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Singing Together with Creation
The sound of voices rising in song is one of the most cherished parts of our worship together. In fact, during COVID, our inability to sing together was a deep sadness that many experienced. Whether the melody is centuries old (Be Thou My Vision) or a recent composition (You Who Dwell 'On Eagles Wings'), music has the power to draw us closer to God and to one another. When choosing the hymns for each Sunday, I try to balance music from our ancient Anglican tradition with the the gospel songs of the Black Church and even toss a more contemporary tune in once and a while.
All of the hymns we sing come from hymnals approved by The Episcopal Church. Our main book is called the 1982 Hymnal after the year it was published; others include Wonder, Love, and Praise (more contemporary music) and Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS). Published in 1993, LEVAS is a beloved resource in many Episcopal churches. It includes spirituals, gospel, and hymns from a variety of cultures, offering “diversity of musical expression for the whole church.” (LEVAS, Preface)
I recently received a gift of 35 copies of LEVAS from my colleague Fr. Samuel Murangi. The congregation he serves, Emmanuel Resurrection, was merged from two parishes in Philadelphia - which means that they have double of some items for worship. These hymn books were sitting unused for several years, until Fr. Sam gifted them to Saint John's. Each pew downstairs in our sanctuary, and several pews upstairs, now has a copy of LEVAS in addition to our regular '82 Hymnal.
Using the LEVAS hymnal in worship signals a commitment to inclusion. When we sing from LEVAS, we honor the voices and traditions of Black, Indigenous, and other communities whose music has too often been overlooked. The hymnal’s presence in our pews is a visible reminder that all are welcome and valued in our worship.
This summer, we are going to attempt to juggle multiple books rather than print music from LEVAS in our bulletins. When we print music every week, we use a significant amount of paper—much of which is discarded after the service. Even with recycling, the environmental impact of producing, transporting, and disposing of paper is real. Hymnals like LEVAS are printed once and used for years, sometimes decades. Each Sunday that we reach for a hymnal instead of a single-use bulletin, we save paper, ink, and the energy required for printing and recycling. This mindful use of resources is an act of care for the earth—one of The Episcopal Church’s core commitments. As people of faith, we are called to be caretakers of God’s creation. As we seek to reduce our environmental impact, using LEVAS hymnals is a simple but meaningful step.
May our music always reflect our values: inclusion, care for creation, and faithful stewardship. With LEVAS in our hands and God’s love in our hearts, let us sing boldly—together.
Blessings,
Rev Jill
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