Merry Christmas to you and yours! I wish I had more opportunities to blog recently, but instead I have been busy working on a new hymn for Christmas. A few months ago the Getty team launched their inaugural Hymn Writing Collective. It was a dream come true for me to take part and learn from... Continue Reading →
Fanny Crosby: Her Song Goes On
It seems fitting to conclude my series of blog posts on American hymnology by focusing on one of America’s most well-beloved hymn writers, Fanny Crosby (1820-1915). Even though Crosby passed away over a century ago, she still speaks to us through timeless texts like “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross,” “To God Be the Glory,”... Continue Reading →
What Camp Meeting Choruses Teach Us About the Gospel
“Let’s sing that chorus one more time!” the worship leader calls out. You sing it again, this time louder and with more energy, “amening” the truth of the song with your voice along with everyone around you. In today’s music world, the best part of a song is often imbedded in the chorus or refrain.... Continue Reading →
Bring Back the Psalms!
We talk about what we love. I have found in a church setting that the best way to connect with someone from a different demographic is to ask them about what I think they might love. Elderly people like to talk about their family and their past experiences. Middle aged people often talk about their... Continue Reading →