Seminary Shenanigans 1

The semester is over, so my really busy days are over for a while. I now have no excuses for not blogging more frequently, so stay tuned for my snarky, irrelevant, and irreverent thoughts throughout the summer. I'll take the opportunity in my next several posts to share my big projects from my seminary courses at Covenant this past semester. I would like your input and constructive criticism on my labors.

I most enjoyed and benefited from my Christian Worship class with the fantastic Dr. Mark Dalbney. I love the guy. He's full of great stories, is youthful and funny, knows more about Reformed worship than all but a half-dozen people on the planet, and has worshiped and led worship in the most widely divergent worship circles you could imagine. He grew up and began ministering in a tradition that only sings the Psalms, and that without musical accompaniment, and has evolved from that point to a contemporary worship guy who also exhibits a deep love for traditional hymnody. You can hear his lectures and access course materials here.

Here's the hymn I wrote for this class. You know that old Gospel song, "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood?" Well, I wrote a Communion hymn called "In Breath and Flesh and Power" to the tune of that old song. I might have biffed the assignment a bit by using an unoriginal tune, especially an old one, but I like the lyrics. I took a few risks with them, but feel I have faithfully articulated a well-rounded, Reformed view of the sacred Supper, though it rather provocatively trends Lutheran in verse two. Ecumenist and sacramentalist that I am, that doesn't bother me, so get over it. What I do worry about theologically, however, is whether in the first few lines of the first verse I diminish the glory of the Word of God spoken and written in extolling the value of the Sacrament? Keep in mind, in the full-bodied Reformed sacramental understanding, the Sacraments are nothing more or less than the Holy Spirit's application of the Word of God (in the Jesus sense too) and His promises to us in a bodily, material, communal manner; therefore, the Sacraments’ glory and that of the written Word is one. That being said, I do not wish to undermine that proposition by affirming the value of the Sacraments at the expense of the Bible. You be the judge of whether or not I have done this. Here's my song.

"In Breath and Flesh and Power"

Verse 1
Christ, meet us not in speech alone, but in Breath and flesh and power.
We have heard Your voice in holy Word and sang with You this hour.
By the Spirit's power, lift now our hearts in holy conqu'ring love.
For we long to share the blessed feast—Your once-offered flesh and blood.
Refrain 1
Your once-offered flesh and blood, your once-offered flesh and blood.
For we long to share the blessed feast—Your once-offered flesh and blood.

Verse 2
Jesus, what a joy to feast with You in Your resurrection power.
You have raised us to Your heav'nly throne for this blest, appointed hour.
For here we know You face-to-face as will be when Kingdom comes.
This table then will be faith's stay till the Consummation's done.
Refrain 2
Till the Consummation's done, till the Consummation's done.
This table then will be faith's stay till the Consummation's done.

Verse 3
Christ, as we share love's meat and drink with brother, sister dear,
Make one our hearts in charity, casting out unholy fear.
Unite us as one temple built on You, our cornerstone.
One holy loaf permeated through with You and You alone.
Refrain 3
With You and You alone, with You and You alone.
One holy loaf permeated through with You and You alone.

Verse 4
We have been with You this Easter Day in the new Jerusalem.
You have fed us with the bread of life and filled our hearts with hymns.
Strengthened by Your death and victory, conform our lives to You,
And send us as Your co-laborers in making all things new.
Refrain 4
In making all things new, in making all things new.
And send us as Your co-laborers in making all things new.