A seminary classmate, Richard Lanford, was serving as the pastor at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Skokie, Illinois, when the Ku Klux Klan announced they were going to have a rally in front of a Cook County Courthouse a few days before Christmas. Richard asked that a new hymn be written that the churches in the community could sing to counter the hate group’s rally. The hymn tune is a traditional Christmas tune ("Angels, from the Realms of Glory"), reflecting the season of year when it was first sung. The hymn has since been used by many churches as part of their annual celebrations of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. When this hymn was first sung by churches struggling to respond to a Klan rally in their community, they had a creative response beyond the hymn. In addition to inviting people of faith to attend services in their houses of worship, they also encouraged them to pledge money for a group working to end racism, the Southern Poverty Law Center based on how long … [Read more...]
Lenten hymns for Year A (2017)
The Presbyterian Outlook commissioned Presbyterian hymn writer, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to compose Lenten hymns set to familiar tunes. Your purchase includes a bulletin insert score (a PDF of the lyrics scored with the music for a half-page regular sheet of paper), a large print version (PDF of the lyrics and scored with the music for a full sheet of paper) and a document with lyrics only. Each hymn is $10. You have permission to print as many copies as needed for your use. 2017 package - $70 Click here to purchase Order all 7 new hymns for 2017: One for each Sunday of Lent, one for Palm Sunday and one for Easter Sunday 1st Sunday – God, We Long for Our Own Comfort 2nd Sunday – Who on Earth Can Find God’s Kingdom? 3rd Sunday – As Jesus Journeyed with His Friends 4th Sunday – Christ, You Made the Blind Man See 5th Sunday – “Lord, If Only You Had Been Here” 6th Sunday – Christ Jesus, On Sunday, You Rode into Town Easter Sunday – Now Sing the Gospel Story ASH WEDNESDAY – … [Read more...]
A New Father, Awestruck (A new hymn for refugees)
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, a Presbyterian pastor and author of more than 300 hymns, has written a new hymn in response to the refugee crisis in the Middle East. Gillette is offering it for churches to use, saying that "the new hymn would be very appropriate for Christmas Eve, Christmas Sunday and New Year's Day (the First Sunday after Christmas' lectionary gospel reading is Jesus and his family being refugees fleeing Herod)." Tune: MUELLER 11.11.11.11 ("Away in a Manger") Biblical references: Luke 2:1-20; 22-24; Leviticus 12:6; Matthew 2:13-18; Luke 1:46-55; Matthew 25:31-46 and Micah 6:8. Text: Copyright © 2016 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Gillette also has written this hymn note: Hymn Note: This hymn begins with a traditional image of a manger scene, and becomes a prayer that we may look deeper— at our loving God who chose to come into this world as someone who was poor, powerless, in danger, and a refugee. It is a prayer for the church to … [Read more...]
Hymns for Advent & Christmas – Year A (2016)
The Presbyterian Outlook commissioned Presbyterian hymn writer, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to compose Advent hymns set to familiar Christmas tunes. Your purchase includes a bulletin insert score (a PDF of the lyrics scored with the music for a half-page regular sheet of paper), a large print version (PDF of the lyrics and scored with the music for a full sheet of paper) and a document with lyrics only. Each hymn is $10. You have permission to print as many copies as needed for your use. 2016 package - $50 - Click here to purchase Order all 5 new hymns for 2016: One for each Sunday of Advent and one for Christmas 1st Sunday - No One Knows the Day or Hour 2nd Sunday - Did Your Parents Pray at Table 3rd Sunday - Are You the One Who Is to Come 4th Sunday - Joseph Was Troubled Christmas - A Savior Born, A Gift of Joy Advent wreath hymn for four Advent Sundays & Christmas Eve/Day The Candle of Hope - Click here to purchase This hymn is not geared to the … [Read more...]
God of All Peoples, Cultures and Nations (A hymn for the election)
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette has written a new hymn for the 2016 election season. This interfaith hymn was written in response to the divisive presidential election in the United States. Permission is given for free use by local churches and in ecumenical services. Tune: BUNESSAN 5.5.5.4 D (“Morning Has Broken”) Biblical references: Genesis 1:26, Isaiah 58; Micah 6:8; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 9:52-56; Hebrews 13:2; Leviticus 19:18, 33-34; Luke 15:1; Ephesians 4:6; Proverbs 14:29; 15:18; 22:24; 1 John 3:17-18; 4:20-21. Text: Copyright © 2016 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Download a PDF of the hymn with music and lyrics: God of All Peoples, Cultures and Nations PDF Download of PDF of the words only: God of All Peoples, Cultures and Nations - bulletin insert Check out Carolyn's new hymns for Advent here. … [Read more...]
To a Place of Celebration (A hymn for Orlando)
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette has written a new hymn for churches in response to the Orlando shootings. She hopes the hymn will be both comforting and challenging, helping all who grieve and supporting efforts for change. Permission is given for free use by local churches and in ecumenical services. Tune: EBENEZER 8.7.8.7 D Text: Copyright © 2016 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Download a PDF of the lyrics: To a Place of Celebration (bulletin) May also be sung to the Beach Spring tune. Download a PDF of the hymn with music and lyrics: To a Place of Celebration - complete music … [Read more...]
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