Naomi's Notes - 02/18/07
Every two years or so our Young Musicians Choir (grades 4–6) participates in a Hymn Memorization Contest. During spring semester the children memorize the first stanzas of hymns from a selected list. (Learning the tunes is encouraged, but optional.) Upon reciting what they have learned to a choir worker, their names are added to a tally sheet, one hymn at a time. Prizes are promised at the end of the semester.
The list of 38 hymns from our Baptist Hymnal '91 was carefully chosen. Musically, it was important to include a variety of styles: stately hymns, gospel songs, short and easy choruses. (A couple of children recited 7 of these the very first night!)
Textually, it was important that there were no big words and that the phrases and concepts were at an appropriate reading comprehension level - more concrete than abstract. Many of the hymns contain repeated phrases, an aid to memorization.
Spiritually, and most importantly, the texts were chosen to cover a broad spectrum, clearly stating concepts of faith, worship and Christian living in language that is both inclusive and easy to understand. Unfortunately, many hymnals contain questionable theology, so spiritual concepts were also screened.
Nearly every hymn on the list has been sung in our corporate worship during the past year, helping the children make a connection. The contest is not just an exercise unto itself, but--like scripture memorization--it helps lay a broad foundation for our spiritual lives and enables our worship. And when children hear their parents and teachers sing these hymns, the importance of church music in their spiritual lives is reinforced.
On Wednesday nights our YM choir often sings hymns in large group, and Lisa has been doing in-depth studies of selected hymns during small group. Where else but in a church choir would children learn that "Be Strong in the Lord" was written as the author flew on an airplane to her grandmother's funeral? Or that the refrain "O How I Love Jesus" was one of four camp meeting tunes often attached to songs like "Amazing Grace." Or that "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" originated with a tribe in India, where nearly all of the population is either Hindu or Muslim--and the phrase "no turning back" indicated a truly costly decision to follow Christ?*
Though imperfect, our hymnal is a treasure-trove of spiritual wealth, a musical connection with people past and present who praise(d) God and struggle(d) with Christian living just like we do. Alongside scripture it is foundational to church music ministries. Please encourage our children to explore hymnody with us in choir on Wednesday nights.
See you in worship this Sunday –
Naomi
*from Handbook to the Baptist Hymnal ‘91