHlsUPb-gX2g1yaNvsUQdfF8SeUQI0-wt-wzsiKpm58k/w640-h490/IMG_2317.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have written them a new hymn that the will sing to help mark the occasion. This is the first of several new works that I have written for them. It is entitled: </span></p><p><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>“We Join in Celebration…”</i> to be sung to ANGELS STORY, to be sung as part of their anniversary celebrations on September 8, 2024. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Soon I will be posting about the new lyrics I created for their Easter 2024 worship service. Great to have this connection with a wonderful congregation!</span></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-54029678998791922342023-12-17T08:34:00.000-08:002023-12-17T11:43:54.459-08:00Hymn for First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, New York<p><span style="font-size: large;">Hymn for First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown, New York</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBrsKQZYfapPYUk41Hs-K4vC1Wy3Y58hu9g5tcv6JS2yEjGt5k-BXHzRyo649YVdMrBqTabSep2Q0Vi0QZn18QuIyHgU9fbzQiuc9ESQkAsIclkrpfI40cIqJvzXNdSXA4x7MSkvwXAQOBPgOCLosDh3lPgMPbSohGP3hJovo_wnzXlB5bcLAShematU/s828/IMG_2314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="828" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBrsKQZYfapPYUk41Hs-K4vC1Wy3Y58hu9g5tcv6JS2yEjGt5k-BXHzRyo649YVdMrBqTabSep2Q0Vi0QZn18QuIyHgU9fbzQiuc9ESQkAsIclkrpfI40cIqJvzXNdSXA4x7MSkvwXAQOBPgOCLosDh3lPgMPbSohGP3hJovo_wnzXlB5bcLAShematU/w640-h538/IMG_2314.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvJTYubiO46eSqBkoaCjhRxAQy1g9eGVVHmXZx7GzQGiviKOH1Xz3O_5eK0FpzF5XUefLllI54R4-3Eu9PmslhMu6GxIDIWXdArc2Mgaj3tZUsHwVgPpsv5YMSOSnPLQ4x36h8pKVDOQBGlZvfTtuSA97TB9Dm32IGqKCfEuVhD9ccz1ieqBpSy9L7Sk/s827/IMG_2315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="827" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvJTYubiO46eSqBkoaCjhRxAQy1g9eGVVHmXZx7GzQGiviKOH1Xz3O_5eK0FpzF5XUefLllI54R4-3Eu9PmslhMu6GxIDIWXdArc2Mgaj3tZUsHwVgPpsv5YMSOSnPLQ4x36h8pKVDOQBGlZvfTtuSA97TB9Dm32IGqKCfEuVhD9ccz1ieqBpSy9L7Sk/w640-h534/IMG_2315.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I am delighted to announce that I recently completed a hymn for the First Presbyterian Church of Youngstown New York. The church is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. Here is how the writing of the hymn happened:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I first talked </span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">about</span></span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> it with the church's </span>minister, the<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rev Robert (Bob) Hagel. Thereafter, I worked in conjunction with Paige Hardison, who is the church's Director of Music, Chancel Choir, and Bells. Paige </span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">consulted</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> with their church organist and I began work on their hymn, set to a familiar tune. When it was ready, I sent it to Paige. The hymn title being: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">“We Know Some Names”</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> which was ap</span><span><span style="caret-color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">proved</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> in mid November 2023.</span></span></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-2516508704343608642023-10-29T06:23:00.014-07:002023-12-17T11:44:52.137-08:00A New Hymn for the First Church of Weymouth's Four Hundredth Anniversary (1623-2023)<p><span style="font-size: large;"> 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.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtcmhqdr6sgXBCZ5tfETBldI3LcsB3ZJtswMrJWn1qFXAXpp71rYtSVTX91FjxNlHpfrfl0-_QjzFmcKNZijJinEcbbb6fhPAEvK9IKbKiVEFlJKd1tOSg0zNonw0EcOcIjcfqGgJ-W1ZvJN5hRUeew5p9naPbZ-16BfAqTiP-EF8A8HNaj1Pxlzsg4TY/s1006/IMG_9227.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1006" data-original-width="708" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtcmhqdr6sgXBCZ5tfETBldI3LcsB3ZJtswMrJWn1qFXAXpp71rYtSVTX91FjxNlHpfrfl0-_QjzFmcKNZijJinEcbbb6fhPAEvK9IKbKiVEFlJKd1tOSg0zNonw0EcOcIjcfqGgJ-W1ZvJN5hRUeew5p9naPbZ-16BfAqTiP-EF8A8HNaj1Pxlzsg4TY/w450-h640/IMG_9227.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGK7HfTwyLFB3HUtkgNhIXOnCFdjKJsZJP8ldHMhcK9oYZxYXTEtyfg5pGGYwExyOq2BI6vb5Z5yDt7X6qnNGPjoieWqE1ihm0L8K4B0cVngE56k1Fjab8svrd5JlnAvr0_HBzgDInzhsdUW0Vw-OdYZNAHvK9GmvIroS6SbmiFJwnDLyJi61IWwBGHM/s987/IMG_9228.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="725" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGK7HfTwyLFB3HUtkgNhIXOnCFdjKJsZJP8ldHMhcK9oYZxYXTEtyfg5pGGYwExyOq2BI6vb5Z5yDt7X6qnNGPjoieWqE1ihm0L8K4B0cVngE56k1Fjab8svrd5JlnAvr0_HBzgDInzhsdUW0Vw-OdYZNAHvK9GmvIroS6SbmiFJwnDLyJi61IWwBGHM/w470-h640/IMG_9228.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMN_Toh5lzUnym690ZBIK8oQV4p23FYKcobr6Pf0l9YWClUhnCXQBPF8hKQNWZQX_ItsQwQFTi9mkQG9NxPbwc64DoMSR4OT7n1afYAFaFULE7wakJMEKMJUpGetNnamGmstITKy1h6Mgr4QDJ_k64VZzItme_Nj6PL1s5MoxcX8FcRt8cDQdRprKqUtQ/s739/IMG_9229.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMN_Toh5lzUnym690ZBIK8oQV4p23FYKcobr6Pf0l9YWClUhnCXQBPF8hKQNWZQX_ItsQwQFTi9mkQG9NxPbwc64DoMSR4OT7n1afYAFaFULE7wakJMEKMJUpGetNnamGmstITKy1h6Mgr4QDJ_k64VZzItme_Nj6PL1s5MoxcX8FcRt8cDQdRprKqUtQ/w638-h640/IMG_9229.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The church has been celebrating its 400th all year long, and had a special concert several weeks ago. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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 </span><span>answering</span><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> many of the questions and adding additional helpful </span>details<span style="font-family: inherit;">. From it, I was immediately inspired to write their hymn </span></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“Four Hundred Years Before Us”.</i> </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">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. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfKyqlvddCi-ODYm0m9RCjL51eBEi0ge2ZAFz6w0c6pRixrVOIqyDTOMvkRHWtaQc93c_ZhOvRoDIul6AgzfecwhV4prccBmD6TL_bzm9MFUoDVouOVNXiOmT0tB8htTdnGNxn4zZAYRjjkxf6oqNEfF_Zt4hUkCVEOlL8ES3bTGgp9U6zNGq9eSeWDs/s828/IMG_9235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="828" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfKyqlvddCi-ODYm0m9RCjL51eBEi0ge2ZAFz6w0c6pRixrVOIqyDTOMvkRHWtaQc93c_ZhOvRoDIul6AgzfecwhV4prccBmD6TL_bzm9MFUoDVouOVNXiOmT0tB8htTdnGNxn4zZAYRjjkxf6oqNEfF_Zt4hUkCVEOlL8ES3bTGgp9U6zNGq9eSeWDs/w640-h358/IMG_9235.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-91703483819069264712023-10-28T06:35:00.005-07:002023-10-29T11:23:52.498-07:00175th Anniversary Hymn - Trinity United Church of Christ, East Petersburg, PA<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw46hRvb3zfFNb5W0-TBUc7VIJXnaNjVu9qb2mY1A5ikzNRAie1RBfF1sYdOlZaWjmvNWMiDWrdtXhv6hqQIq_7Lv6h00r0pyd5Q0Lh22vgOfS2BOOlRdvJRN0A8JWUmyVyAEFLmvuroNh39LlFnS0-7pxzde9Dszbv1mhIzbuKsBz1nM4lfwNxXU_jyc/s474/IMG_6370-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="474" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw46hRvb3zfFNb5W0-TBUc7VIJXnaNjVu9qb2mY1A5ikzNRAie1RBfF1sYdOlZaWjmvNWMiDWrdtXhv6hqQIq_7Lv6h00r0pyd5Q0Lh22vgOfS2BOOlRdvJRN0A8JWUmyVyAEFLmvuroNh39LlFnS0-7pxzde9Dszbv1mhIzbuKsBz1nM4lfwNxXU_jyc/w640-h318/IMG_6370-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The church is justly famous for its warm hospitality and well-known for its beautiful stained glass window shown here:</span></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1k3edMmHR4CyIdfXg9SgfCq9-D16r8N15GB7tpJgEFIwBc6dbwNPWH98YtCXLz21zpYYHpLbb22w5wCy_Qzq2WB0DxaCy80DkVFQ_HftJIddRVxinHx5Lo2kEqjL-nuwjq3_2WaBdUXFpAqgb96H5AFgx4cLgZOegUOnWBLBHErWUVy7EUhs41AA5R8k/s1040/IMG_6369.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1k3edMmHR4CyIdfXg9SgfCq9-D16r8N15GB7tpJgEFIwBc6dbwNPWH98YtCXLz21zpYYHpLbb22w5wCy_Qzq2WB0DxaCy80DkVFQ_HftJIddRVxinHx5Lo2kEqjL-nuwjq3_2WaBdUXFpAqgb96H5AFgx4cLgZOegUOnWBLBHErWUVy7EUhs41AA5R8k/w510-h640/IMG_6369.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE3jaEsnpxP5O2eH5ew1PSMig2c9pIOcfUYUjSGS1wnP1xAHYGdTvcMIDqo2G_FJ5IrCkf3i4ehUagvjVsLLwl3zbn9BeruT6xKB5M6UTBb-VJRbsEQuEx32hIv91YmVQYUeuXuN0eGipxM1xOn23ZCAfY8Gdj5oJVQM0s0KL2xUgJLOvO-ZOApn31Es/s755/IMG_9170.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="755" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtE3jaEsnpxP5O2eH5ew1PSMig2c9pIOcfUYUjSGS1wnP1xAHYGdTvcMIDqo2G_FJ5IrCkf3i4ehUagvjVsLLwl3zbn9BeruT6xKB5M6UTBb-VJRbsEQuEx32hIv91YmVQYUeuXuN0eGipxM1xOn23ZCAfY8Gdj5oJVQM0s0KL2xUgJLOvO-ZOApn31Es/w640-h364/IMG_9170.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLF1QClSd-Cnw5OIcC261Y97jbE9rAYiXHO57_DD44lrBYahcHT1rokSjBubf3y40aFnCl_IopWEDlFIB6QJBclKaBP2Dw6VdoZvRIwTMBE38x7rYtfeoqJxRvBnlJ5gaTWaoibDwGzVbF4EduqNhT_oIA4169gYYTUyqmpLnWMniKA1RtWOIMrBN-zA/s909/IMG_9171.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLF1QClSd-Cnw5OIcC261Y97jbE9rAYiXHO57_DD44lrBYahcHT1rokSjBubf3y40aFnCl_IopWEDlFIB6QJBclKaBP2Dw6VdoZvRIwTMBE38x7rYtfeoqJxRvBnlJ5gaTWaoibDwGzVbF4EduqNhT_oIA4169gYYTUyqmpLnWMniKA1RtWOIMrBN-zA/w582-h640/IMG_9171.jpg" width="582" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Update:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDBtuY4scab8F8fYSx2aF0aL2-jyuF5A8IyOh6Wz8IEwWbDAyeIZAyhCHVQCUE2ub6I5oLl6GfX5YtjoHoFIx7tTxUFVq5YF_Qdzk6tyH4HYKUi0OPswPRluYbIMrqKRwmUDmMI0US8ZCDW3YxktYQrK4w7NfoZj1IlUwlS96rYYt2zTGkYd8akUtgBU/s811/IMG_9236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="574" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDBtuY4scab8F8fYSx2aF0aL2-jyuF5A8IyOh6Wz8IEwWbDAyeIZAyhCHVQCUE2ub6I5oLl6GfX5YtjoHoFIx7tTxUFVq5YF_Qdzk6tyH4HYKUi0OPswPRluYbIMrqKRwmUDmMI0US8ZCDW3YxktYQrK4w7NfoZj1IlUwlS96rYYt2zTGkYd8akUtgBU/w452-h640/IMG_9236.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5MmCsoWcFNSwM4XIlCfqInnFESjd6-dOfBLdPDu_vyGg5rptFTQd3sjH08ccennV9zl-pGraR351kENPwe9eF3louyBDONg2fnsbnnxyZJQu_NJdDAz2dmcBU51yatqTXxeEHkKMUwzwtqfltL7xM4U6XiYlYmhEZ71EjmZT3uYwB2zJI-GQNlz1lfc/s499/IMG_9237-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="499" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5MmCsoWcFNSwM4XIlCfqInnFESjd6-dOfBLdPDu_vyGg5rptFTQd3sjH08ccennV9zl-pGraR351kENPwe9eF3louyBDONg2fnsbnnxyZJQu_NJdDAz2dmcBU51yatqTXxeEHkKMUwzwtqfltL7xM4U6XiYlYmhEZ71EjmZT3uYwB2zJI-GQNlz1lfc/w640-h628/IMG_9237-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TK6wiWjCNWgRdS1PVMNxdjRyu0vjQXY6-OPiW7yJxcEk1Y2tMAfMR88nDA7lkME0NFFhg0vDPs53v1d09HvcwuhhRA-apOmuRgPKmScjJa_BmIotPVZakeO_VVT0bdsWxX9oym80bseCXvclgH9_MYLJxSVIGYcCzrTlC3q0HD_BIXfoie4Qh_QhViU/s1011/IMG_9240-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1011" data-original-width="573" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TK6wiWjCNWgRdS1PVMNxdjRyu0vjQXY6-OPiW7yJxcEk1Y2tMAfMR88nDA7lkME0NFFhg0vDPs53v1d09HvcwuhhRA-apOmuRgPKmScjJa_BmIotPVZakeO_VVT0bdsWxX9oym80bseCXvclgH9_MYLJxSVIGYcCzrTlC3q0HD_BIXfoie4Qh_QhViU/w362-h640/IMG_9240-1.jpg" width="362" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-20590857454440677172023-10-24T08:08:00.006-07:002023-10-24T08:08:37.278-07:00South Church - 300th Anniversary Hymn by John A. Dalles<p><span style="font-size: large;"> 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. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6o203dD52ciNbks7aMgOvEFsafRj4PlSdpp0j1BPsylKupWH7YQMYQDm01E_ycoYYQgaAheTfmFOOIFD9gRFpctghMXr_h4xqaWjEX1wRuZQuieAdU4oSNFShol7iGr0EAOSTHiAtR0Q1JpUYmkVpoKYedfYH5z9zDIq_7s59tVFsJu-18VChlgDcm_9/s1280/IMG_8845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6o203dD52ciNbks7aMgOvEFsafRj4PlSdpp0j1BPsylKupWH7YQMYQDm01E_ycoYYQgaAheTfmFOOIFD9gRFpctghMXr_h4xqaWjEX1wRuZQuieAdU4oSNFShol7iGr0EAOSTHiAtR0Q1JpUYmkVpoKYedfYH5z9zDIq_7s59tVFsJu-18VChlgDcm_9/w640-h480/IMG_8845.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJobM89GRZPUilwOw29ZyYzTgvcUR_wcdsamHMP3yUjG-1bnM1bWwqjIFW2UPp8Dw1oyQYldOxMMAdECwPU0fDVH98o_U6rtVr-dpBPq_IECvwO-ApZc4-EUWPjqmuElWNjUWAn_QJH1ble2QUDz0e0MxgipIrNp9YvXbqbPiAuDvaHf0SUEYbS0NVJ5L/s828/IMG_8850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="828" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJobM89GRZPUilwOw29ZyYzTgvcUR_wcdsamHMP3yUjG-1bnM1bWwqjIFW2UPp8Dw1oyQYldOxMMAdECwPU0fDVH98o_U6rtVr-dpBPq_IECvwO-ApZc4-EUWPjqmuElWNjUWAn_QJH1ble2QUDz0e0MxgipIrNp9YvXbqbPiAuDvaHf0SUEYbS0NVJ5L/w640-h608/IMG_8850.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbYq_CKrdd5yi3ivcmuq0tyPSMSjxJwWj454vA6x6izth-gUV0zkkTj9KQsNKt_CxD7fcwN_NhgDD3LNICbIMl5mUeVYQVjnUf2X3d2NCtFpR_77Iv96QwjyuUS_BgYkGgoWPTRn4hFvNF57eDdBz2pnDpU6NDEdk9Vw5ccDC9fhMezOP58Emz9knlgAr/s1280/IMG_8855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1280" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbYq_CKrdd5yi3ivcmuq0tyPSMSjxJwWj454vA6x6izth-gUV0zkkTj9KQsNKt_CxD7fcwN_NhgDD3LNICbIMl5mUeVYQVjnUf2X3d2NCtFpR_77Iv96QwjyuUS_BgYkGgoWPTRn4hFvNF57eDdBz2pnDpU6NDEdk9Vw5ccDC9fhMezOP58Emz9knlgAr/w640-h358/IMG_8855.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgSM3YrjrEgk_-0OTLJ0WNX04Va5OBIDFVtBKrzRUhX0aHjLsWALe7DZWyTAmtKNTk-7FkJi6qRI0Ulzqh9qmic6eb66WOEVYUrUbBfVI3T0pRS4JSat3qCYby_TrclpXxxo8dVQ6luzfDb-96Jh1wXETnXky8VzObu2OB9bprcpby32QwVC60CX5dJog/s1866/IMG_8856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="1866" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgSM3YrjrEgk_-0OTLJ0WNX04Va5OBIDFVtBKrzRUhX0aHjLsWALe7DZWyTAmtKNTk-7FkJi6qRI0Ulzqh9qmic6eb66WOEVYUrUbBfVI3T0pRS4JSat3qCYby_TrclpXxxo8dVQ6luzfDb-96Jh1wXETnXky8VzObu2OB9bprcpby32QwVC60CX5dJog/w640-h384/IMG_8856.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I wish I could have been there - but thankfully, I could participate remotely on line. </span></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-49514383799468652472023-10-24T07:56:00.003-07:002023-10-24T08:11:33.150-07:00New 225th Anniversary Hymn Sung at Sycamore Presbyterian Church on October 15th, 2023<p><span style="font-size: large;"> "God is Forever Near" is the name of the hymn that I wrote for Sycamore Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati Ohio. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Sunday before last, I tuned in to their online Sunday Morning worship service and it was almost like being there in person. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The sermon by the associate pastor Rachel was right on target, focusing on Jesus' words, "Let the children come unto me." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What a treat!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cqL0KWXXqHhU4cNE8Ip5Lu70yasfbH7-jzY_y_6cRirmnmhl2-HW6_aaLblXsJSk4n1jTsYyZpEoLD7x_HyEqyMl29cERNJbYonuoVlQn555ukKrdjCg0QxQEl3KG1w-7pxQ-idn1Q1nvD5CBt_nPFQi7ADHV_iaZYSdyPOQB6lGOhHMd3bsDrF3_ww/s1462/IMG_8395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1462" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1cqL0KWXXqHhU4cNE8Ip5Lu70yasfbH7-jzY_y_6cRirmnmhl2-HW6_aaLblXsJSk4n1jTsYyZpEoLD7x_HyEqyMl29cERNJbYonuoVlQn555ukKrdjCg0QxQEl3KG1w-7pxQ-idn1Q1nvD5CBt_nPFQi7ADHV_iaZYSdyPOQB6lGOhHMd3bsDrF3_ww/w640-h362/IMG_8395.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjulDpaQ1kOmxbwGE1TOUqQlNObUJpxZdvowJkIH2wF1d0kBBBLAh3D6_f3g93jER3OOir3toCyb1WOUw3UtrMYviCPs498ExY6LmV6ZoWBQcsNZZIQX-6Hh78Psz_j0gp2ZZY_RtWLg_etI4EBISCIkzCjC2nU9Z1e8GgqR4oJB4zH2Ekw1kbQkSJE8/s1462/IMG_8399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1462" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjulDpaQ1kOmxbwGE1TOUqQlNObUJpxZdvowJkIH2wF1d0kBBBLAh3D6_f3g93jER3OOir3toCyb1WOUw3UtrMYviCPs498ExY6LmV6ZoWBQcsNZZIQX-6Hh78Psz_j0gp2ZZY_RtWLg_etI4EBISCIkzCjC2nU9Z1e8GgqR4oJB4zH2Ekw1kbQkSJE8/w640-h362/IMG_8399.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-90240263488775382012023-10-04T08:20:00.010-07:002023-10-04T08:37:06.519-07:00"Whosoever On the Night of Christ's Nativity" Anthem to Be Published by MorningStar Publishing<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Breaking news...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">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. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -21pt;"><i>“Whosoever on the Night of Christ’s Nativity”.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: -21pt;">It is an anthem for Christmas Eve. My words were inspired by an anonymous quotation.</span><span style="text-indent: -21pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -21pt;"> Here's the quotation. My words will have to wait for the anthem's publication...</span></span></p><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: white;">This Christmas Eve Hymn was inspired by the following anonymous quotation:</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: white;">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.</span></i></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif" style="color: white;">-<span> </span>Author unknown, </span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: -21pt;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: -21pt;">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. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: -21pt;">The anticipated publication date is April 2024, in time to promote it for use at Christmas 2024.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I have another piece published by MorningStar, called <i>"God of Wonder"</i> with music by Donna J. Butler.</span></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-60412497879389569602023-10-02T12:03:00.009-07:002023-10-02T13:35:25.782-07:00Christian Associates of Southwest Pennsylvania 50th Anniversary Hymn<p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: inherit;">I should have shared this some time ago. In 2020 in fact....</i></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">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. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>So that is what I did. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">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.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>As I waited, something else happened... </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">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. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">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.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>Then one fine day the phone rang. </i> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">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.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeO4PAnpA0VpQZUKl8fZMVzics0NoZ4DbJGny7wCQBnb1wrK8lEvJpgCiNYOZ8XjYUOJfkfd_2J0K__C6HnHFyiHOj14rOzATibLQTeUfPNwmO02NVL4BRyjOxJ_Rs9J70LML7a0O0Ooav7WMc4LQLqMsafzsBokau8VIINM1ehfkZX6wuCJ8uH4oHYY/s274/IMG_7415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="274" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeO4PAnpA0VpQZUKl8fZMVzics0NoZ4DbJGny7wCQBnb1wrK8lEvJpgCiNYOZ8XjYUOJfkfd_2J0K__C6HnHFyiHOj14rOzATibLQTeUfPNwmO02NVL4BRyjOxJ_Rs9J70LML7a0O0Ooav7WMc4LQLqMsafzsBokau8VIINM1ehfkZX6wuCJ8uH4oHYY/w400-h253/IMG_7415.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0k9wlpfVp0Gk6xYqxGDNQcdmL7MFXuCa94BSBJXn856QuJvmiU8DOOwlHT4u0V7Ugew6aiXlk-_toSqLQLV0HumzwzmVtpa1mn8sO9TZakXn67wEqYnnTlXk6vlTM2clGk3lvPDRauVn8HEaxfuRcEncJYCcgi6vQKvz1HKYk9Rxm4FHhOW_Ng7q4r4/s673/IMG_7414.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></a></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh, by </span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -28px;">the way, the hymn is called:<i> </i></span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -21pt;"><i>“May We Walk the Way of Jesus”</i>, 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.</span></span></p><p style="text-indent: -28px;"><span style="text-indent: -21pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-indent: -28px;"><br /></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNormal" style="layout-grid-mode: char; margin-left: 39pt; mso-hyphenate: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: center 3.25in; text-indent: -21pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b><i><u><o:p></o:p></u></i></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0k9wlpfVp0Gk6xYqxGDNQcdmL7MFXuCa94BSBJXn856QuJvmiU8DOOwlHT4u0V7Ugew6aiXlk-_toSqLQLV0HumzwzmVtpa1mn8sO9TZakXn67wEqYnnTlXk6vlTM2clGk3lvPDRauVn8HEaxfuRcEncJYCcgi6vQKvz1HKYk9Rxm4FHhOW_Ng7q4r4/s673/IMG_7414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="439" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0k9wlpfVp0Gk6xYqxGDNQcdmL7MFXuCa94BSBJXn856QuJvmiU8DOOwlHT4u0V7Ugew6aiXlk-_toSqLQLV0HumzwzmVtpa1mn8sO9TZakXn67wEqYnnTlXk6vlTM2clGk3lvPDRauVn8HEaxfuRcEncJYCcgi6vQKvz1HKYk9Rxm4FHhOW_Ng7q4r4/w418-h640/IMG_7414.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-13835839160869010542023-10-02T11:09:00.005-07:002023-10-02T13:42:07.846-07:00New Work with Glenn Rudolph<p><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJfDpBp8PRrdzEH8yn2-pt9U4t8f2ho-TKd_vaoFi2qzsYqOF_hVFO8PL-HdGo9baY289OybpRjXtdQQseMsCvbvnGzGqYGmzVPBec5ZfGl3uwpqvziA0JjoQCcBcPu5fofGbH44Xqt6J5H0D0vLYjp7_jO7UeBBcJxziACDKebzgM8VTuy4k_FUArMo/s3513/IMG_7418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2595" data-original-width="3513" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghJfDpBp8PRrdzEH8yn2-pt9U4t8f2ho-TKd_vaoFi2qzsYqOF_hVFO8PL-HdGo9baY289OybpRjXtdQQseMsCvbvnGzGqYGmzVPBec5ZfGl3uwpqvziA0JjoQCcBcPu5fofGbH44Xqt6J5H0D0vLYjp7_jO7UeBBcJxziACDKebzgM8VTuy4k_FUArMo/w640-h472/IMG_7418.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">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".</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">At least I thought so. And then, I sent it to Glenn to see what he thought of it. His immediate answer back was: <i>"Perfect!"</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Isn't it great wen a plan comes together like that? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The anthem is called <i>"Rejoice! Salvation's Come!"</i> and it begins with the line <i>"Why am I thankful every day?"</i> the tune is known to those who know the old old hymn <i>"The Gate Ajar for Me"</i> - 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.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Stay "tuned" for updates as they come!</span></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-67431565334038686822023-10-02T09:25:00.021-07:002023-10-03T05:29:09.651-07:00New Hymns for Churches Celebrating Special Anniversaries<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><i>I have completed several new anniversary hymns for congregations marking special milestones.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NqUL-0j-0IcYZsOYhw9wo6MiHuU6_gtW_8yHnozp1xguaVVFf58oY5WfjOPWnMAbitE_6NXrT1h2-K2OKbUke6PA2beg7GrgEnoD5B1ovm44MOsKIFJOUvdSb9uYTAJDNIrhiuxkSHxopjZZjY_RlW0WbS94Yw6X5VySPknlBIqHi9m2NtGd8NrqLQ4/s789/IMG_7301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="789" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8NqUL-0j-0IcYZsOYhw9wo6MiHuU6_gtW_8yHnozp1xguaVVFf58oY5WfjOPWnMAbitE_6NXrT1h2-K2OKbUke6PA2beg7GrgEnoD5B1ovm44MOsKIFJOUvdSb9uYTAJDNIrhiuxkSHxopjZZjY_RlW0WbS94Yw6X5VySPknlBIqHi9m2NtGd8NrqLQ4/w640-h378/IMG_7301.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfBMb1cknuxqIWpWhy0eg1qp7Td3vDD6OhPY37-4YJY-4qbto6lXiJGNKr0W63FQqKbbzQ58ZCyNWBH1r8omfX2upjN0xni0VEhp8VwwbAzYg-z17DnhhYKD8y-o_zm7yv2JF_yJlyvv2giWJj4LKNjq1H-oV0cNFAwl26wG_Js1r3hHmjnsMrcsah3A/s828/IMG_7302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="828" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfBMb1cknuxqIWpWhy0eg1qp7Td3vDD6OhPY37-4YJY-4qbto6lXiJGNKr0W63FQqKbbzQ58ZCyNWBH1r8omfX2upjN0xni0VEhp8VwwbAzYg-z17DnhhYKD8y-o_zm7yv2JF_yJlyvv2giWJj4LKNjq1H-oV0cNFAwl26wG_Js1r3hHmjnsMrcsah3A/w640-h518/IMG_7302.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p>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.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1DnuK4eB43-dxcfDDI1E_2fcPTnIi5gUXFOSl3EsMmqBfX2T7FXO3kOeAManxG1iEuvhTd45564PKYFbZZ642g-g3rRyKanjhShwLRF8nkNsnz3AYx639rLJZUzqp0V-QeXQzaAuB0fJvl1lSuXXEwCGuswhY9mb76ysD3r4zhwQMp2EPcQKjqCBE_0/s1040/IMG_6369.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1DnuK4eB43-dxcfDDI1E_2fcPTnIi5gUXFOSl3EsMmqBfX2T7FXO3kOeAManxG1iEuvhTd45564PKYFbZZ642g-g3rRyKanjhShwLRF8nkNsnz3AYx639rLJZUzqp0V-QeXQzaAuB0fJvl1lSuXXEwCGuswhY9mb76ysD3r4zhwQMp2EPcQKjqCBE_0/w510-h640/IMG_6369.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWiFEAKHlKjVXKTUVGdR22fEM_9vaeveyhSUGSsZjiFq6iaKbFCBAH4G8nHfO6y2uBcrvn00k-RvDcFqA0NwE2voa_W2DwNERYGfcoXdFTESdbL_mEze9TJvQIu57J5C_OY9aDz7FuwQqIeVoBiS6fdniUxFKRyfQDph71vYPB43-nZNKa197jRDf9iU/s474/IMG_6370-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="474" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWiFEAKHlKjVXKTUVGdR22fEM_9vaeveyhSUGSsZjiFq6iaKbFCBAH4G8nHfO6y2uBcrvn00k-RvDcFqA0NwE2voa_W2DwNERYGfcoXdFTESdbL_mEze9TJvQIu57J5C_OY9aDz7FuwQqIeVoBiS6fdniUxFKRyfQDph71vYPB43-nZNKa197jRDf9iU/w640-h318/IMG_6370-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">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 <i>“Now Hear God’s Word for Us This Day”</i>, 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 <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 21.33333396911621px;">Sunday, October 29th; you can worship with them on line to hear it, or consult their worship archives thereafter. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 21.33333396911621px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFM_ja-fODt_vOiKDLe8Dd605SLjRto_vaI1JTyTtopDtLAbZUGtny3eC2XnLJMi99VJ_vShImj_GDrENV7f3lp670x0AMM_WcrwhHt1_yJoceAQkfrvwq6i7M7C03SlX8wp3pX3z4Q5AASRJFgcUUgJSNhWvX-H80DS7pLhpT96TWXcbaOyGTBw6hYI/s987/IMG_6277-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="777" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFM_ja-fODt_vOiKDLe8Dd605SLjRto_vaI1JTyTtopDtLAbZUGtny3eC2XnLJMi99VJ_vShImj_GDrENV7f3lp670x0AMM_WcrwhHt1_yJoceAQkfrvwq6i7M7C03SlX8wp3pX3z4Q5AASRJFgcUUgJSNhWvX-H80DS7pLhpT96TWXcbaOyGTBw6hYI/w504-h640/IMG_6277-1.jpg" width="504" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_eVLZycnn7MxVs2WQLwW63wauvNwBS6IpfjAd2gpFO3L0Sz790Tt1Sef84O-lVYpa6Izv_9Cmct3JBEeoK9smpDo5V4nS8f7GVse2_bQlqDLGV14JWqHEWNrWP3CswkJ2WjyQu0O2a38nVf9vubc5hqI_iBlbv30kA-hOO5DXqiGpFFUhfvUlu16rjg/s828/IMG_6276-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="828" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_eVLZycnn7MxVs2WQLwW63wauvNwBS6IpfjAd2gpFO3L0Sz790Tt1Sef84O-lVYpa6Izv_9Cmct3JBEeoK9smpDo5V4nS8f7GVse2_bQlqDLGV14JWqHEWNrWP3CswkJ2WjyQu0O2a38nVf9vubc5hqI_iBlbv30kA-hOO5DXqiGpFFUhfvUlu16rjg/w400-h361/IMG_6276-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3wyDJYQAMc4J5AmAUlOgt8fiiMZi4t-sNhk8knLmRgpKQ4qD9kMALl1IhwVJvfHwbJcmr60aXtWsEC69HOVk3t4i2fyWbole8wgYmiY3DxFd55N7nzJzqUQPHfVWAaxe2dWLgK-5Gxwe1e7vU0FALthZOYnmc6Z873ljyOn7ZG671hhBSvm5EM4s5VQ/s878/IMG_6275.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_3wyDJYQAMc4J5AmAUlOgt8fiiMZi4t-sNhk8knLmRgpKQ4qD9kMALl1IhwVJvfHwbJcmr60aXtWsEC69HOVk3t4i2fyWbole8wgYmiY3DxFd55N7nzJzqUQPHfVWAaxe2dWLgK-5Gxwe1e7vU0FALthZOYnmc6Z873ljyOn7ZG671hhBSvm5EM4s5VQ/w605-h640/IMG_6275.jpg" width="605" /></a></div><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">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 <i>”We Praise You God This Day”</i>; 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, </span><span style="font-size: 21.33333396911621px;">with</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> the webcast starting at 7 p.m. </span><span style="font-size: 21.33333396911621px;">You</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> can see it via the church website.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gOJiZ7NclgHOMxKs6mM8mz1Krso3-oIi2RxL8tt-ZHeUoNqnhh0fc47BQy_IMcP2Ew0LaP9-dwAvmnQcbOESo37CRN2MtocB_8E2nTKaXQYxTNlAcTVnMTNRKv5m6ScAwwaFoBd8ZpTtvYYGJuvMEudAot9JbEadaWYu9LzWfaiv7FoLj9-VvtFG-QA/s732/IMG_7172.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="732" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gOJiZ7NclgHOMxKs6mM8mz1Krso3-oIi2RxL8tt-ZHeUoNqnhh0fc47BQy_IMcP2Ew0LaP9-dwAvmnQcbOESo37CRN2MtocB_8E2nTKaXQYxTNlAcTVnMTNRKv5m6ScAwwaFoBd8ZpTtvYYGJuvMEudAot9JbEadaWYu9LzWfaiv7FoLj9-VvtFG-QA/w640-h448/IMG_7172.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOJRLb843xzWIgJnT2aK9iRKkXOwBTE2aWPQVNYC4fzuDKlKaocYvBaeH_fZK-nydCBm093n8a9kv8PufjVcxRKtpPDUjm2teOKYvFI7N-8jPABkzWtD7D9vcyABv6-12orWcIcR6QDejqKmdc376J561fb5o2wRWEZYa8LtfLTDZYDJZJ6Azwno9ONI/s1009/IMG_7173-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="754" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOJRLb843xzWIgJnT2aK9iRKkXOwBTE2aWPQVNYC4fzuDKlKaocYvBaeH_fZK-nydCBm093n8a9kv8PufjVcxRKtpPDUjm2teOKYvFI7N-8jPABkzWtD7D9vcyABv6-12orWcIcR6QDejqKmdc376J561fb5o2wRWEZYa8LtfLTDZYDJZJ6Azwno9ONI/w478-h640/IMG_7173-1.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZsgWj02F-bTRfxmMpXRNoxPWilUwotLZGjdzD0LtXmZOrIStbQx9ZFtjmnHNmI9nHLocrqkKoaQld3L2zIMEINpEtxU4EGvjO5O15z-tWpxNu5BmZtbbieiaKcjSpuhtltzvajp3re_k7W2S7yfMPkIAHVmjk8D6zHcHt0CNTKzBKbHTRMT2nacIj_g/s750/IMG_7174-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="750" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZsgWj02F-bTRfxmMpXRNoxPWilUwotLZGjdzD0LtXmZOrIStbQx9ZFtjmnHNmI9nHLocrqkKoaQld3L2zIMEINpEtxU4EGvjO5O15z-tWpxNu5BmZtbbieiaKcjSpuhtltzvajp3re_k7W2S7yfMPkIAHVmjk8D6zHcHt0CNTKzBKbHTRMT2nacIj_g/w640-h470/IMG_7174-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpaNYhQW-l81l7iZIWI9SKQmlw8sqT528Ll3zk3o1YWyOnHQ5FelzdIUL97tGtARejakkdstwtPl2i50MBm-2-43_N96qJF08KoG2GbGw8HONQ0VlSvQvdSRlN_6CtVhobrph60T3lm6_2bmWs6RFbVw3jhNOKSmQkr0L7E81sh8GKOmcoy30Uz3-Bvs/s590/IMG_7175-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="590" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpaNYhQW-l81l7iZIWI9SKQmlw8sqT528Ll3zk3o1YWyOnHQ5FelzdIUL97tGtARejakkdstwtPl2i50MBm-2-43_N96qJF08KoG2GbGw8HONQ0VlSvQvdSRlN_6CtVhobrph60T3lm6_2bmWs6RFbVw3jhNOKSmQkr0L7E81sh8GKOmcoy30Uz3-Bvs/w640-h474/IMG_7175-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">The Derry Presbyterian Church in Hershey, Pennsylvania will mark its 300</span></span><sup style="font-size: 16pt;">th </sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">anniversary in 2024. For the Derry congregation, I have penned a hymn called <i>“Bourne By the Waters, Braving the Waves”</i>, which is sung, as the </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">anniversary </span><span style="font-size: 21.33333396911621px;">committee </span><span style="font-size: 21.33333396911621px;">requested,</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> 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. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;">“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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16pt;"><i>Currently, I am at work on several other pieces for churches who are marking special anniversaries in the coming year.</i></span></p>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-72766376646635276552019-05-03T13:21:00.000-07:002019-05-03T13:21:50.617-07:00As Your Dear Friend Once Welcomed You<br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As Shadyside Presbyterian Church's Director of Music Ministry, Mark A. Anderson, and I were planning worship during this Lenten Season, back on February 21, we were not finding a hymn that we were happy with, to conclude worship on Sunday April 7. The Gospel lectionary reading for that morning was John 12:1-8, when Jesus shared a meal at Bethany with his treasured friends Martha, Lazarus, and Mary. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I said to Mark, <i>"Why don't we sing a hymn that you have written?"</i> His reply, <i>"</i></span><i>John, the other option for the first Sunday in April for a closing hymn would be for you to write a text and for me to write the tune. That might be too much, with everything else on your plate, but keep it in mind for future Sundays. It would be great fun to see what we could do." </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What a gracious and great idea! </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, that is what we did. I wrote the words; Mark wrote the music. And the congregation sang our brand new hymn on Sunday, April 7th. It was a joy to work on the hymn with Mark, and a joy to hear the congregation sing it. Here's to more collaborations!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>Please contact me regarding use in worship.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-86224221703932704692018-04-20T10:49:00.003-07:002018-04-20T10:49:37.894-07:00"Ah! Holy Spirit Come and Speak”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFC4iAWISms1PsoKlFmvhA7FVfmDFEpKZBpspGdRYQx9hMndS7ukHQPcauOD4mlps2aht-UVGo6ex-n5qKGs6-91LOVW_PruOsCRiHSPX70TWBKus7ZMUrdN9jAXnL66_ErFTPU0Yeqxc/s1600/IMG_4428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFC4iAWISms1PsoKlFmvhA7FVfmDFEpKZBpspGdRYQx9hMndS7ukHQPcauOD4mlps2aht-UVGo6ex-n5qKGs6-91LOVW_PruOsCRiHSPX70TWBKus7ZMUrdN9jAXnL66_ErFTPU0Yeqxc/s400/IMG_4428.JPG" width="400" height="300" data-original-width="1280" data-original-height="960" /></a></div><br />
"Ah! Holy Spirit Come and Speak” a new musical composition with words by the Rev. Dr. John Dalles and music by Wm Glenn Osborn will have its premier at Mary Queen of the Universe in Orlando Florida, on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. as part of the concert: “Come To Us Creative Spirit: A Celebration Of Pentecost”. The concert is presented by the Basilica Choir and Orchestra. Music of Rutter, Mozart, and more, are also on the program.<br />
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Dalles has been the pastor and head of staff of the Wekiva Presbyterian Church in suburban Orlando for 21 years; prior to that, he served the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church and the First Presbyterian Church of South Bend, Indiana. Osborne is Director of Music for the Cathedral and Archdiocesan Liturgies at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore, Maryland. Before coming to Baltimore in 2015, he served as Director of Music at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Kissimmee, Florida. <br />
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The two have collaborated on more than a dozen sacred works, including “God, We Would Hear The Angels Sing”, an anthem which is featured on the CD “Christmas With The Basilica Choir”, which you can hear at this link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqWVFBooQlQ">LISTEN</a><br />
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John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-17688038779051156342013-11-13T06:55:00.001-08:002013-11-13T06:55:35.838-08:00Community of Christ HymnalYesterday I received a letter from Scott Shorney, the Vice President of Hope Publishing Company thanking me for granting permission to use several of my hymns as part of the new hymnal for the Communiy of Christ. Along with it, Scott sent me an "author's copy" of the new "Community of Christ Sings". It is a beautiful book, well-thought out, and carefully designed. <br />
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I am pleased that four of my hymns are included in the hymnal: <br />
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<b>- #237 "God, Renew Us by Your Spirit"; <br />
- #316 "O God of Love, Grant Us Your Peace"; <br />
- #496 "See What Love We Have Been Given"; and<br />
- #639 "God, Bless Your Church with Strength!" </b></i>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-18790363832646628322013-10-15T12:47:00.004-07:002013-10-15T12:48:47.772-07:00To Love is to be Breakable<b>TO LOVE IS TO BE BREAKABLE—<br />
Meter: CM (86.86) – Suggested Tune: TALLIS’ ORDINAL<br />
</b>By John A. Dalles – Inspired by Lines by C. S. Lewis<br />
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<i>“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” – C S Lewis, <b>“The Four Loves”</b></i> <br />
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To love is to be breakable— <br />
So love with all you are, <br />
Commitment unforsakeable <br />
May leave a mark, a scar. <br />
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To love is to be bendable— <br />
So love and limber be, <br />
Become the one befreindable— <br />
With lithe humility. <br />
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To love is to be vulnerable— <br />
So love with openness, <br />
At risk and truly honorable— <br />
This is the way to bless. <br />
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To love is to be changeable—<br />
By all you love each day, <br />
Alive and rearrangeable, <br />
So give yourself away! <br />
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Copyright © 2013, John A. Dalles<br />
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<i>This hymn text is set as an anthem by Wm. Glenn Osborne and will have its debut on Sunday, November 17 at 4 p.m. in the Knowles Chapel on the Campus of Rollins College in Winter Park at the C. S. Lewis Evensong.</i> John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-12396352197234633302013-07-13T04:22:00.001-07:002013-07-13T04:24:12.564-07:00EVERY HOPE WE HAVE IS GROUNDED<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Richard Clarke, who has served as the music director of the St. Bartholomew Faith Community in Wayzata, Minnesota since 1994, has recently become a friend through the wonderful connective powers of sacred music. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Recently, Richard asked me to take a look at a hymn called "All My Hope On God Is Founded" which is a hymn based on two different author's words which were set to music by Henry Howells in memory of his son who had died. The hymn tune is MICHAEL named in honor of Michael Howells. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">MICHAEL is a marvelous hymn tune and one that I did not know until Richard asked me to look at it. So many thanks to him, for introducing it to me. I have been working on it ever since he suggested it and had about three of the five stanzas nearly done, and then set it aside. I awakened early this morning to find that the remaining work was more or less in my head, so finished it around daybreak today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have tried to stay close to the intention of the original in this version which, because it uses some lines from the original, I have said is: After “All My Hope On God Is Founded”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In the writing of the hymn, I saw the connection to the passage from Colossians, so placed the quotation within the subtitle. I also was very moved by the account of the writing of the tune, by Howells, in memory of his son. In a way, I fear that treading on so personal an experience might be an intrusion upon grief expressed in faith, but on the other hand, I do feel that a hymn using first person plural instead of first person singular is more appropriate for congregational song. So those changes were part of this new hymn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Also, I like to see some sense that our faith is at work in what we do, so have tried to incorporate a sense of doing and action in some of the lines, which might not have been expressed as clearly in the original. I understand the first three stanzas in the original are from Jaachim Neander (1650-1680) and the last two were apparently written by Robert Seymore Bridges (1844-1930). I hope they will forgive my tinkering with their poetry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you find that you like this new hymn text, please contact me regarding permission for its use in your worship.</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">EVERY HOPE WE HAVE IS GROUNDED<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Colossians 1:23 "Continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.</span></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="background: rgb(249, 253, 255); font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Text: John A. Dalles, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tune:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>MICHAEL (In memory of his son, by Herbert Howells, 1892-1983)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meter: 878767</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every hope we have is grounded<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In God’s grace forever true;<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Change may challenge, chance may frighten,<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only God will see us through.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do not fear; God is here—<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day by day and year by year!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fame and fortune, gold and glory,<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tempt us and betray God’s trust;<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yet, with care God plans and fashions<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lasting works of righteousness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God’s great power, hour by hour,<br /> Is our temple and our tower.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God’s great goodness lasts forever—<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God’s is brilliant, bold and wise,<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God is light and life and splendor,<br /> By God’s word new worlds arise—<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Evermore from God’s store,<br /> God creates us to adore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b> </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Daily the Almighty Giver<br /> grants us overflowing gifts;<br /> God, our Maker, Guider, Savior,<br /> Leads us forward and uplifts—<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By God’s hand, may we stand,<br /> And with joy do God’s command.</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One and all, our voices raising,<br /> May we pray “Thy will be done!”<br />High above all praises praising<br /> Every grace of Christ the Son—<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do not fear; God is here—<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day by day and year by year!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After “All My Hope On God Is Founded”</span></span></i><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Copyright © John A. Dalles, 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em>Permission granted for use in worship to Richard Clarke & the St. Bartholomew<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span>Catholic<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span>Faith Community, Wayzata<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; word-spacing: 0px;">,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span>MN</div>
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<br />John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-73888818946259755092013-03-07T10:55:00.001-08:002013-03-07T10:55:12.327-08:00Now Is The Time To Speak named the 2012 Winning Hymn in the Macalester-Plymouth 17th Annual Hymn ContestFebruary 20, 2013 <br />
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Macalester Plymouth United Church of St. Paul, Minnesota, is pleased to announce the winner of its 17th annual hymn contest, a search for new hymn texts that address the scriptural call to speak out loudly and clearly against injustice, and to unite with others working for change. <br />
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The winning hymn, <strong><em>Now Is the Time to Speak</em></strong>, 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. <br />
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<strong>2012 Prize Winning Hymn</strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Now Is the Time to Speak</span></strong></div>
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by the Rev. Dr. John A. Dalles</div>
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Longwood, Florida</div>
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Meter 6666D </div>
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Suggested tune: INVITATION (MAKER) </div>
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<strong><em>Now is the time to speak of work informed by prayer, </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>of hands to help the weak, of bravery to dare. </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>O may we not keep still, for there is much to do: </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Speak out to do God’s will, God’s justice to pursue! </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Now is the time to speak, the time to mull has passed;</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>the future still is bleak for all who are downcast – </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>They struggle to provide, they struggle to be heard, </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>they call us to their side to speak God’s saving word! </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Now is the time to speak, for words can lead the way;</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>achieve the aims we seek by speaking out today!</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>May conscience conquer fear, may courage vanquish doubt.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>The time to speak is here: In faithfulness, speak out!</em></strong></div>
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*****</div>
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Copyright © 2012, John A. Dalles </div>
John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-12572760566512131052012-11-02T12:23:00.009-07:002023-10-05T08:38:34.500-07:00My Hymn "Praise God For Days Long Past!" Sung as Part of a 250th Anniversary Worship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA_j91F548-jGZiinwG6lblTSgLFjgoQxcxDcqUJ83Tu0E-Lgdp4o6NbBUR5N5QY126WZUjgE9fG3ow-q69SvlCVUCLnvR6s_Xi9_q9jARtYh4Rbm-o05zTAR1hZt9fohv8kUXNzRUK4/s1600/photo+(119).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" qea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA_j91F548-jGZiinwG6lblTSgLFjgoQxcxDcqUJ83Tu0E-Lgdp4o6NbBUR5N5QY126WZUjgE9fG3ow-q69SvlCVUCLnvR6s_Xi9_q9jARtYh4Rbm-o05zTAR1hZt9fohv8kUXNzRUK4/s640/photo+(119).JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anne Fritts of the Schoeneck Moravian Church in Nazareth, PA, sent me the program from their congregation's 250th anniversary worship service and a note of thanks, because they included my hymn "Praise God for Days Long Past!" as part of the celebration. Above and below are some photos.</span><span face="'Arial','sans-serif'" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thought I might make some mention of the hymn that they selected...</span><span face="'Arial','sans-serif'" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Praise God for Days Long Past!" is my 24th of well over 1000 hymn texts that I have written since 1983. The hymn was written in 1991 for the hymn search for the 100th anniversary of the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights, Illinois. It was not chosen by the judges of that search. The text is based on a passage from II Timothy.</span><span face="'Arial','sans-serif'" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Even though it was not chosen then, the hymn did not get forgotten.</span><span face="'Arial','sans-serif'" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was published the very next year in the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s 100th anniversary edition of "The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thereafter, it was distributed nationally to all PC(USA) congregations by the Presbyterian Historical Society, for the first annual "Presbyterian Heritage Sunday" on May 24, 1992, as the Presbyterian Heritage Sunday Hymn.</span><span face="'Arial','sans-serif'" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="layout-grid-mode: line; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><span style="layout-grid-mode: line; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For some time I kept track of the requests that came my way for its use, and I see that it was published in the Foothills Presbytery Newsletter, Greenville SC and in the wonderful but no longer in print "Church Worship" magazine in April of 1992.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hymn has been sung by numerous congregations in at least 13 states and 2 Canadian provinces. </span></span><br />
<br /><span style="layout-grid-mode: line; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Praise God for Days Long Past” appears in my next book from Wayne Leupold Editions, called “God is the Singer’s Friend” (2013), which had its debut at the Hymn Society Annual Conference in Richmond, in July 2013. The publication of the hymn in that book means that the copyright is owned by Wayne Leupold Editions. If you would like to sing this hymn, please refer to that book.</span></span></span></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="layout-grid-mode: line;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.20000000298023224px;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="layout-grid-mode: line; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Up until Schoeneck Moravian Church, I believe the longest / oldest anniversary of a church which it was a part was the Bicentennial celebration of First Presbyterian Church of St. Clairsville, OH on 5/26/98.</span></span><span face="'Arial','sans-serif'" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><br /></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="layout-grid-mode: line; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">But to think... A 250<sup>th</sup> anniversary (wow!).</span><span face="'Arial','sans-serif'" style="line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am excited that <i>the hymn that the judges rejected</i> has gone so many other places, and so pleased that it was part of the Shoeneck Moravian's anniversary service—and what an anniversary<b>!</b></span><span face="'Arial','sans-serif'" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2026456140267985939.post-69085047787562385722012-09-13T04:50:00.009-07:002023-10-06T07:29:36.911-07:00Good News...<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><em>I am a pushover for good news.</em> </span><br />
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">I suppose every Christian is, since the Gospel, is--literally--the Good News. The point being if you run into someone in church settings who is a constant debbie downer or gloomy gus, the likelihood is that they never got the memo about what it is to be a Christian. I won't say that happens a lot, but if you said it, I would not argue the point.</span></span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">I can go for weeks and weeks on a bit of good news that comes either expectedly or unexpectedly. My guess is that you can, as well.</span><br />
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">Today, I am rejoicing in two pieces of good news having to do with my hymn writing. One came in the mail and one in the email which to my way of thinking is a nice blend of old and new technology. Both came from hymn publishers...</span><br />
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><em>The first good news</em> came from Scott Shorney who is the Vice President of Hope Publishing Company, in Chicagoland, which is the largest and leading publisher of hymns in the country--at least that is what I have been told. The Shorney family are Hope Publishing and vise versa. Scott is a great fellow and among other things he and his family host the Life Member Dinner at the Annual Meeting of the Hymn Society which is always a joyful evening.</span><br />
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">Scott wrote to request permission that one of my hymns may be printed in a preview book that is now underway for the <i>Community of Christ Hymnal</i> (due to be published in 2013). This will give members of that denomination a chance to sample some of the hymns that will be in the new book. Of course I said yes. I was aware that the book was underway and also had received word that some of my hymns would be in it, because of several happy communications from Dale Luffman, who was in my doctor of ministry cohort group at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary back in the mid 1990s. Dale is one of the leaders of the Community of Christ denomination and when the editors of their new hymnal met with him a year or so ago to show him what had been selected for the new hymnal, he was happily surprised to see the name of an old friend among the names of the authors, and got in touch with me. Dale and the others who were in our D. Min. group were all from "all over" both geographically and denominational speaking; I was the only person in the group who lived in Pittsburgh. So every time our group met (in June and January for two years), Judy and I would host a dinner to which all of the others and all our professors and their spouses for that semester were invited, as well as Sam and Doris Calian, the President of the seminary and his wife, who are dear friends. Good news in the form of a letter and good memories, combined.</span><br />
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><em>The second good news</em> came from Lucy Sullivan who is with Wayne Leupold Editions, another fine publishers of hymns and sacred music. Wayne Leupold is a human dynamo and an excellent organist and founded this company ... about a dozen years ago and it has been a real boost to sacred hymn writers. Lucy is the editor at WLE. This news came in as I was starting the September Worship Committee meeting. I happened to hear the computer make that "ding" noise that says a new email came in. I took a look and lo and behold there was not one, but two emails, from Lucy. Now, in 2009 WLE published a collection of 62 of my hymns called "We Turn to God" and I had the joy of working with Lucy then. Since that time they had told me that a second book would be brought out in 2013. So I had that in the back of my mind but in these matters the publisher always takes the lead and the author follows the steps, if you will permit a dancing metaphor. </span><br />
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">The news in the emails confirmed that Wayne Leupold is indeed planning to make my new book ready in time for the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Hymn Society. </span><br />
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">As the evening progressed, in Longwood, FL, we were working on many things having to do with worship in the next several months include Scottish Sunday on September 30th and World Communion Sunday the week after that. In Colfax NC, Lucy was working (well into the night I might point out) on hymn publishing stuff--and I was on her radar. So that when my meeting was over, I had several more emails from Lucy one of which was a conversation about the title for the book. From some months back, we had had a tentative title and then a second working title and both were taken from first lines of hymns that would be in the book, but neither of them had really grabbed either of us. In one of the emails, Lucy suggested that we turn the first line in one of the proposed title hymns from passive voice (in which it was written) to active voice. </span><br />
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">Ta da! What a wonderful idea. And not only that, since the number of syllables were exactly the same, Lucy suggested that the active voice version might fit the hymn as well as fit our ideas for the title. So it was that I went to the text of the hymn to see. And yes, not only does it fit, but fit beautifully. I told Lucy she is the hymn writer's angel--which she is.</span><br />
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<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif">So we are underway. </span><br />
<span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"></span><br /><span face=""Trebuchet MS", sans-serif"><em>I am thankful to the Lord that these two good news items were in my head when I awakened today.</em></span><br />
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<br /></div>John A. Dalleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03686098903067776305noreply@blogger.com0