Had my recent travels not kept me away from the Presbyterian Center, I would have been honored to take part in the marvelous commissioning service for the newly appointed Presbyterian Hymnal Committee, which took place in the chapel there this past Tuesday, September 23. See a related story by the Presbyterian News Service.
Indeed I was present in spirit, as the group of fifteen outstanding pastors, musicians, and scholars gathered around the baptismal font to be commissioned for the work of creating a new hymnal for our denomination. The commissioning was led by my colleague, Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the Office of the General Assembly, and Melva Costen, chair of the 1990 hymnal committee and former professor of worship and music at Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Paul Westermeyer, professor of church music at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and author of Te Deum, preached the sermon, and Rhashell Hunter, director of Racial Ethnic and Women's Ministries/Presbyterian Women presided at the Lord's Table. The committee has a long and challenging journey ahead of them, but guided by God's Word and sustained by God's Spirit, I pray that their work will inspire our church to "sing to the Lord a new song!"
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