Alleluia, sing we praises
Nearly ten years ago we commissioned a new hymn for Saint George’s with a text by Susan Palo Cherwien and a tune by Frank Boles as part of the celebrations of the renovation of our Nave. All-embracing God, with its text centered in the baptismal covenant, has become a part of us and a representation of who we are as a people of God. This Sunday, we will sing another new hymn that was written for Saint George’s in celebration of the Reverend Shearon Williams’ ministry among us. Alleluia, sing we praises was penned by our own Lyn Crawford and I composed a new tune for her brilliant, multi-layered text.
Back in June, in Shearon’s first sermon after announcing her retirement, she preached on the core values of the Saint George’s community: faithfulness, generosity, gratitude, and love. She encouraged us not to forget who we are during the upcoming transition and to lean into these values we hold dear. A few days later, I proposed to Lyn Crawford, who has a gift for the poetic and great heart for this place, the idea of a hymn written around these four values. One that not only was a celebration of Shearon’s retirement and her ministry with us, but for Saint George’s to continue to sing as we move forward in our next chapter of our Christian journey.
Moved by the power of God’s love for Shearon and Shearon’s love for Saint George’s, Lyn captured these core values of faithfulness, generosity, gratitude, and love so well. Can you find one of Shearon’s favorite phrases within the text? For the tune, appropriately named Shearon, I took inspiration from one of her favorite hymns, The King of Love my shepherd is. Borrowing the first three notes and striving to create a similar affect when singing the tune, my hope is that tune captures our deep love for this place and for Shearon. May the refrain be an ear worm and constant reminder of Shearon’s charge to us to remember those values that are key to our identity as Saint Georgians.
I have tremendous gratitude for the 15 years of ministry that Shearon and I have shared together. One that is hard for me to express in words, but hopefully comes forth in the songs we all sing together. It is no doubt that her faithfulness, generosity, gratitude, and love have guided her ministry here in this place and left an indelible mark on our hearts. She has given us wings to go forth in Christ and soar to great heights. Thanks be to God for an incredible 15 years of share ministry and for a priest who embodies the very essence of faithfulness, generosity, gratitude, and love.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Ben Keseley, Minister of Music
Listen to the Saint George’s Choir sing our new hymn last Sunday during communion.
