Joyce Borger

Harry Boonstra wrote the following and asked that it be posted:

I am a newcomer to this forum, and perhaps my questions and comments have been discussed (and resolved!) in the past. If so, just point me in the right direction.

My comments and questions center mostly on psalmody and the psalter. (Years ago I heard a speaker from the exclusive Psalm singing Reformed Presbyterian denomination: “A real psalter contains every verse of every biblical psalm; all others are snippet psalters.” My own tongue in cheek definition is: “If it contains Psalm 137:8-9 it’s probably a real psalter”).

As far as I can determine, CRC Synod 2007 did not ask for a new “Psalter Hymnal”—that is, a “replacement” for the 1987 Psalter Hymnal (the grey PH, or, as editor Emily Brink prefers, the silver PH.) Rather, the mandate was to produce a “bi-denominational songbook” or a “comprehensive hymnal” (Agenda, pp. 206-207). The actual recommendation uses only the term “hymnal” (Acts, 579-80). (I very much like the title chosen for the new “songbook.”)

No. 6 of the FAQ asks, “Will this hymnal include a separate section of psalms (A Psalter)?
The first part of the response says that “the psalms” will be scattered “by subject’ throughout the hymnal.

The UPDATE announces that in addition there will be a separately published psalter.
Of course the designation “psalter” is not always used in the same way, neither in general nor in this FAQ response. For example, the response notes that in Rejoice in the Lord the psalms are in a “discrete Psalter section.” Actually this “psalter” is a unit in Part I, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM PRAISE, under the subheading, “Psalms Praise Him.” Here there are only 63 psalms (#83-143) in numerical sequence. Some of these include the complete biblical psalm; many others are select verses from the biblical psalm (Ps. 119 is spread over two numbers (#129, 130), for a total of 9 stanzas. Psalm 119 is again captured as “Scriptural allusions” in 5 hymns. Obviously this Rejoice “psalter” designation is very different from the 1987 PH, where Psalm 119 is versified in 22 stanzas, all by the same versifier and the same Genevan tune).

It is worth noting the different approaches in the CRC and the RCA traditions. The CRC has always published complete psalters, that is, all 150 psalms were represented. In the 1912-1914 Psalter and in the 1934 (Red) and 1959 (Blue) Psalter Hymnal the 150 psalms were spread over many versifications, that is, the Scottish/English psalter tradition (generally Presbyterian). The 1987 (Grey) Psalter Hymnal went back to the Dutch/Genevan tradition of each biblical psalm represented by one versification and one tune. The RCA has not published a complete psalter since its 1789 Psalms and Hymns….of the Dutch Reformed Church. (Psalm 119 is represented by 121 stanzas). There were many later editions with an ever-increasing number of hymns.

All of this adds up to my main question: What kind of bi-denominational psalter can we look forward to?

Now to answer Harry's question...

I want to be clear that there are two different products we are talking about. The first is the actual bi-denominational hymnal/songbook entitled "Lift Up Your Hearts: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs" (LUYH, pronounced lu-yah as a short-form). The second is a separate psalter not yet titled.

1. In LUYH you will find representation of all 150 Psalms as you do in the Psalter Hymnal. What is different is that they will not appear in order at the front of the hymnal but will rather be placed where they would fit thematically or in the worship order with a good index at the back of the book in case you are looking for a particular psalm. Some psalms will appear more than once (i.e. Psalm 23) others will only appear once. This hymnal is scheduled for release in 2013.

2. The psalter will be close to the size of LUYH. It will be in the order of the psalms. For each psalm you will first find the full text of the psalm arranged for responsive reading, or reading with multiple voices, along with some pointing and suggested tone for those churches who desire to chant the psalms (the tones themselves will appear elsewhere in the book). Following the text of the psalm will be musical renderings of that particular psalm which could include something from the Genevan Psalter, or another metrical version, as well as psalm composition in a gospel, contemporary/modern, or folk idiom for example. Some psalms will only have one or two musical representations others will have five or more. The psalter is scheduled for release in 2012.

A hymn text: Tectonic Plates Beneath the Ocean's Surface by Andrew Pratt

Thanks for bringing this issue to our attention.  I had no idea!

I think this is a great idea and would be interested in attending and willing to support this event however I can.  -Joyce

Just received the Abingdon Worship Annual for 2012 which provides various resources for each Sunday and follows the lectionary.  It includes a CD with links to additional material.  Another good resource is Call to Worship a journal put out by the PCUSA which has lectionary aids online

I have heard some talk of creating a Year D but work hasn't begun on it. 

The challenge for RW is that the lectionary is not set up for thematic preaching over a course of several weeks.  While there is a theme or focus for each Sunday there isn't necessarily a theme that ties several weeks together.  So in that way it doesn't always lend itself to the series idea as presented by RW.  But RW would be very happy to receive more service outlines and even series from churches that do follow the lecitonary.   In the meantime I encourage you to search RW's website by scripture to find services and resources for a particular lection.

I was hoping that others would weigh in as to whether they use the lectionary or not. 

As you suggested most of the resources for RW are unsolicited meaning that churches send in services/resources that they have developed we don't ask churches to develop a series on an assigned group of passages.  On occasion the resources or series we receive follow the lectionary but not often.  Our habit has been to recognize the link to the RCL when it is clearly based on it.  When planning worship using the RCL I would encourage doing a scripture search on the RW website to come up with additional resources.  That said we are toying with the idea in the new redesign of RW to indicate when a service is based on a text also used in the RCL.  It is also my hope that the search function on the new website will further help you locate resources... maybe even a lectionary calendar where you simply need to click on the day and a list pops up?? 

A recent survey of RW readers affirmed our current position of not tying series/resources too closely to the lectionary.  There are a plethora of good resources available for churches that follow the lectionary there are fewer good resources for non-lectionary based worship.

I have some follow up questions for anyone out there...

How do you decide when to include a new song?  From where do you select them?  Is there a method/process you use for introducing new songs?  Do you make sure a new song is repeated over a series of Sundays so that people really learn it or do you sometimes use a new song just for a particular service? 

Joy,

You will be happy to know that a new Psalter of multiple settings of each psalm (in the order of the psalms) is on the way to the printer as we speak and will be out next January.  There you will find singable settings of the psalms in multiple genres as well as the full text set for responsive reading with sung refrains.  (And some of the arrangements are newly written by Eelco Vos who you name in your blog).  From Ken Medema, Stuart Townend, and Matt Redman to Bev Herrema, Timothy Hoekman, Roy Hopp, and Gregg DeMey, to Genevan Psalms, Afro-American Spirituals, jazz styles, and global songs, this book has them all!  You can pre-order your copy at Faith Alive Christian Resources.