Yesterday 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.
I am pleased that four of my hymns are included in the hymnal:
- #237 "God, Renew Us by Your Spirit";
- #316 "O God of Love, Grant Us Your Peace";
- #496 "See What Love We Have Been Given"; and
- #639 "God, Bless Your Church with Strength!"
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
To Love is to be Breakable
TO LOVE IS TO BE BREAKABLE—
Meter: CM (86.86) – Suggested Tune: TALLIS’ ORDINAL
By John A. Dalles – Inspired by Lines by C. S. Lewis
“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, “The Four Loves”
To love is to be breakable—
So love with all you are,
Commitment unforsakeable
May leave a mark, a scar.
To love is to be bendable—
So love and limber be,
Become the one befreindable—
With lithe humility.
To love is to be vulnerable—
So love with openness,
At risk and truly honorable—
This is the way to bless.
To love is to be changeable—
By all you love each day,
Alive and rearrangeable,
So give yourself away!
Copyright © 2013, John A. Dalles
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.
Meter: CM (86.86) – Suggested Tune: TALLIS’ ORDINAL
By John A. Dalles – Inspired by Lines by C. S. Lewis
“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, “The Four Loves”
To love is to be breakable—
So love with all you are,
Commitment unforsakeable
May leave a mark, a scar.
To love is to be bendable—
So love and limber be,
Become the one befreindable—
With lithe humility.
To love is to be vulnerable—
So love with openness,
At risk and truly honorable—
This is the way to bless.
To love is to be changeable—
By all you love each day,
Alive and rearrangeable,
So give yourself away!
Copyright © 2013, John A. Dalles
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.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
EVERY HOPE WE HAVE IS GROUNDED
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.
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.
If you find that you like this new hymn text, please contact me regarding permission for its use in your worship.
Text: John A. Dalles, 2013
Every hope we have is grounded
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.
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.
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”.
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.
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.
If you find that you like this new hymn text, please contact me regarding permission for its use in your worship.
EVERY HOPE WE HAVE IS GROUNDED
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.
Tune: MICHAEL (In memory of his son, by Herbert Howells, 1892-1983)
Meter: 878767
In God’s grace forever true;
Change may challenge, chance may frighten,
Only God will see us through.
Do not fear; God is here—
Day by day and year by year!
Fame and fortune, gold and glory,
Tempt us and betray God’s trust;
Yet, with care God plans and fashions
Lasting works of righteousness.
God’s great power, hour by hour,
Is our temple and our tower.
Is our temple and our tower.
God’s is brilliant, bold and wise,
God is light and life and splendor,
By God’s word new worlds arise—
By God’s word new worlds arise—
Evermore from God’s store,
God creates us to adore.
God creates us to adore.
Daily the Almighty Giver
grants us overflowing gifts;
God, our Maker, Guider, Savior,
Leads us forward and uplifts—
grants us overflowing gifts;
God, our Maker, Guider, Savior,
Leads us forward and uplifts—
By God’s hand, may we stand,
And with joy do God’s command.
One and all, our voices raising,
May we pray “Thy will be done!”
High above all praises praising
Every grace of Christ the Son—
And with joy do God’s command.
One and all, our voices raising,
May we pray “Thy will be done!”
High above all praises praising
Every grace of Christ the Son—
Do not fear; God is here—
Day by day and year by year!
After “All My Hope On God Is Founded”
Permission granted for use in worship to Richard Clarke & the St. Bartholomew Catholic Faith Community, Wayzata, MN
Copyright © John A. Dalles, 2013.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Now Is The Time To Speak named the 2012 Winning Hymn in the Macalester-Plymouth 17th Annual Hymn Contest
February 20, 2013
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.
The winning hymn, Now Is the Time to Speak, 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.
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.
The winning hymn, Now Is the Time to Speak, 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.
2012 Prize Winning Hymn
Now Is the Time to Speak
by the Rev. Dr. John A. Dalles
Longwood, Florida
Meter 6666D
Suggested tune: INVITATION (MAKER)
Now is the time to speak of work informed by prayer,
of hands to help the weak, of bravery to dare.
O may we not keep still, for there is much to do:
Speak out to do God’s will, God’s justice to pursue!
Now is the time to speak, the time to mull has passed;
the future still is bleak for all who are downcast –
They struggle to provide, they struggle to be heard,
they call us to their side to speak God’s saving word!
Now is the time to speak, for words can lead the way;
achieve the aims we seek by speaking out today!
May conscience conquer fear, may courage vanquish doubt.
The time to speak is here: In faithfulness, speak out!
*****
Copyright © 2012, John A. Dalles
Friday, November 2, 2012
My Hymn "Praise God For Days Long Past!" Sung as Part of a 250th Anniversary Worship
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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.
I thought I might make some mention of the hymn that they selected...
Even though it was not chosen then, the hymn did not get forgotten.
It was published the very next year in the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s 100th anniversary edition of "The Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study".
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.
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. The hymn has been sung by numerous congregations in at least 13 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
“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.
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.
But to think... A 250th anniversary (wow!).
But to think... A 250th anniversary (wow!).
I am excited that the hymn that the judges rejected has gone so many other places, and so pleased that it was part of the Shoeneck Moravian's anniversary service—and what an anniversary!
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Thursday, September 13, 2012
Good News...
I am a pushover for good news.
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.
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.
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.
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...
The first good news 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.
Scott wrote to request permission that one of my hymns may be printed in a preview book that is now underway for the Community of Christ Hymnal (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.
The second good news 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.
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.
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.
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.
So we are underway.
I am thankful to the Lord that these two good news items were in my head when I awakened today.
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...
The first good news 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.
Scott wrote to request permission that one of my hymns may be printed in a preview book that is now underway for the Community of Christ Hymnal (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.
The second good news 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.
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.
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.
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.
So we are underway.
I am thankful to the Lord that these two good news items were in my head when I awakened today.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
When We Waken in the Morning
When We Waken in the Morning
A Retirement Hymn for The Rev. Dr. Paige M. McRight
Text: John A. Dalles, 2012; Suggested Familiar Tune: KELVINGROVE
When we waken in the morning,
Jesus meets us there!
When we sing, the Lord adoring,
Jesus meets us there!
When we hear God’s sacred Word,
When we live all we have heard—
When we waken in the morning,
Jesus meets us there!
When throughout the day we gather,
Jesus meets us there!
When we do His work together,
Jesus meets us there!
When our workmanship is fine,
When it’s for the Lord of time—
When throughout the day we gather,
Jesus meets us there!
When we share Christ’s cup of blessing,
Jesus meets us there!
When our goal is praise unceasing,
Jesus meets us there!
When we offer heart and mind,
When our goal is good and kind—
When we share Christ’s cup of blessing,
Jesus meets us there!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Jesus meets us there!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Jesus meets us there!
When we venture far or near,
It is Christ’s “Well done!” we’ll hear!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Jesus meets us there!
Copyright © John A. Dalles, 2012.
Permission granted to Paige M. McRight.
Background and Update as of 2024:
This hymn was written for the retirement worship service honoring The Dr. Dr. Paige McRight, as Executive Presbyter of Central Florida Presbytery. Paige did a great job of overseen the work of the Presbytery and caring for the churches and ministers who belonged to the Presbytery. She also helped to guide the Presbytery through some very challenging times, as there was a movement afoot nationally for congregations to both lobby for changes that were not Presbyterian in nature, and to leave the denomination by "taking the money and run" as well as the property, which in fact was not theirs to take. It made life for the many faithful Presbyterians among us - myself included - pretty frustrating at times, because it got in the way of being the church and doing the work of Christ. As I say, Paige was quite good at dealing with these nearly impossible messy situations. Since retirement, she has been working every bit as hard as an interim pastor, and in work for the denotation, as well as writing for publication. As they say, ministers don't retire, they just go out to pastor.
This hymn is one of my favorites, and owes that in large measure to the wonderful tune it is set to, which of course was in my head as I wrote it. I created it so that it consul be used in situations other than retirement, in deed, it is a good Morning Hymn for many worship occasions. Give it a try; I am sure your congregation will enjoy singing it.
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