Each week, you may find information here about the music in the traditional worship services at First United Methodist Church in Lewisville, Texas. Some of this information is original; most of it is copied from other websites such as Wikipedia, GBOD, and hymnary.org. It is my hope that this information will enhance your understanding and enrich your worship experience.
About the Piano Music:
Holy, Holy, Holy - Jim Martinez
(c.2019, Hope Publishing)
Reginald Heber (1783-1826) wrote this text for Trinity Sunday, the day for which lectionary in the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer prescribes the reading of Revelation 4. Using reverent and apocalyptic language, "Holy, Holy, Holy!" alludes to Revelation 4:6-11; 5:13; 15:2-4; and Isaiah 6:1-3 to sing the great majesty of the triune God. Note the cosmic scope of the text: human beings (st. 1), saints and angels in glory (st. 2), and all creation (st. 4) praise the name of the Lord. Though God's holiness, love, and purity are cloaked in mystery, we can still experience God's mercy and mighty power, and we can participate in praising God. It references the Sanctus, which is often called the "Holy holy holy" in English. The name is a tribute to the First Council of Nicaea which formalized the doctrine of the Trinity in 325.
It was first published in the third edition (1826) of A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for the Parish Church of Banbury and was also published posthumously in Heber's Hymns Written and Adapted to the Weekly Church Services of the Year (1827). The unusual single rhyme (all on the "ee" sound) and the uneven number of syllables in some lines have not detracted from the hymn's popularity. It was soon adopted by hymn-book compilers, and is the best known and most widely used of the author's hymns.
John Bacchus Dykes composed the tune NICAEA for this hymn in 1861. The tune name is a tribute to the First Council of Nicaea which formalized the doctrine of the Trinity in 325.
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, Holy, Holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man, Thy glory may not see:
Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise Thy name in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, Holy, Holy! merciful and mighty,
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Jim Martinez (b. 1966) is a Steinway Piano Artist and has performed/recorded with Jazz notables Lionel Hampton, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Cheryl Bentyne (of the Manhattan Transfer), and many others. His performances have taken him from New York to Sydney, Australia. Martinez worked as pianist/musical director for Joan Rivers and Bob Newhart at Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe. He is the founder, Executive and Artistic Director of the Roseville Jazz Festival, which takes place annually near Sacramento, CA.
About the Choral Music:
Spirit Song - Tom Fettke
(c.2019, Mercy/Vineyard Publishing)
John Wimber (1934-1997), one of the 20th century's leading charismatic pastors, is known primarily as a founder of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship. He was educated at Fuller Theological Seminary and graduated from Azusa Pacific University. He served first as pastor to the Society of Friends in Yorba Linda, Calif., beginning in 1970, and then moved in 1978 to Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, Calif. In 1982, he became senior pastor of the Vineyard Fellowship in 1983.
"Spirit Song," written in 1979, is the most lasting musical contribution from Wimber. It appears widely in hymnals and is one of the more popular new hymns in The United Methodist Hymnal. The song encourages an intimate relationship between the singer and Christ through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. If the singer will surrender "all the things that hold you," the Holy Spirit will descend "like a dove... upon your life and make you whole."
Tom Fettke earned degrees from Oakland City College and California State University at Hayward. He holds a California Lifetime Music Credential in Secondary Music. For many years, he taught vocal music in California's public school systems. He served as church choir director and minister of music in churches large and small for over thirty years. While at the Redwood Christian School System in Castro Valley, California, Fettke held the positions Director of Choral Activities and Supervisor of Music. A high demand calls for Fettke as a guest conductor, clinician and workshop leader. In addition, he is a composer, arranger and producer of music and recordings for the church and school. His published works and recordings number in the hundreds. Thousands of church and school choirs throughout the world sing his classic choral work, The Majesty and Glory of Your Name. Fettke was the creator and Senior Editor of The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration. Fettke also is Senior Editor of The Celebration Hymnal.
Oh, let the Son of God enfold you With His Spirit and His love;
Let Him fill your heart and satisfy your soul.
Oh, let Him have those things that hold you, And His Spirit like a dove
Will descend upon your life and make you whole.
Jesus, oh, Jesus, Come and fill Your lambs;
Jesus, oh, Jesus, Come and fill Your lambs.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Jesus, oh, Jesus, Come and fill Your lambs;
Jesus, oh, Jesus, Come and fill Your lambs.
About the Modern Band Music:
Beautiful Things - Michael and Lisa Gungor
(c.2010, BMG Rights Management, Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC)
Formerly known as The Michael Gungor Band, the socially active, Denver-based foursome is comprised of Michael Gungor, his wife Lisa, as well as friends Brad Waller (guitar) and Josh Harvey (bass). Gungor hits the scene with a different perspective than most bands as the lead singer is perhaps best known for co-writing distinguished songs like “Friend of God” and “Say So,” made famous by Israel Houghton. The music is not the only impressive thing about Gungor, as likewise the band is also incredibly involved in missions both in their hometown and abroad. Michael and his wife moved to Denver and eventually founded a community of believers called Bloom. The connection between worship and social justice became concrete in Denver with regular involvement with the homeless & needy of that area, and the outcome is evident on "Beautiful Things".
This bigger story of God shows up on Beautiful Things in songs born of an honest journey of faith and a struggle with what should result from worship. “If leading worship is just about bringing a group of people into a room so we can get goose bumps and sing songs together, there’s not much value in that," explains Michael Gungor. "But if leading worship is a means to an end, that we leave this place as a different kind of people, as part of a new humanity that God wants to create--the people that are caring for the widows and orphans, that aren’t bound by the systems of this world but becoming free, becoming fully engaged in our world--then that matters.”
“My wife Lisa and I wrote this song together based on experiences at our local church. We were seeing our friends going through suffering and pain. This song is an expression of hope that God will make beautiful things out of the dust in our lives, and God will somehow use us, use our obedience and love, our feeble human effort, and build Himself a kingdom. I see that God is using suffering to bring us closer to Him….It is easy to get caught up in our daily circumstances, and we need to know that one day all of the angst and suffering we have now will be ‘made new.’ God is present even in our difficulties. If we lift our eyes up to God, we can have the hope that He has promised in His Word. He is the source of our strength and hope.”
Inspiration for “Beautiful Things” was drawn from two scriptures:
Isaiah 2:4: He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
Revelation 21:4-5: And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
All this pain - I wonder if I’ll even find my way;
I wonder if my life could really change at all.
All this earth - Could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come up from this ground at all?
All around, Hope is springing up from this old ground;
Out of chaos, life is being found in You.
You make beautiful things.
You make beautiful things out of the dust.
You make beautiful things out of us.
You make me new, You are making me new.
You make beautiful things out of the dust.
You make beautiful things out of us.
About the Hymns:
Soul on Fire - Brenton Brown, David Carr, Mac Powell, et al
(c.2018, Songs From The Quarry (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), and Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
Brenton Brown, born in South Africa, is a Christian songwriter and worship leader. He left South Africa for Oxford, England in his early twenties on a Rhodes Scholarship. While studying politics, philosophy and theology he joined the Vineyard music (UK), serving as worship pastor at the Oxford Vineyard, UK, and eventually as coordinator of the Vineyard (UK) Worship Development Team. His songs, "Lord Reign in me," "All who are thirsty," "Humble King," "Hallelujah [Your love is amazing]" and "Holy" were recorded on the popular Vineyard UK projects during this time. He has since left the UK and now lives in Malibu, California with his wife, Jude. He is a worship leader at Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village, CA and is an artist on the worship label Survivor. In 2006, he released his first solo album, Everlasting God with Survivor in the UK and rest of the world, and with Sparrow in the United States and Canada.
Lord restore the joy I had
I have wandered bring me back
In this darkness lead me through
Until all I see is You
God I'm running for Your heart
I'm running for Your heart
'Til I am a soul on fire
Lord I'm longing for Your ways
I'm waiting for the day
When I am a soul on fire
Lord let me burn for You again
Let me return to You again
Lord let me burn for You again
And let me return to You again
God I'm running for Your heart
I'm running for Your heart
'Til I am a soul on fire
This is a Day of New Beginnings
(c.1987, Hope Publishing)
Brian Arthur Wren (b. 1936) is Emeritus Professor of Worship, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia. He is a writer, preacher, worship and workshop leader, and internationally published hymn-poet, with entries in most recent denominational hymnals in North America, Britain and Australia. Some of his hymn-poems have been translated into Finnish, French, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and Korean. Brian holds undergraduate and doctoral degrees from Oxford University. He is a Minister of the United Reformed Church (UK). Wren provides an account of the composition of this text in notes provided in one of the collection of his texts, Faith Looking Forward (1983). The hymn was “written for a New Year’s Day service [1978] at Holy Family Church, Blackbird Leys, Oxford. In itself, the new year is an arbitrary convention, its newness a mere mark on the calendar. The recurrent awakening of life in nature is not a strong enough foundation for hope of real change. Yet by faith in the really new events of the Christian story, a day, or a month, or an hour can become charged with promise, and be a springboard to a changed life.”
As one of the leading hymnwriters of our time, Dr. Wren has contributed more hymns to the UM Hymnal (1989) than any other hymnwriter currently living. This text is supported by the melody BEGINNINGS, composed by Dr. Carlton Young (b. 1926), one of the leading tune writers of this day.
This is a day of new beginnings, Time to remember and move on,
Time to believe what love is bringing, Laying to rest the pain that’s gone.
For by the life and death of Jesus, God’s mighty Spirit, now as then,
Can make for us a world of difference, As faith and hope are born again.
Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring, Step from the past and leave behind
Our disappointment, guilt and grieving, Seeking new paths, and sure to find.
Christ is alive, and goes before us, To show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings; Our God is making all things new.
In faith we’ll gather round the table, To taste and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings; Our God is making all things new.
First United Methodist Church, Lewisville, Texas
A Community of Everyday People Learning to Love Like Jesus
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