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--- fumc:hymn-discussions [2026/07/03 14:12] – [Hymns] set more realistic expectations naptastic
+++ fumc:hymn-discussions [2026/08/15 17:01] (current) – [August 23] Make plans naptastic
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 Intentions for every week:
   * Make "a few minutes late" still work
+    * Start right on time by checking in with everyone
   * Begin and end with a prayer
   * Sing and discuss at least one hymn
@@ Line 29: / Line 30: @@
 =====Calendar=====
-I want to have **one or two** hymns per week to sing and discuss.
-I probably need help choosing which hymns to put on which weeks, what questions to ask, etc.
 ====June 7====
-Pride Weekend; we won't be having Sunday School.
+Pride Weekend; we didn't have Sunday School.
 ====June 14====
+  * We read John Wesley's instructions for singing from the front of the hymnal.
+  * We talked about the tension between going too fast and going too slowly.
+  * We stretched and warmed up before singing. (I think.)
 ==UMH 67: O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing==
-(Potential) questions:
-  * If you had a thousand tongues, what song would you sing?
-  * What is Charles Wesley singing about?
-Points I want to get to:
+==UMH 698: God of the Ages [Whose Almighty Hand]==
-  * John and Charles Wesley's most enduring writings are in the hymns
-  * The first page of the hymnal--the instructions on singing
-  * Despite John Wesley's admonitions about tempo, our hymns have no tempo markings.
-Also sang UMH 698: God of the Ages [Whose Almighty Hand]
 ====June 21====
+This session started with the question "how is it with your soul?" which, I think, is a good way of making "a few minutes late" work. (I should say this to the class explicitly.)
 ==UMH 129 - Give To The Winds Thy Fears==
-  * Short, but good. A diversity of ideas. I suspect enough of this will resonate with the people in the room that the spontaneous discussion will default to "what's heavy on your mind, and how does God's Word address it?"
 ==UMH 377 - It Is Well With My Soul==
-How is it with your soul?
+This hymn was suggested by Teddy. It's one of my favorites as well, and it's in our hymnal, so YES PLEASE let's get it in there.
 ====June 28====
 ==UMH 339: Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast==
-  * We are a very welcoming congregation. How can we become more inviting?
 ====July 5====
+I missed this one due to an injury. Barbara played and Nancy led the discussion.
 ==513: Soldiers of Christ, Arise==
 I had to look up two words from the hymn. Here are the definitions from Oxford English Dictionary:
@@ Line 67: / Line 64: @@
   * Endued
     - endowed or provided with a quality or ability.
-FIXME Nap doesn't know how to play this yet!
 FIXME Attach the UMC document about Christian Nationalism
-First, note that this is in the //Sanctifying and Perfecting Grace// section of the hymnal.
+====July 12====
+I was late to this one, so we didn't warm up, and you could tell.
-  * The Armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-20, Romans 8:28-38
-From the text, it is explicit that our fight is metaphorical and not literal.
-====July 12====
 ==562: Jesus, Lord, We Look to Thee==
 (This is the same music as //Let Us Plead For Faith Alone//)
-So, this hymn. Thiiiiiiiis hecking hymn.
+What we did with this hymn was to sing each verse on a different line (Soprano, then alto, then tenor, then bass, everyone in their own octave.) Then Barbara played verses 5 and 6 and everyone sang a part of their own choice.
-On a piano, it can't be played as written. On a pipe organ, your feet can cover the very wide stretches. But **every obstacle is an opportunity** and I want to use this hymn to illustrate a **principle**.
+The idea that I want to drive home is that there isn't a "right" or "wrong" part to the music. For you as an individual, there may be right and wrong parts to sing, but that's an individual thing. The idea that a group singing together, multiple different parts, and all of them are correct, is a revolutionary idea. I have believed for a long time that there is a close connection between polyphonic music and the Protestant reformation.
-What I'd like to do is play one part, then have the group sing one verse on that line, in their own octave but in unison. I will plink out those parts. For the fifth and sixth verses, we'll sing harmony. I will play as much as I can on the piano for verse 5, and verse 6 I want us to sing //a capella//.
+(Then we talked about grace for a while.)
-The idea that I want to drive home is that there isn't a "right" or "wrong" part to the music. For you as an individual, there may be right and wrong parts to sing, but that's an individual thing. The idea that a group singing together, multiple different parts, and all of them are correct, is a revolutionary idea. I have believed for a long time that there is a close connection between polyphonic music and the Protestant reformation. I also believe that this promise has not been fully realized. Even though basically the whole Christian world sings music in harmony, the significance of harmony hasn't sunk in for a lot of people, and they insist that everyone do the same things, have the same things, and be the same ways.
 ====July 19====
-==173: Christ Whose Glory Fills The Skies==
+==UMH 413: A Charge To Keep I Have==
+==LDS 193: I Stand All Amazed==
+This is a Protestant hymn that has been in many hymnals since it was written.
+==LDS 270: I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go==
+This hymn is specifically Mormon, but only for historical reasons; it would fit just fine in any Protestant hymnal. (I think.)
+**do not forget to add the scripture references to Jeremiah**
+Barbara said she'd encountered this hymn before but couldn't remember where. So I might be wrong about it being exclusively Mormon.
 ====July 26====
-==384: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling==
+==UMH 173: Christ Whose Glory Fills The Skies==
+==UMH 553: And Yet We Are Alive==
+==I Stand All Amazed==
+We went long. (Oops)
 ====August 2====
-(For special music this week, we are currently planning a congregational hymn.)
+For special music this week, the class sang //I Stand All Amazed//. The words were on the screen, so the congregation joined in for the refrains for verses 2 and 3.
+Here's the plan:
+  * Check in
+  * Warm up enough to cover the range of the hymn
+  * Sing verse 1 with accompaniment and try to fix the one S that's out of place
+  * Sing verse 2 //a capella// to make sure I'm hearing things right
+  * Sing verse 3 with accompaniment
+  * Move to the sanctuary by 10:30 so we can sing the hymns with Teresa
+  * Hopefully finish early
 ====August 9====
+Song #2: UMH 474: Precious Lord, Take My Hand
+Song #1: //I'll Walk With You// by Carol Lynn Pearson (Mike Green played)
+Mike and I both spent a while eulogizing Carol Lynn Pearson, sharing memories, talking about her accomplishments and contributions. After that we sang, um... FIXME I don't remember.
 ====August 16====
-(For special music this week, we are currently planning a congregational hymn.)
+Recap of singing in service:
+  * We sang ALL of the hymns correctly, not just the one we practiced in advance
+  * Our phrasing and dynamics were beautiful and felt completely natural
+  * Every word was clear. If there were any mistakes I didn't hear them.
+  * Feedback was universally positive.
+==384: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling==
+==128: He Leadeth Me==
 ====August 23====
-==UMH 709: Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above==
+Mike's going to play this week. I haven't been able to get these two hymns under my fingers.
+===Christ The Lord Is Risen Today===
+===Hark The Herald Angels Sing===
 ====August 30====
-==UMH 60: I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath==
+==UMH 709: Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above==
 This is the last class of the series. Some points that can't be left out:
   * Plug the next Sunday School series and note if the time is changing
-  * Suggest joining the chancel choir
+  * Suggest singing with the choir for Christmas
 =====Hymns=====
@@ Line 115: / Line 142: @@
 ^ Number ^ Title ^ Remarks ^
-|57| O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing|Ready - June 14|
+^ Hymns we have already sung ^
-|60| I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath|This is stupid and I can't play it.|
+|57| O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing|June 14|
-|129| Give to the Winds Thy Fears|Ready - June 21|
+|129| Give to the Winds Thy Fears|June 21|
-|173| Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies|This is stupid and I can't play it.|
+|339| Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast |June 28|
-|196| Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus |This is stupid and I can't play it.|
+|513| Soldiers of Christ, Arise|July 5|
-|240| Hark! The Herald Angels Sing |This is stupid.|
+|385| Let Us Plead For Faith Alone |July 12|
-|302| Christ the Lord Is Risen Today |This is stupid.|
+|562| Jesus, Lord, We Look to Thee |July 12|
-|339| Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast |ready - June 28|
+|413| A Charge to Keep I Have |July 19|
+|173| Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies|July 26|
+|553| And Are We Yet Alive |July 26|
+^ Hymns we have not sung (yet) ^
+|60| I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath|I need to hear this.|
+|196| Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus |Hyfrydol; only 2 verses.|
+|240| Hark! The Herald Angels Sing |about half ready|
+|302| Christ the Lord Is Risen Today |about half ready|
 |384| Love Divine, All Loves Excelling |90% ready|
-|385| Let Us Plead For Faith Alone |This is stupid and I can't play it.|
+|417| O For a Heart to Praise My God|40% perhaps|
-|413| A Charge to Keep I Have |This is stupid and I can't play it.|
+|627| O the Depth of Love Divine |I need to hear this.|
-|417| O For a Heart to Praise My God|This is stupid and I can't play it.|
+|709| Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above|20% maybe|
-|513| Soldiers of Christ, Arise|This is stupid and I can't play it.|
+|715| Rejoice, the Lord Is King|I like this one but I //really// like the LDS version...|
-|553| And Are We Yet Alive |Denis; about 90% ready|
-|562| Jesus, Lord, We Look to Thee |This is stupid and I can't play it.|
-|627| O the Depth of Love Divine |I can't play this.|
-|709| Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above|I can't play this.|
-|715| Rejoice, the Lord Is King|I can't play either version of this.|