Luther, liberty, and the pursuit of...cookie pizza

My 4th of July dessert seemed to echo the theme of this post...can anyone tell what it's supposed to be?  :)

Martin Luther wrote "On Christian Liberty" a couple hundred years before the United States of America was formed, but Americans today owe him much credit for furthering our modern concept of freedom. John Locke and other early Federalist writers drew the basis for human rights from the ideals of the Reformation, which coincided with Renaissance humanism, launching the modern era of philosophy and liberal arts. To be sure, the believer's spiritual freedom by faith in Christ differs from his freedom in civil affairs. Yet, Luther understood both the distinction and the correlation.

Before the Reformation, feudalism and "group-think" was everywhere. The whole rather than the individual was emphasized, particularly in terms of religion. Education and knowledge was limited to those in power, or who could afford it - the rest were largely subject to the system in which they were born.

Luther entered on the cusp of humanism, a positive and growing concentration on the individual's role in the world. He attended the University of Wittenberg, the first institution in the world to embrace the new method of learning called the "humanities," or liberal arts. People took charge of their own beliefs and ideas, and this internal responsibility led to awareness of their place in culture. Classical literature and languages were esteemed highly, and this study provided a common discussion ground as well as a standard for beauty. We may not consider Luther a true "humanist," but this movement supplied the setting for his worldview.

Luther spoke of the "priesthood of all believers," in which each Christian regardless of social place has spiritual value in Christ, as well as a vocation in which he or she serves others. The children of God by faith are not obligated to earn their way to holiness by good deeds. However, their status as justified sinners motivates them to work freely for the benefit of their neighbor, church, and state.

Because of the Reformation, we Americans may thank the Lord for several blessings of freedom - especially worship, education, and the value of each life. May we continue to thank God for these gracious gifts, and repenting of our undeserving sinful nature, believe in His free gift of salvation.

Anna Hoppe: Thanksgiving Day

November 24, 1929 
Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day! My God, what shall I say
To voice the thoughts that rise within my heart? 
How shall Thy loving kindness I portray,
The streams of love Thy mercy doth impart? 
Can humble words add to the message clear 
That sun and moon and stars and nature tell? 
The autumn blooms in praise their petals rear, 
The harvest-­‐fields in adoration swell.

Thanksgiving Day! O gracious Father mine, 
The tear-­‐drops fall when on Thy love I dwell, 
All that I am and have it only Thine,
Safe in Thy hands I know that all is well.
For home and friends, for bread and raiment now 
My prayer of thanks arises to Thy throne,
For strength to labor in the sweat of brow,
For peaceful slumber when the day is done.

Thanksgiving Day! Not only for the sweet,
But for the wormwood let my thanks arise.
My heart would psalms of grateful praise repeat 
For clouded days, as well as sunny skies.
Thy fruitful soil needs winds and showers too,
No sheaves of grain spring forth from desert-­‐lands. 
Thy rainbow still, in rays of glorious hue

Assures me that Thy cov’nant firmly stands.

Thanksgiving Day! For all Thy wealth of good, 
For gifts unnumbered, for Thy grace divine,
For all the mercies of Thy Fatherhood
I laud and bless Thee, gracious Father mine! 
Thou knowest well the path that leads me Home, 
In light and shadow hold my hand, I pray; 
Without Thy guidance I would vainly roam
And miss the landmarks to the realms of day.

Thanksgiving Day! I thank Thee for Thy Son, 
The Christ Who died for me on Calv’ry’s hill. 
His precious Blood complete redemption won, 
Now at Thy throne He pleadeth for me still. 
Thy Perfect Gift! Forgiveness, peace, and rest, 
The sweet assurance of eternal bliss
Are mine in Him, the loveliest, and best,
My One and All, what need I more than this?

Thanksgiving Day! I thank Thee for Thy Word, 
That beams more brightly than the sun and noon, 
And for the promptings of Thy Spirit, heard 
When in the stillness I with Thee commune.
Thy gifts in streams abound and overflow.
As Thy dear child thus let me give, I pray.
That other hearts Thy saving grace may know 
Make all my life a blest Thanksgiving Day!

Anna Hoppe.
Anna Hoppe, “Thanksgiving Day,” Northwestern Lutheran XVI, no. 24 (November 24, 1929): 369. 

Isn't that a beautiful collection of thoughts?  Anna brings up many good and gracious gifts of God which we do so often overlook (I know I do), but are most deserving of praise.  

For myself this past year, just considering all that has happened should indeed overwhelm me with praise and thanks.

- Right after the new year, I took the GRE and passed - Verbal 157/Quantitative 146.  Just right for my PhD application!
- I completed my Master of Arts in Lutheran Theological Studies thesis - 864 pages long.  The essay itself was perhaps one-tenth that size; the rest hymns I retyped.  It was successfully defended and passed in April.
- My PhD in Historical Theology application was accepted, much to my disbelief!  I found out while on the phone with my mom, clicking the "refresh" button on my application status webpage.  In a split-second, it changed from "pending" to "accepted."  Naturally, I lost it...
- I graduated in May with my MA degree.  GPA:  3.41.
- In June, I completed my Master of Church Music thesis, submitted it, and successfully performed my organ recital.  GPA:  3.72.  
- I obtained several new jobs as accompanist for vocal/ instrumental music and dance.  
- With the help of my MCM advisor, my MA thesis was accepted to be published!  It will be printed in 2017.
- I passed comprehensive exams for my MCM degree! Graduation will take place in December.  

What shall I render to the Lord, for all His benefits toward me?  I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the LordNow in the presence of all His people.  Psalm 116:12-14

Anna Hoppe: "O Come, Let Us Sing Unto The Lord"

I'd like to share with you all possibly my favorite Anna Hoppe hymn (though it is so hard to select just one!).  Considering the poetic offerings of women such as Anna is an important aspect of history.  The fact that her hymns are doctrinally comprehensive, but nonetheless energetic, states something significant about parish education in her day.

Confessions of faith in verse, though they may seem to belong only to practical theology, might be the closest women come to doctrinal writing.  But that's a discussion for another day.  Hope you enjoy this hymn as much as I do!

November 2, 1924

“O Come, Let Us Sing Unto The Lord”

1524 - - - 1924

“But be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God, and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Ephesians 5:18-20. 

O Triune God of Glory,

Unnumbered legions sing Thy praise,

And bow in awe before Thee,

To laud Thy Name, Ancient of Days!

The hosts by thee created,

The bright angelic choirs,

With holy joy elated,

Tune their celestial lyres,

And sing Thee songs eternal,

While sweet-strained harps of gold

Flood Salem’s realm supernal

With melodies untold.

Beyond the pearly portals

Cherub and Seraph raise the strain,

With glorified immortals.

How could earth mute and still remain?

Ah no, since dawned creation,

Thy creatures here below

Have sung of Thy salvation

Who lovest mankind so!

With cymbal, harp, and psalter

Thy chosen Israel

Drew near Thy Temple’s altar,

O blest Immanuel!

Glad Miriam glorified Thee (Ex. 15:20)

In hymns of sweet, melodious flow.

There is no God beside Thee!

All vain the boast of Pharaoh!

And Zion’s loyal daughters

Joined in the triumph-strain.

Beneath Egyptian waters

The scattered foes lay slain!

Thy Moses would adore Thee (Ex. 15)

In praise-filled anthem strong;

Deborah gave Thee glory (Judges 5)

In sweetest choral-song.

In holy fervor singing,

Hannah of grace divine could tell!  (1 Sam 2.)

With praise her heart was ringing

For Thy love’s gift, her Samuel!

Down through the generations

Sweet hymns of praise and prayer,

And holy jubilations

Soared to the regions where

Thy wondrous glory dwelleth!

O gracious God of Love,

The tidings Zion telleth

Thy boundless mercy prove.

And David, king anointed,

The psalmist after Thine Own heart,

In moments, Heav’n-appointed,

The sweetest solace could impart.

In song Thy grace confessing

Toward man with sin defiled;

In psalms Thy kindness blessing,

Thy love’s compassion mild.

His harp to Thee would render

The sweetest harmonies,

And to Thy glory tender

Divinest melodies!

Down through the by-gone ages

Resounds the Song of Solomon,

And Scripture’s hallowed pages

Reveal in song what Thou hast done

Thy people to deliver

From sin, and hell, and death,

Through Thy dear Son, our Savior,

The Christ of Nazareth!

Thy Simeon and Anna

Praised Thee in sweet accord,

The children’s glad Hosanna

Thy glorious Name adored!

The song of Virgin Mother (Luke 1:46-55)

Thy boundless love and mercy praised.

No earth-born din could smother

The voice glad Zacharias raised (Luke 1:68-79)

To Thee in adoration!

How sweet the strains came forth,

When Jesus, our Salvation,

In song proclaimed the worth

Of faith in Thee, dear Father,

With His beloved Own!  (Mark 14:26)

When saints in worship gather

Sweet anthems reach Thy throne.

When Nero’s hosts decried Thee

With persecution’s hell-born wrongs,

Thy Zion glorified Thee

In psalms, and hymns, and sacred songs! (Col. 3:16)

Upon Thy Word relying,

Thy Church braved fire and sword,

Triumphant martyrs, dying,

Sang praise to Thee, dear Lord!

And magnified the Savior

Who bought them with His Blood!

Now, crowned with life, forever

Thy glorious grace they laud!

The songs of Luther blended

With Seraphim’s celestial strain,

And Gerhardt’s hymns ascended

Like incense sweet to Thy domain!

Sweet anthems, Spirit-given,

Still reach Thy throne to-day,

As on the path to Heaven

Thy Zion wends her way.

Saved by Thy grace in Jesus,

Clothed in His righteousness,

Cleansed by His Blood so precious

Thy mercy she doth bless.

Accept while here we wander,

O God of Love, our hymns of praise,

Till in the Homeland yonder

The song of victory we raise.

O glorious consummation,

Perfected, glorified,

Our hymns of adoration

Shall laud the Lamb Who died,

The risen, mighty Savior,

Our glorious Lord and King!

Forever and forever

The Heav’ns with song shall ring!

                                                                                          Anna Hoppe.

(Penned in commemoration of the Quadricentennial of the first congregational Hymnal in Christendom, published at Wittenberg, Germany in 1524.)

Anna Hoppe, “O Come, Let Us Sing Unto The Lord,” Northwestern Lutheran XI, no. 22 (November 2, 1924):  337.

Here's a letter I wrote a few weeks before graduating seminary:

I feel like many things that mean a lot to me are drawing to a close - not only school, but also church work, chances at friendships, good moments to be had. Problem is, most of these things are still going on.

I tried to make friends with people. I smiled and scrambled for something ingeniously relatable to say, to be funny, to be the one they'd go to for advice. Concern to perfect these details has only come off as awkward. Then, I go and say the wrong things to the people who are actually being good to me - can I get it right, for once?

None of these things have truly ended yet. Instead, I'm sitting here waiting for it to happen. And I know I will feel nostalgic about it someday.

I sit in my room with my eyes closed, trying to imagine that I've graduated, left everything and gone home (the only place I can afford), all of my friends are scattered and serving their vocations across the country, and the reality that the 15 minutes I enjoyed of church music and joy is over. Then I open my eyes, and I'm still here, in the shadow of the place I went to school, where I work, and where I practice. My friends are still here, just barely, along with the people with whom I should have been friends. The recitals I've given are not forgotten, the parties I went to are still remembered, the old places I hung out are still there.

I should tell everyone what I think before it's too late. No, maybe not. No, maybe I should.

It's not that I fear change, simply change for the worse. If better things were definite, I might be less sad about it, There's no promise of that, though.

So, if you see me looking wistful at times that should make me happy, I really am doing my best to savor every minute. The main thing I need is assurance that it's part of a drawn-out, really great beginning, and that the riches of these blessings from God will only appreciate in value. I don't see how, but they might.

Anna B.D. Hoppe

Has American Lutheranism really been silent in original hymnwriting?  It doesn't appear so.  Anna B.D. Hoppe's story is of great value and importance to the history of Lutheran hymnody.  Here is the most recent (and potentially most comprehensive) detail of her life, found at Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology.

https://hymnology.hymnsam.co.uk/a/anna-hoppe?q=anna+hoppe

More about Miss Hoppe and her work will be heard in the near future.

Anna B.D.Hoppe, from Hymnary.org

Best of 2015

In 2015, I:

Didn't date anyone

Didn't get engaged

Didn't get married

Didn't have a baby

Wasn't in a wedding

Wasn't a godparent

Didn't get a new job, and

Stayed in the Central Time zone

If you accomplished any of those, you're pretty cool. And I mean that in all honesty.

BUT...I did:

Have a golden birthday

Get a new computer

Get a new phone

Completed 22 academic credits from three institutions

Complete MCM classes (3.70 GPA)

Help lead a Lutheran youth convention

Get my writing published

Train for and run my first half-marathon

Play organ at some new places

Try some new coffeeshops

Run places I've always wanted to go

Make some new friends in hymnody (the best kind of friends!)

Do some hymnological research that none of you know anything about! (But will soon...all in good time!)

In 2016, I will:

Grow stronger in faith in my Savior

Eat

Sleep

Church

Music

Brew coffee

Run every day

Graduate (at least once, God willing)

Give my senior recital

Pass comps and orals

Finish writing a book

Travel

Make new friends

Be surprised by what the Lord sends me!

Happy New Year!

In Jesus' name 
Our work must all be done
If it shall compass our true good and aim,
And not end in shame alone;
For ev'ry deed 
Which in it doth proceed,
Success and blessing gains
Till it the goal attains.
Thus we honor God on high
And ourselves are blessed thereby;
Wherein our true good remains.

- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary No. 4, v. 1

My children's choir book

Part of the Christian life under the cross in this world deals with the endless trials of the photocopier. For the past two years I directed the 2-4 grade choir at my church's Christian day school, I spent way too much time entering hymn melodies and words into Sibelius, printing off PDFs, and then making 50-60 photocopies for every student, only to toss them after the service was done.  I also relied on week-to-week planning or rehearsals based around the next church-singing date.  Nope.

So, this summer, I had enough.  I did some research at St. James Music Press and our hymnal.  I typed and retyped a lot.  I went out and bought several reams of high-quality paper and this happy spring-green almost-tagboard.  Then, I went to work printing and resizing each page, arranging the text and music before double-siding the photocopies, and then ran 55 sets of each.

After self-collating these (you can tell I was pretty tired!), my wonderful brother helped me make three staplers in the sem library feel very special.  They were replenished on multiple occasions, and ate their fill of wholesome greens.

What's in them, you might ask?  Interspersed with the pieces are short paragraphs explaining rules of choral singing I usually over-repeat.  Because I don't have a whiteboard in the sanctuary - which would make my teaching WAY more effective! - this gives the students something visual to remind them.

The repertoire?  Well, hymns, especially doctrinally-solid hymns, are MUCH too hard for children to learn.  Those old Germans composed plenty of confusing tunes that don't appeal to young people today, and there's no way they could even try learning them.  Being connected to the past is overrated, because youth can certainly fend for themselves.  Let's see, the first song is "Shout to the Lord..."


Just kidding!!  Here are the pieces and choral teaching points covered:

Posture - Breathing
Three Kinds of Voices (chest, face, head)

A Mighty Fortress - Martin Luther, arr. William Roger Price

Kyrie:  Kyrie, God Father In Heaven Above
Gloria:  All Glory Be To God On High
Credo:  We All Believe In One True God
Sanctus:  Holy, Holy Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth - J.S. Bach
Agnus Dei:  Lamb of God, Pure And Holy

Onset (Starts of Words) - Short "I"Turns Into Long "E" - Long "E" is Kissed

As Longs the Deer - Mark Schweizer

How To Chant (i.e. Psalm 118:17, Doxology)

O Rest In The Lord - Felix Mendelssohn
I Pray Thee, Dear Lord Jesus - trad., arr. Alfred Fremder
Savior of the Nations, Come - trad., arr. Carol McClure

Consonant Pairs - Diphthongs - "R" Before A Consonant- Shh!

Grow On Long Notes - Commas and More - Performing and Leading

I'll probably continue to use this template for forthcoming school years; this has bought me so much time otherwise used toward collecting and planning.  If you have any questions about the contents of the choirbook or would like to have one, do let me know - I'd be pleased to help you with any of the resources.

Happy planning for the New Year - and remember, as the AC says, we keep art in our divine services "that the unlearned be taught"!