Hymns, sometimes referred to as
”
sacred poetry put to music,
”
have long played an important part in Christian worship.
At first texts from the Hebrew scriptures were used
(particularly the Psalms), but distinctively Christian songs were
composed before the fourth century A.D.
Hymns, sometimes referred to as “sacred poetry put to music,” have long played an important part in Christian worship.
At first texts from the Hebrew scriptures were used (particularly the Psalms), but distinctively Christian songs were composed before the fourth century A.D.
Modern hymn writing and singing dates from the 18th century, especially from noted authors like Isaac Watt, John and Charles Wesley. After the Second Vatican Council in the 1960’s Roman Catholics began singing more hymns at Mass, and now nearly all churches (with the notable exception of Quakers) use hymns as an integral part of worship.
John Murphy is a San Martin resident who recognizes the sheer joy people can experience through singing good hymns. A member of the Morgan Hill Bible Church and frequent visitor at worship services in other local churches, he became convinced that the traditional hymns, “our American Christian heritage” were being neglected, supplanted by more contemporary music.
Operating under the belief that “If you don’t like something, do something about it,” Murphy decided to offer a gift to South County residents, a Summer Hymn-along presented in the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse on Friday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m.
Murphy, a vice president of business development for a software company in Silicon Valley, made all the arrangements:
renting the theater, procuring the services of an accompanist (San Jose concert pianist Julie Wood), borrowing a baby grand piano from
California Music in Gilroy, and recruiting as song leader the Rev. Scott McGee from New Life Community Church in Santa Maria.
When he shared this idea with family and friends, they decided to choose for the evening 15 hymns popular with most Christian traditions, borrowing a hundred copies of the hymnal used by his home congregation. Grouped into four themes, titles included “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name,” “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” “Amazing Grace” and “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.”
His goal was not to provide entertainment, but to allow participants to experience a spontaneous, unrehearsed, spiritual time of singing together.
As Murphy explains, “Too often in churches these days, the electrified music and amplified voices make it difficult to hear the congregation singing.”
The audience included members of most Christian traditions, including several local pastors. At the end of the evening several participants expressed their hope that there would be future “Hymn-alongs,” and Murphy is considering hosting another such event in December, this time focusing on Christmas music.
John Murphy, whose family and friends helped with the production through ushering, technical support, reading to the audience introductions of the music and composers, among other things, feels relief that he accomplished something God was urging him to do. Looking back on the evening, he remarked, “It sounded heavenly.”
