Lutheran "Renewing Worship" Hymns released, with predictable revisions

American Lutheran Publicity Bureau ^ | 26 July AD 2005 | David Baer

[lightman]

I noticed that the hymn proposals for the "new primary resource" are available online at the Renewing Worship web site. Just in time for them to say that they have been made widely available before the Churchwide Assembly.

www.renewingworship.org/about/proposal/pdf/Hymns.pdf

In a quick look at the proposal, there are some suggested changes in tune and text that I like. For the most part it preserves what has been known in LBW and WOV.

The changes are predictable:

-- Those nasty words like "Lord" have been purged when possible (For example, see "For the Beauty of the Earth.")

-- That nasty "F" word has been eliminated when possible (For example, in "Come Thou Almighty King" verse 1, "Father All Glorious" is now "Maker all glorious." In "In Heaven Above" "Where God our Father dwells is now "where God forever dwells."

-- Those nasty male pronouns have been purged when possible. (For example, see "Earth and All Stars, " "Come Ye Thankful People, Come" "Hallelujah! Jesus Lives" "Let All together praise our God"

-- Those nasty references to men have been eliminated. "As With Gladness Men of Old" has been changed to "As With Gladness Travelers Bold."

-- Those nasty capital letters for God have been removed where the LBW left them. For example, see "Prince of Peace" in "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "Persons" in "Holy, Holy, Holy"

-- Some "exciting new translations" have been tragically proposed. (For example, see "A Mighty Fortress" (rhythmic) and "All Creatures Worship God Most High" (replaces "All Creatures of Our God and King)." "Jesus, My Sweet Pleasure, Perfect, Joyful Leisure" replaces "Jesus Priceless Treasure" (also gone is LBW 458 tune).

-- Some beautifully poetic and profound theological texts have been detroyed. For example, in "Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed," verse 3, "When God, the mighty maker, died For his own creatures' sin" has been changed to ". . . for all creation's sin." "Lamb of God, Pure and Sinless, Once on the cross an offering" becomes "Lamb of God, Pure and Sinless A Tree Your Limbs Suspending."

They have left most memorable texts alone for the sake of avoiding outright revolt.

A noted exception is "Away in a Manger." As a "theological revision" in verse 2, "But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes" is changed to "The little Lord Jesus our crying he takes." Maybe better theology but it will confuse generations of Lutherans who have memorized this text as children.

Given the consideration of the detail involved in these hymns and the other worship resources, the 2005 Assembly should postpone final approval at least until 2007 to allow the ELCA members a chance to respond or to suggest modifications to the proposed list or to proposed texts.

[lightman]

There is slim hope that the release of this information before the August Churchwide Assembly may produce a backlash that will at least delay, if not stall the "Renewing Worship" project and the new ELCA hymnal.

[lightman]

Lutheran ping, please.

[spycatcher]

Lutherans trying to keep up with the Episcopal church?

[Ciexyz]

our crying he takes?

That makes no sense.

[Ciexyz]

Of course we can no longer post this sign at Christmas (er, Sparkle Season/Winterfest):

Wise men still seek Him.

[lightman]

Forgive you?

Love, ya, bro...that's the first time I laughed since reading this $*** earlier this evening.

[Colonel_Flagg]

"Earth and All Stars,"

This hymn is horrible anyway. Just my opinion. But changes to the classics really hurt.

[Honorary Serb]

I said it before and I'll say it again:

Everyone should just vote NO to EVERY proposal at the CWA!!!!

Please pass this advice along to every CWA delegate--er, "voting member"--you can reach!!!!

Of course, if there is a resolution for Mark Hanson to resign, or other such counter-proposals from the long-suffering orthodox lay majority, vote YES!!!!

[Honorary Serb]

No one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit!!!!

[SmithL]

Just finishing the job they started with the Green hymnal:

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op'ning day.

Became this:

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the op’ning day.

[PAR35]

If it runs folks off to the Missouri or Wisconsin Synods before they can fall under the indoctrination of the liberals, then theses folks are (inadvertently, perhaps) doing good work. A lot of folks stay in the mainline churches because they are comfortable. When the liberals overreach and make folks uncomfortable, it inures to good.

[Experiment 6-2-6]

Please place me somewheres on that Lutheran Ping thingy..

[TXBSAFH]

Meet the reason that I have recently switched to the Catholic church.

[lightman]

You might be interested in this discussion on the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau's online Forum concerning an open letter which theologian Carl Braaten recently sent the Presiding Bishop about the "brain drain" occuring as the best and brightest of the ELCA leave for Rome or Constantinople: http://www.alpb.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=off;action=display;num=1121315641;start=0

[redgolum]

In the LCMS, the influx of people from the ELCA is being met with suspicion at times. The worry of many pastors is that the new members will start to dilute the orthodoxy and practice of the LCMS.

Of course, Missouri has its own problems. We are very much divided on the Ablaze (Church growth and fad driven church stuff) movement, and there is a small but growing group of pastors and laypeople who want women's ordination. If the last happens, I may have to swim the Bosphours myself.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Having left the ELCA for LCMS, I see the problems in LCMS as minuscule by comparison, but it pays to be vigilant.

It's also evident that those disgruntled with ELCA, while being correct in their displeasure with the homosexual issue, don't get the total picture. The synod's association with the NCC makes it impossible to "reform" the synod.

The ELCA has far larger problems than just the issue of homosexuality and many don't know it.