Brehm Center

People of all ages and backgrounds are a part of corporate worship in the life of the church. The way they pray and sing together will determine what kind of community they will be. Music style has been a divisive force in the church particularly in twentieth century America. There is value in praying and singing together, with one voice, attempting to unite rather than divide. There has been movement at the turn of the twenty-first century towards reappropriating hymns for a more modern context. Combining familiar melodies and lyrics from these hymns with modern instrumentation and arrangement is a way to bring people together around music rather than continue to divide. This project is a part of these efforts. Five hymns were taken from years past and placed in a modern sound and arrangement, and one original hymn was also included. The project is focused on the recording of these hymns and arrangements for future use in the church. The theology of many hymns from years past is valuable: worth preserving, celebrating, and proclaiming.

Author: Jeff Bonhiver