Thank you for the two articles [Herald, April 1] about the new Celebrating Grace hymnal. It truly is, as the article says, “a hymnal built by Baptists for Baptists." I have watched the progress in the preparation of this hymnal from its earliest stages and I am very pleased with the printed product and its introduction.
I was privileged to be in attendance for the hymnal’s premiere in Atlanta on March 7-9, and seldom have I heard such dynamic singing by the entire congregation. The enthusiasm of those present was matched by the warmth and refreshing vigor of the texts and tunes we found in the new book. It reminded me of a family reunion, where we renew our ties with those we have known and loved in earlier years, but we also welcome new friends and relatives and quickly come to appreciate and cherish them, and want to introduce them to the rest of our family.
This new hymnal is a welcome addition the toolbox for the Christian craftsman — especially Baptist music and worship leaders — as they search for resources for dynamic congregational singing, and I’m finding that its awesome hymn texts are a wonderful resource for personal daily devotional material.
At least one additional hymnal committee member is a part of our Virginia Baptist family. Ralph Manuel, minister of music at Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis, Md., and a member of Virginia Baptist Male Chorale, served on the supplemental music resources committee, and provided musical settings for five of the hymn texts.
James Allcock, Farmville