Browse Tag

Glory to God

Searching for Us: 7 Ways the New Hymnal is Queer

After the General Assembly 219th in 2010 lifted the ban on the ordination of gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals, the leadership at my past church thought it might be a good idea to host a couple of evening classes to

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Sing a New Church!

14 mins read

“Language used in the worship and work of the church should affirm the wholeness of God and the full personhood of every individual.” So wrote Starr Luteri, in the PC(USA)’s 1996 study paper “Language About God”. [1] When you think about it, isn’t that what we want the Church to

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The Hymnal From Below: A Justice Reading of Glory to God

2 mins read

[ezcol_1third] Advent I: HOPE for Gender Justice Advent II: LOVE in the Context of Multiculturalism Advent III: JOY at Being Included Advent IV: PEACE on Earth, Goodwill to All [/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end][/ezcol_2third_end] “There remains an experience of incomparable value. We have for once learned to see the great events of world

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Ransom Captive Palestine?

12 mins read

Salvation History in the Presbyterian Hymnal Letter by Nahida H. Gordon, Introduction by Rev. Chris Iosso Mary is warned by Simeon in the Christmas story that “a sword will pierce her heart” (Luke 2:35). Frankly, this letter from Professor Nahida Gordon, a Palestinian American Presbyterian, makes me uncomfortable because it challenges

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The Prophet’s Song

14 mins read

[ezcol_2third][/ezcol_2third] [ezcol_1third_end]Author David Lamotte sings “This Is My Song” (#340)[/ezcol_1third_end] “The prophet does not ask if the vision can be implemented, for questions of implementation are of no consequence until the vision can be imagined.”             — Walter Brueggemann In the field of music therapy, stories are often told of

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Can Inclusion Go Too Far?

16 mins read

As an editor, I’m used to going in search of articles, but this time the article found me! While brainstorming for this Advent issue, I came across the following Facebook conversation among several friends. This article documents the beginning of a conversation that is by no means over, and I

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Author Rev. Robin Lostetter

Body and Wholeness in Glory to God

14 mins read

“What does the new hymnal communicate about justice and inclusion for people with disabilities?” There is really no answer to the question of what a volume of 853 hymns will communicate to someone in the pew about justice and inclusion for persons living with a disability. What is communicated will

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I Wonder if We Mean it This Year

11 mins read

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine was telling me about the first time her partner accompanied her to the PC(USA) General Assembly. She told me that they were there to be a witness to the Church, to join their voices with many others in calling for the full

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