08/14/2026
A note on our upcoming use of hymnals from Fr. David:
What's a hymnal? Why use them?
I have spent almost my entire life as a Christian in churches without hymnals. Many of you probably have a similar story. Almost universally now, lyrics are projected on screens in churches and the possibilities for song selection is unknown. Why would it be better to use a hymnal in church services? Here are a few reasons.
1. Hymnals curate quality music. - In earlier Anglican tradition, most of the music was limited to the songs of Scripture: the Psalms and the canticles. Over time, new texts for singing were set to music and used in public worship. A huge amount of music was written over hundreds of years, some great, some not great. We now have the privilege of looking back and curating the best of what the church has written and putting them conveniently in one book for our use. This includes very old hymns and very new ones. It's not only about something being old, but something standing up as objectively true, good, and beautiful.
2. Hymnals foster participation and shared ownership of worship. - With a hymnal, you have the words, the music, and the range of songs to master. You don't have to guess what notes to sing. We are united in our words and melodies. The music leader facilitates the congregations singing. This is not performance, this is communal worship.
3. Hymnals avoid performative styles. - I am a huge fan of many worship songs that frankly take high-skill instrumentalists and vocalists to perform well. I listen to them and use them in my devotions. But as communal songs, they don't really work. Those kinds of songs from popular bands and artists are more suited for personal listening, and not for unified singing in every setting. I like to say that a good congregational song is one you could sing with 1000 people over an organ and one you could sing with three people in your living room.
4. Hymnals help us inherit and pass on a heritage of worship. - Many of the hymns we will sing together will have been sung for centuries, and will be sung after we die. The hymns I teach my children around our dinner table link them to a heritage of faith that is bigger than them and roots them. We all have the privilege of joining in this great tradition together as we internalize these hymns.
5. Hymnals are more practical. - It is simply cheaper, easier, and less labor intensive for us as a church plant to use hymnals than to prepare and present lyrics and other texts on screens. The administrative burden is lessened by our use of hymnals.
6. Hymnals help us avoid the unnecessary use of digital technology. - I do not think digital technology is neutral and in many cases actively contravenes our spiritual formation and relationships. This is yet another opportunity to practice embodied and tactile ways of worshipful participation in our life together.
There is more to say, but hopefully this gives you an idea of why we have decided to make this move.
