Page 1 of 2
Re: Hymnals
Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 6:33 am
by JimFoxvog
I like a mix of traditional hymns and comtemporary songs. In the MC-USA churches I attend we use Hymnal: A Worship Book with two supplements, Sing the Story and Sing the Journey. We add other songs with an overhead projector or large TV screen connected to a computer and our own supplement. This works pretty well, but I don't care for the Hymnal's changed lyrics of traditional hymns that were made to avoid using words like "man" or "him" inclusivly, particularly in the first verse of well-loved songs.
Re: Hymnals
Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 9:21 am
by mike
Erika wrote:Does anyone have a favourite hymnal that they use or that their church uses?
Mine is the 'Church Hymnal', published by Mennonite Publishing House, 1927. My favourite Hymn writer is Isaac Watts. He had a very difficult life, as has many of our cherished Hymn writers. He was writing at a time of spiritual decline as we are experiencing today. One of my favourite past times is reading the history of the lives of the Hymn writers and their work. What I am finding in today's hymn books seems to be more entertaining than teaching. I am of the opinion that Hymns should teach Biblical truths. This is a very old debate which is still happening today. I am interested in what others have to say on this topic.
The Church Hymnal is an excellent hymnal. Hymns of the Church by John D. Martin was heavily influenced by the Church Hymnal and contains most of his or his congregation's favorites from it. I do think that the theological content of a congregation's music is formative in its spirituality and thinking.
Re: Hymnals
Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 11:14 am
by joshuabgood
I grew up singing out of the Church Hymnal. A fine book - though it isn't always appreciated by people who aren't more musically inclined in nature. As an example, at our church we also had the Christian Hymnal, and a contingent of folks always felt that the Christian Hymnal had "more life" than the Church Hymnal.
Interestingly, the Church Hymnal also had a few songs that were specifically not included in the Mennonite Hymnal...such as In Thy Holy Place, which was even written by a Mennonite. However the lyrics about "golden censers and perfumes (incense)" etc was too much for the Mennonite Hymnal's sensibilities.
Re: Hymnals
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2017 11:01 am
by Judas Maccabeus
Erika wrote:Does anyone have a favourite hymnal that they use or that their church uses?
Mine is the 'Church Hymnal', published by Mennonite Publishing House, 1927. My favourite Hymn writer is Isaac Watts. He had a very difficult life, as has many of our cherished Hymn writers. He was writing at a time of spiritual decline as we are experiencing today. One of my favourite past times is reading the history of the lives of the Hymn writers and their work. What I am finding in today's hymn books seems to be more entertaining than teaching. I am of the opinion that Hymns should teach Biblical truths. This is a very old debate which is still happening today. I am interested in what others have to say on this topic.
If it has not already been said, your choice may be governed by whether or not you need one with shape notes.
If I had to pick one, it would be the Purple Martin (Hynms of the Church)
J.M.
Re: Hymnals
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2017 11:45 am
by Hats Off
Mine is "A Collection of Psalms and Hymns" and we don't worry about notes at all. That way we are never wrong. If the choice were mine I would go with "The Christian Hymnary" although I have never seen the Purple Martin.
Re: Hymnals
Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2017 11:02 pm
by Judas Maccabeus
Hats Off wrote:Mine is "A Collection of Psalms and Hymns" and we don't worry about notes at all. That way we are never wrong. If the choice were mine I would go with "The Christian Hymnary" although I have never seen the Purple Martin.
Do old order mennos use hymnals without notes? Only time I have ever seen those have been Old Order River Brethren. They seem to adapt to our "Four Part" quite well when they are in our church. I have never been in theirs, although I suspect that will not be the case too much longer.
In our church "The Christian Hymnary" is our primary hymnal.
J.M.
Re: Hymnals
Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 7:44 am
by silentreader
Judas Maccabeus wrote:Hats Off wrote:Mine is "A Collection of Psalms and Hymns" and we don't worry about notes at all. That way we are never wrong. If the choice were mine I would go with "The Christian Hymnary" although I have never seen the Purple Martin.
Do old order mennos use hymnals without notes? Only time I have ever seen those have been Old Order River Brethren. They seem to adapt to our "Four Part" quite well when they are in our church. I have never been in theirs, although I suspect that will not be the case too much longer.
In our church "The Christian Hymnary" is our primary hymnal.
J.M.
Yes, OOMs use hymnals without notes in their churches. The Ontario horse and buggy ones still use German hymnals, the 'black car' OOMs used both German and English before the German was dropped within my generation.
Re: Hymnals
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 9:20 pm
by Judas Maccabeus
silentreader wrote:Judas Maccabeus wrote:Hats Off wrote:Mine is "A Collection of Psalms and Hymns" and we don't worry about notes at all. That way we are never wrong. If the choice were mine I would go with "The Christian Hymnary" although I have never seen the Purple Martin.
Do old order mennos use hymnals without notes? Only time I have ever seen those have been Old Order River Brethren. They seem to adapt to our "Four Part" quite well when they are in our church. I have never been in theirs, although I suspect that will not be the case too much longer.
In our church "The Christian Hymnary" is our primary hymnal.
J.M.
Yes, OOMs use hymnals without notes in their churches. The Ontario horse and buggy ones still use German hymnals, the 'black car' OOMs used both German and English before the German was dropped within my generation.
When we are talking about Old Order Mennonites, are we talking about "Horning" type OOMs or horse and buggy groups?
J.M.
Re: Hymnals
Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2017 9:46 pm
by silentreader
Judas Maccabeus wrote:silentreader wrote:Judas Maccabeus wrote:
Do old order mennos use hymnals without notes? Only time I have ever seen those have been Old Order River Brethren. They seem to adapt to our "Four Part" quite well when they are in our church. I have never been in theirs, although I suspect that will not be the case too much longer.
In our church "The Christian Hymnary" is our primary hymnal.
J.M.
Yes, OOMs use hymnals without notes in their churches. The Ontario horse and buggy ones still use German hymnals, the 'black car' OOMs used both German and English before the German was dropped within my generation.
When we are talking about Old Order Mennonites, are we talking about "Horning" type OOMs or horse and buggy groups?
J.M.
Both, see my previous post. The 'black car' ones I referred to would be the "Horning' type. Note also I am referring only to Ontario OOMs.
Edited to add: I think, but don't know for sure, that the practice would be similar at least in the Lancaster/Lebanon area of PA, and in the Finger Lakes area of NY, though possibly not the German hymnal usage.
Re: Hymnals
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2017 8:49 am
by Hats Off
We are talking about Horning type - the horse and buggy groups with the exception of Virginia, use the German song book, also without notes. (sorry, Silent Reader, I did not see your post when I posted.)