Harmonious to Dwell

Today was a long time coming... About a year ago, Brother David Melby-Gibbons and I were talking out in the hallway about Moravian music and how important it is to our worship. As we are both interested in church planting, we were dreaming up ways to take our wonderful Moravian theology, which comes mainly from our hymns, and looking for new ways to play them in worship settings which would not normally have an organ as the main instrument. 

After a lot of prayer and thought, an event/group which David named "Harmonious to Dwell" was formed. With the wonderful gifts of David and his wife Christie, Shanti Pradhan, Nola Reed Knause, and Gwyn Michaels, the event was amazing... when God leads, amazing things happen.

We began with worship in which we looked at a number of our favourite Moravian hymns and listened to them in new ways. Then at our prayer time, we each took a coloured balloon according to our musical gifts, filled it with our breath and prayers, and broke into small groups based on the many gifts we each brought to the table. Then we spent 30 minutes or so taking a beloved Moravian hymn and re-imagined it with new words, tune, and or music. It was amazing to hear. (Hopefully I'll be able to load the video of each song)

Then we had a presentation on how to write hymns and a session on the importance of copyright laws and resources. Then we stopped for a quick pizza lunch, and broke out again into small groups, this time with the intention of writing a completely new hymn. Our theme was Faith, Love and Hope and the tune we chose to help guide us was that of 538 (For the Beauty of the Earth). 

Here is the hymn which was written by the group! We hope you enjoy it. And we hope you feel free to use it in your own congregational setting. 

~ New Creation to Behold ~ (this hymn is sung to the tune of 538 of the Moravian Book of Worship)

Long ago, hearts filled with praise; fathers, mothers were ablaze.
As we travel on today, in faith trusting for the Way.
This blest gift now soothes the soul, heals, forgives and makes all whole.

Wand'ring daily, place to place, hoping we might glimpse God's face.
Love for others lives in us, as we follow Christ Jesus.
God is love that casts out fear, love that brings the kin(g)dom* near.

God's law: love to free us all, from our own despair and shame.
Loving God but harming kin, we repent in Jesus' name.
Through Your love, empower all, to fulfill this sacred call.

Humble Presence, spirit-known, with the love of God's grace shown.
Hope propels us to the day when the old has passed away.
As Your story we unfold, new creation to behold.

* We have written "kingdom" this way to emphasize "kin"