Looking for an "Aha" moment in worship? Try the hidden power of a well-structured hymn

Allow ourselves the time and space to Stop. Look. Listen.

As lay worship leaders, we are frequently asked merely to fill in either when the minister is away, church is on hiatus, or there is a need for an extra time of worship. Sometimes that feels like a low bar to reach - just write a short message, fill in appropriate songs and readings, and you're done. You 're probably given a template of the expected service format so you don't even have to plan the outline of worship.

But what if you want to achieve something different? What if you set your sights on bringing your congregation to an unexpected place? Maybe a message of social justice - a good outrage moment? Perhaps a particularly beautiful piece of music that transports one to a higher place? What about a good cry with a well-written testimonial?

Here at WCL, we believe that worship is most powerful when it flows one element into another in a way that challenges us as individuals to be more honest with ourselves, face uncomfortable truths with awareness and hope while finding the motivation to act in radically new ways to build a better world.

We ask ourselves tough questions, leave time for silent awareness, then build through music, ritual and prayer to an affirming sense that we are here together to help each other when times are hard as well as celebrating when things go well. These are elements that move people out of their comfort zones to acts of radical welcome, risk-taking justice, and transformational forgiveness.

Using one hymn or melody as a connective tissue through a service can be very strengthening. Coming back to a tune or words can imbue it with a deeper meaning as different ritual elements are played out.  Singing the first two verses at the beginning of a service, then the last two at the end is not boring, it can be very meaningful - especially if the words work to carry you from inner awareness to outer mission.

Take for instance the beautiful UU hymn #83, "Winds be Still," lyrics by Richard S. Kimball, set to the Wesleyan Christian tune, "Lead Me Lord." The first verse speaks metaphorically of the end of a violent storm and the coming of silence, peace and tranquility.  Then the second verse talks of connecting with the mystery of Life.  Finally, the third verse speaks of illumination, clarity, and the joining of people together to bring forth a new movement of collective action.

Or another example, UU#298, "Wake now my senses," words by Thomas Mikelson set to a traditional Irish melody. Each verse awakens a different aspect: mystical Senses, Reason, Compassion, Conscience, Mission. This hymn follows precisely a natural arc of worship from private awareness to outward mission. How powerful to build a service around this set of lyrics, interpersing it with other chants, songs, anthems, readings, testimony...!  The use of repetition in this case builds the sense of unity toward a common goal and can send your congregation out into the world with renewed commitment and common purpose! Try it, you'll discover a hidden power.

"Gimme that ole metric index, gimme that ole metric index, gimme that ole metric index, it's good enough for me..."

Don't you love some of the tunes of the old hymn standards but sometimes feel the words are a tad out of date or not quite the meaning you want to impart? Allow me to introduce to you a dear old friend of ours, the Metrical Index, found in the back of every hymnal I have ever known.

Found on page 664 of the UU hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition, but hiding in the back of every Protestant hymnal I have ever met, the Metrical Index lists songs that share the same line meter and therefore can have their words and tunes interchanged easily.

For instance, the Doxology, "Old Hundredth," dates back to 1551. You may know it as "All People That on Earth Do Dwell." This song is in Long Meter, 8.8.8.8 syllables per line. There are literally 45 other hymns in the UU hymnal that share that meter and therefore can be interchange - tunes and words as poignant as "When Jesus Wept,"  as yearning as "When all the Peoples of this Earth," as mysterious as the words of Hildegard of Bingen, "I am that Great and Fiery Force,"...... the possibilites are endless!

I love the Welsh tune of the hymn,"Come Thou Long Expected Jesus," written in 1844 by Rowland Pritchard (Metric name: Hyfrodol, syllabic numbers: 8.7.8.7.D). Many of us know it as the Earth Day hymn, "Blue Boat Home," arranged by Peter Meyer. It has a very adaptable meter that can handle scores of other lyrics - 14 listed in the UU hymnal.

The beautiful tune called Sursum Corda has a meter of 10.10.10.10 and can handle the gorgeous words of RabindranathTagore (UU #191) or the words of Robert Frost (UU#64) or W.H. Auden's poem, "What Shall we Learn." The fact is, "Abide with Me," which most people associate with funerals, is a beautiful 10.10.10.10 melody that can carry many, many different lyrics on its back.

When crafting a lay service, this means you can be very discriminating. You may want to chose a great tune, then see if there are words that fit both the tune and your theme, or you may choose words you love but that may be matched in the hymnal with a difficult or unfamiliar tune. Check to see if you can change up that tune to one either more familiar or easier to sing.

I'm all for learning new tunes - I'm a huge fan of the UU Teal hymnal when used properly (that's worth it's own posting...) and I feel that stretching musically bring richness and spiritual intensity to our singing repertoire, but let's face it: lay-led services can be short on expert musical resources and it's nice to know you may have options other than the particular tune currently matched with a particular lyric. Plus the old tunes are great!

Use those little color-coded post-its and mark hymns with the same meter in your hymnal!
You will be delighted by what you find!

How did I find out about this valuable gem? Years ago from my elementary and high school youth choir director at Riverside Church in New York, Rose Marie Wildman, a gifted church school teacher who believed children should be taken seriously musically. I'll never forget her leading us in the chorale of J.S.Bach's St. Matthew's Passion with an adult cast of hundreds and full orchestra. Oh, we had to sing it in German, of course. Amazing!