Fort Street Presbyterian Church, in Detroit, Michigan - 175th Anniversary

1849 = 175 Years

Fort Street Presbyterian Church, in Detroit, Michigan, is an absolutely impressive church. In 2024 they are celebrating their 175^th anniversary.  My work with the church began with Pastor Garrett Longmann.  From the conversations we had together, emerged a new hymn for them. 

The anniversary hymn I created for them is called: “Christ, Who Once Beckoned”.  I sent it to them on November 15, 2023. 

Garrett got back to me on November 16^th. He told me that they have a new music director Patrick Kuhl, and that Patrick would respond directly regarding the new hymn.

  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.

 

These gorgeous photos of this incredible church building were made by Helmut Ziewers for Historic Detroit. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New Work with Glenn Rudolph

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stay "tuned" for updates as they come!

As Your Dear Friend Once Welcomed You

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.  

I said to Mark, "Why don't we sing a hymn that you have written?"  His reply, "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."  

What a gracious and great idea!  

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!

Please contact me regarding use in worship.

Hear the Message of Our Lord!

Hear the Message of Our Lord!

Text: John A. Dalles, July 25, 2006
Tune: SALZBURG
Meter: 7777D

Hear the message of our Lord:
“You are salt for all the world!”
Fresh and stunning, it may be,
That for all eternity,
From the moment of your birth
You are blessed with matchless worth!
Hear the message of our Lord:
“You are salt for all the world!”

Hear the teaching of our Lord,
“You are salt for all the world!”
You, who thought your gifts were small,
Learn the lesson of Christ’s call,
To give savor and to serve,
To delight and to preserve!
Hear the teaching of our Lord,
“You are salt for all the world!”

Hear the pleading of our Lord,
“You are salt for all the world!”
All too many view each days,
With despair and disarray.
What’s distasteful, come and save,
Give God’s children what they crave!
Hear the pleading of our Lord,
“You are salt for all the world!”

Hear the promise of the Lord
You are salt for all the world!
With Christ’s saintly work to do,
With eternal life, endued,
Now be shaken, by Christ’s hand,
Stirred to season every land!
Hear the promise of the Lord
You are salt for all the world!

Copyright © 2024, John A. Dalles

Inspired by a visit to Salzburg in 2006.

Permission granted for one-time use in worship, as noted above.

Please let me know if you sing this hymn.