The Little Red Hen

My mother is a teacher.  She was, is and always will be a teacher. 

She was a teacher by profession. Before giving birth to five children, she taught high school English. When the twins, my younger brother and sister, entered kindergarten, she began teaching kindergarten at the First Methodist Church of Conyers, GA. She later moved to the public school system where she taught kindergarten and third grade until her retirement.

She is a teacher by vocation. It is a part of her very nature to teach. My earliest memories are of my mother reading to me and telling me stories. These stories formed me and taught me lessons that I have carried through my life. I now know that my mother taught not only to impart necessary information like how to count, say the alphabet, hold a pencil, add and subtract, read, use proper grammar, etc.; she imparted life lessons through stories that she told and revisited at formative times.

One of those stories was The Little Red Hen. In this story, the Little Red Hen finds some grain and asks the other barnyard animals to help her plant it. To her question, “Who will help me plant the seeds?” each in turn says, “Not I.”  Each of her subsequent questions is met with the same response. “Who will help me harvest the wheat? Who will help me grind the grain? Who will help me bake the bread?” “Not I.  Not I.  Not I.” But when she asks, “Who will help me eat the bread,” she is met with an enthusiastic chorus of “I will. I will. I will.”

My mother told, and often repeated, this story to my siblings and me during times when we all needed to pitch in and help. She knew that we would all want to enjoy the benefits of whatever task was at hand (like dinner, for instance!), and if we wanted to enjoy the final product, then we all needed to help make it happen. And there were plenty of tasks to go around no matter our age. As young children, to help prepare dinner, we didn’t have to know how to cook. One could fold the napkins, set the table, put the ice in the glasses, pour the tea. Mother showed us that there was something each of us could and should do.

As we grew older, my mother no longer had to read us the story or retell it when its lesson needed to be reinforced. She would simply end a request by saying, “Said the Little Red Hen.”

When I consider the life of a congregation, I often think of the Little Red Hen. It is tempting to want to benefit from all that happens in the life of the church without helping to plant the seeds, harvest the wheat, mill the grain and bake the bread, but it takes everyone doing what they can (no matter their age) to enjoy a strong and vibrant church.

This Sunday, we will celebrate the myriad of ministries that take place in the life of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church. Our opening procession will include knitters, skaters, builders, learners, teachers, needlepointers, musicians, cooks, ushers, athletes, greeters, pray-ers, children, youth, young adults, older adults and everyone in between! As a congregation, we will also vote on whether or not we will enter into a capital campaign to raise funds to renovate and improve the buildings from which and in which we do ministry. There are many seeds to plant, wheat to harvest, grain to mill and bread to bake. “Who will help?” asks the Little Red Hen.

(If you have never heard the story of the Little Red Hen, you may read it here.)

Alice

Ministry Spotlight: Lydia Circle of Knitters

She calls it a semi-circle. But that's really not the case. Carolyn Gilbert (far left) and the Lydia Circle of Knitters have developed a unique ministry that should be described as a full-circle. Because that's what they do - encircle others in the midst of life's seldom linear journey. 

Carolyn, where did the idea to form the Lydia Circle of Knitters originate?

The prayer shawl ministry at Glenn began in 2006 when I knitted a pink shawl for a Glenn member who was bedridden at home. I learned about this kind of ministry from friends in Lutheran and Presbyterian churches in other states. A few of us began to knit informally and give the shawls to members who were facing life milestones, health issues, or other challenges or uncertainties.

We are a unit of the United Methodist Women (UMW) named for Lydia in Acts 16:14: “A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” We seek to emulate Lydia and “listen” for opportunities to respond by providing loving support to others as we knit and crochet. 

How many women participate and how many shawls have been made?

We have about 20 knitters/crocheters now, ranging from beginners to experts in their work. But we'd love to have more! All are welcome to join our monthly gatherings.

To date we have given more than seven hundred shawls as well as one hundred and fifty flannel blankets (for new babies in the congregation). All the shawls are unique and valuable and find a home in someone's arms. We especially enjoy selecting shawls that might be a recipient’s favorite color. For the past two years we have also been able to undertake a special project: producing shawls for Glenn’s high school graduates, using the colors of the universities they plan to attend.

What do the prayer shawls symbolize and what does the ministry mean to you? (Responses given by members of the Lydia Circle.)

Love made visible. Hands in service to God.

Knitting is a symbol of productivity and faithfulness to the knitter, but it is given as a symbol of love to the pray shawl recipient. We hope when shawl recipients wrap themselves in a prayer shawl, they feel God's love.

At a time when people are feeling very sickly, alone, afraid, uncertain, etc., the shawl is a tangible expression that the person is loved and supported and not alone. The warmth of the shawl is like a hug that expresses God's love. 

When I knit, I think about how the person who will receive the shawl might feel, whether their emotion might be comfort, enjoyment of the art, a feeling that someone cares about them. I knit for love - I could never do it for money. So love is completely knit into the fabric.

Can you find the common thread? It might be Love. 

Inside Out: A Pastor's Review

I want to take a slightly different approach to this post and instead offer a review of a movie I watched recently: Inside Out. I will try to keep it relatively spoiler-free. If you have already seen this movie, I hope the review resonates with you. And if you haven’t, I hope that it will encourage you to take a deep breath in the midst of back to school stress and maybe go see a movie with the people you love. 

Inside Out is Pixar’s most recent children's movie that delves into a topic that has befuddled many parents over the years: the emotions of an adolescent. The movie is about Riley, a pre-teen girl who learns how to cope with major transitions in her life. While these events unfold, layers of her personality peel back and we watch as Riley’s emotions scramble to adjust and reconfigure themselves. Her emotions - Sadness, Fear, Joy, Anger, and Disgust (pictured left to right below) - begin to discover that their working well together is critical to Riley’s overall well-being.

That is what I liked most about this movie: it helps all ages get in touch with their emotions. To be honest, I usually don't like children’s movies. I like to be challenged intellectually or emotionally when I watch a movie, which typically leads me to movies for adults. However, Inside Out is challenging and thought-provoking on both intellectual and emotional levels. I both laughed and cried while watching Inside Out, and I also left contemplating how well-balanced my own emotions are. Do I tend to lean too heavily on one default setting at the expense of another? Are my emotions balanced and equally represented?

Author and theologian Henri Nouwen articulates the metaphor of the Wounded Healer to explain that no person is without wounds. The healer is not the person absent of wounds, but rather the person who has recognized their wounds, channels them, binds them up, and seeks to help others do the same. While Nouwen’s metaphor is written specifically for ministers, I believe that implicit in it is the understanding that in order to be a healing presence, a person must truly know who he/she is. And I believe that developing emotional self-awareness, like Riley learns to do in Inside Out, is a critical part of identifying and binding up our own wounds. How can we draw strength from a wound that we have not yet identified? To most effectively and compassionately journey with others, we need to know and understand our own emotions.

Inside Out is a children’s movie that is relevant for all ages. So go enjoy a movie with the whole family after school lets out, or enjoy one by yourself if you have a free afternoon. Any story that encourages us to pause and reflect on our emotions is worth a watch.

Kaylen

Finding an Ocean of Grace

Scholars, perhaps especially theologians, are ever-looking for sources, the urtexts that form the foundations for our faith. They also look carefully at how our faith was practiced in earlier times, in hope of discerning an evolutionary line back to the days when Jesus walked the earth. They look for evidence in commentaries and stories from earlier eras. Comprehending and communicating these, the thinking goes, will help us live our faith more truly today.

I have always envied those with a liberal arts education. As mine was focused principally on music, which, in my profession, has its obvious benefits, I missed many mathematic, scientific, artistic, and literary adventures. Thus, I have spent my post-collegiate life striving to catch up.  

Early on I developed a passion for the ancient Greek epics, then the lesser known works like Gilgamesh and Beowulf. Over the last few years I have read the three Middle English monuments, Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, Canterbury Tales, and now, Piers Plowman, which I finished this past April. The latter two I struggled through in Middle English. What meager success I had was thanks to superb scholarly editions with running glossaries and copious explanatory footnotes and commentaries. Among the pleasures along the way were nascent insights into the evolution of our mother tongue and maturing human consciousness.

William Langland (1332 – c. 1386) is generally considered to be the author of Piers Plowman. Little is known of Langland, though the deep knowledge of theology and the church related in the work suggests he was in some kind of religious order. The editor of my Piers Plowman edition is Derek Pearsall, an English born and educated Harvard professor. What struck me most profoundly in his notes was his exquisite command of historical Christian theology. As Piers is an allegory of the Christian life, these notes afforded many important insights along the way. Here are a few:

• “For no gult is so greet that his goodnesse is more.” This is similar to Langland’s famous quote: Omnis iniquitas qoad misericordiam dei est quasi scintilla in medio maris (All the sin in the world in relation to God's mercy is like a spark of fire in the midst of the sea). I first heard this precept, though in a different form, some 20 years ago at Candler from the renowned preacher William Sloan Coffin. In his sermon, he said, “There is far more grace in God than sin in us.” Ever since, this had been a strong comfort to me.
   
• O felix culpa, O necessarium peccatum Ade! (O happy fault and necessary sin of Adam). From Pearsall’s notes: “Necessary because it necessitated the Incarnation…from the canticle sung on Holy Saturday at the blessing of the Paschal candle (Missale 340). An allusion to the paradox of the Fortunate Fall, happily embroidered in one of the most famous of Medieval lyrics, ‘Adam lay ybowndn’. O felix culpa…” Many of us know this theological principle from the English carol “Adam Lay Ybounden,” which is often sung after the first reading in Lessons and Carols services. Yes, song texts are also important sources of historical theological insight. Indeed, the Bible itself, in addition to the Psalms, comprises many song texts.
   
• Per Euam cunctis clausa est, et per Mariam virginem iterum patefacta est (Through Eve it (the gate of heaven) was closed to all mortals, and through the Virgin Mary it was opened again). From an antiphon (chant) sung at Lauds (monastic prayer service) between Easter and Ascension. This struck me profoundly as a mirror of the more commonly known, “For as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.” I Cor. 15:22
   
• Langland refers to a place in Essex, England, where they had a custom of awarding a side of bacon to any couple who would swear an oath that they had not quarreled for a year! Any takers?
   
• In a section where Sloth is personified as a priest, he confesses that he can neither “solfe nor synge…” I am not surprised that the ability to sing would be considered important for a priest in the fourteenth century, as so much of the liturgy was sung, but I am surprised that solfege (the art of sight reading music via fa-so-la) was also considered a necessary skill. It makes sense as the relative complexity of liturgical music needed this level of understanding, and, after all, solfege was born in the church and western classical music evolved from the Christian liturgy. They had, as we do today, much to sing about, for there is a vast ocean of grace that God so generously offers each and all.
   
• Ac teologie hath tened me ten score tymes; 
  The more I muse theron the mystiloker hit semeth
  And the deppore I deuine the derkore me thynketh hit.
  Hit is no science sothly bote a sothfast bileue,
  Ac for it lereth men to louie Y beleue theron the bettere,
  For loue is a lykyng thing and loth for to greue.
  
  My left handed translation (with help from Pearsall):
  
  But theology has troubled me ten score times;
  The more I muse thereon, the mistier it seems
  And the deeper I divine the more obscure I think it.
  It is no science truly, but is a true belief,
  But as it teaches mortals to love, my faith is therefore the better,
  For love is a pleasing thing and loth to give pain.

Steve

Summer Scripture Challenge

Summer is a time for fun adventures, relaxing, rejuvenating, and...faith formation!? One might be skeptical of the latter given the low attendance in Sunday School and Worship services lately - ha! (Yes, we are OPEN every Sunday - join us!) During one of the most adventuresome summers of my life, I had the opportunity to hike the Appalachian Trail for 11 days through a program of Camp Glisson. And while I can't remember the name of all the trails we traversed, how many miles we hiked each day, what we cooked for dinner each evening over our camp stoves, or how to tie the special knots to create our tarp shelters, I CAN still recite (mostly) the Scripture my camp counselor helped me memorize while we hiked: 1 Corinthians 13, Philippians 4, and Isaiah 55. And I confess that this was the last time I made a concerted effort to memorize Scripture other than for seminary exams! 

So...have you heard of our Summer Scripture Challenge?

1- Each child/group of children choose a Scripture verse (or chapter!) to memorize. Practice, practice, practice! In the car. In the bath. Hiking. Swimming. Bedtime. It's quite the boredom buster.
2- Have a grown-up video the child(ren) reciting the Scripture from memory and share with Rev. Susan OR come to Sunday School and recite LIVE for me.

Prizes:
-Each child who memorizes a Scripture will receive a "Target Dollar Spot" special surprise.
-If Rev. Susan cannot memorize the same Scripture within one week of the challenge, the child/children will receive a $10 giftcard from Target.
-If we have at least 25 children participate between now and August 2, we'll have an Ice Cream Sundae party during Sunday School on Sunday, August 2.

We've had quite a few entries so far this summer and would love to have more. You may view the current challenge videos here. Feel free to let me know if you would like Scripture suggestions - it's a big, diverse Bible and I wouldn't necessarily recommend your kiddos just picking any random Scripture. ;)

Grace and Peace,

Susan

Churches Express Support for Arson Victims

In the days following the tragic shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., several fires broke out at predominantly black churches across the South. As of this date, three of those fires have been dubbed arson, and the FBI is investigating the incidents as potential hate crimes.
 
In our country’s history, many black churches have been burned. Though church burnings are less common today, they happen with more frequency than most people realize. The complicity of silence of the white church during the rash of terrorism against African American churches in the 1960s will forever remain a blight on the white church’s witness for social justice. As clergy in predominantly white United Methodist Churches we feel it is important to speak out against violence targeting our brothers and sisters in African American churches.
                                                                                               
We condemn all racist acts against predominantly black churches and name specifically the burning of churches as heinous crimes and intolerable acts of inhumanity. The black church has stood at the center of the fight for civil rights in our country, and we express gratitude for the collective ministry and witness of the black churches, especially in the South where their very existence is threatened physically and politically. We stand in solidarity with all victims of violence. We extend prayers and support to members of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and the churches victimized by arson.
 
We feel powerless and frustrated by the situation. By its nature, terrorism strikes in unpredictable ways and places. We affirm the words of Cornell Williams Brooks, President of the NAACP, who said that the events require our collective attention and cautioned that we cannot turn a blind eye to any incident. We add our voice of faith to the calls for careful investigation, wise care and caution to protect innocent lives, and faithful generosity to help restore the buildings that have been harmed.
 
We will receive offerings in our churches through the month of August, the proceeds of which will be given through the North Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church to be divided among the churches victimized by arson. You may give in worship by placing a donation in the offering plate designated for this fund or you may give online here.

We invite and encourage other churches to stand with black churches and join in advocating against violence, calling for thorough investigation by the law enforcement, and working toward restoration of the churches.
 
Sincerely,
 
Rev. Alice Rogers
Sr. Pastor at Glenn UMC
arogers@glenumc.org

Rev. Bill Britt
Sr. Pastor at Peachtree Road UMC
billb@prumc.org

Rev. Glenn Ethridge
Sr. Pastor at Oak Grove UMC
gethridge@ogumc.org

                                                                                                           
This statement is made jointly by these three pastors. For more information you may contact any of the pastors directly.        

Reflections from Eleuthera

Our youth and adults just returned from an amazing week in the Bahamas. One chaperone and parent, Sara Maughan, came back with some unexpected insights. She sat in my office yesterday and declared, "That's it, I'll never miss another youth trip."

Here's more on her adventure:

Yesterday morning I asked one of my boys to pack his lunch for camp. He did so without complaint. This is notable because usually he huffs or asks me to do it for him. But last week, this boy, his older brother, and myself were on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas on a mission trip with the Glenn Youth. In addition to packing your own lunch to take with you to your work site, there were other chores to do, and a grueling eight-hour work day. My boy was getting off easy with a simple request to pack his own lunch in our air-conditioned home in Decatur, and he knew it.

Isn’t that what we hope for when we send our kids on mission trips? Some of the take-aways might be that they’ll come home with a heart full of gratitude or an awareness (and appreciation) of manual labor. Feelings of awareness and gratitude I expected, but there were some things I didn't anticipate.

As a chaperone, I wasn’t prepared for the direct sun and heat on our work site. My crew prepared a playground site for new equipment near the school. Within thirty minutes last Monday morning, my clothes were soaked with sweat and my back muscles revolted from the machete work. I looked around at my Glenn youth and thought, oh my, are we going to make it? And how? So, without letting them in on it, I leaned on them for strength. If they could keep going, so could I. I watched them handle extreme work conditions in stride. Occasionally, I made them rest and sit in the shade and I joined them. I spoiled them with a Coke day one because I joyfully discovered a small store nearby. Best Coke ever!

The kids on my work site kept me going through each workday. I relied on their humor and work ethic. I made it, despite seriously doubting myself on Monday at 9:30am. Leaning on the youth to get myself through was unexpected.

In addition to leaning on them, I grew to love them even more. Again, not expected. I knew Glenn Youth rocked, I did. I’ve hung out with this crew before, even chaperoned on other events, but this was different. These kids are simply the best kids I’ve ever seen in my life. Does that sound a bit much and over the top? Oh well, it’s true. These kids are good to the core of their being. I know they’re human and just as flawed as the rest of us. Case in point, I saw some kids screw up royally last week. There were tears and a couple of emotional fits, but I still hold a high opinion of them. They rally. They pull through. They apologize and move on. To quote Blair here, “They are comfortable with themselves.” Maybe that’s it. There is maturity with this lot which adults could learn from. They are also incredibly silly.

Eleuthera taught me a lot and filled my heart. God is good and these kids restore my faith that all will be well with the world. If kids like this exist, we’re going to be ok.

Thank you for sharing your reflections with us, Sara.

Blair

Fresh Eyes

Since I was a kid, I have been told that I have my mom’s eyes. She has beautiful eyes. They are sometimes blue and sometimes green, but they are always loving and kind. Naturally, I see any comparison to my mom’s eyes as a tremendous compliment. However, the fact that I have my mom’s eyes reveals something beyond beauty: I inherited her bad vision. We both wear contact lenses.

I’m an observant guy and a people watcher by nature, so I can’t stand not being able to see. Everywhere I go, with the exception of my few hours of sleeping, my contacts are in my eyes helping me to see. The only problem is, when you wear your contacts as much as I do, they start to get blurry and dry out over time; they become less effective until you put new ones in. Sometimes my vision actually gets worse in between doctor’s visits.

Blurry vision can, however, lead to beautiful moments. About a year ago, I went to the eye doctor and received a renewed prescription and a brand new stronger set of lenses. They suddenly allowed me to see things that I had not been able to previously see with my old, blurry outdated set. On that day, you could find me staring at leaves way up on the top of trees, amazed by how clear they looked or looking at every crack in the sidewalk wondering how I had missed them all this time.

In the same way, as the new associate pastor at Glenn, I come in with a fresh set of eyes and am able to see every single detail as if I were seeing it for the first time. Yet, I have been in churches long enough to know that over time these fresh eyes will fade. Eventually, as we settle in to a church home, we no longer see things like we used to see them. Thankfully, for most of us, any small cracks or problems that we may have once seen become blurred out by our love for the church and community found there. While for others, painful memories, disagreements long since past, or wounds not yet healed, prevent us from seeing every beautiful detail of our churches.

The beautiful and scary thing about this is that every visitor comes to us with a fresh pair of contact lenses. They have brand new eyes. They can see every small flaw and every beautiful detail. Their eyes are not yet blurred by the beautiful and heartbreaking moments that we can have when we worship and serve as a part of a community for years on end.

I realize that before I know it, I will no longer be the new pastor and my fresh lenses will begin to fade. I will need to be more diligent about seeing things with fresh eyes and hope to make this practice a regular one. I invite you to join me in the practice of using fresh eyes. Who knows what we might see!

Kaylen

Words

“Sticks and Stones may hurt my bones, but words will never harm me.” I learned this rhyme as a child when my mother was trying to teach me to ignore the hurtful things others might say about me or about my family and friends. But the truth is, words do hurt; and they can cause harm to one’s spirit. 

Sometimes words are used intentionally to cause harm. We first learn this on the playground as children call one another names to express their dislike of another child. Nicknames are given that are hurtful and cause harm to children; damage that can follow one into adulthood.  We witness the harm words can cause when teenagers belittle one other for another’s clothing choice, or hairstyle, or music preference, and any number of things that might be ridiculed. We see adults craft critically harsh words for those who express different political views, theological understandings, and world views. While no bones may be broken or blood shed, harm is done, hurt is inflicted.

Sometimes words unintentionally offend. What might seem harmless to someone creates great angst for another. The offender does not mean to offend or hurt or cause harm, and may not even be aware that a particular word or phrase is hurtful. But harm is done, relationships become strained and even broken; especially, if the one offended assumes everyone has had the same life experience as themselves and refuses to extend grace to the unintentional offender. 

Over the past several weeks, as I have read the comments and posts on Facebook concerning the topics of racism, the Confederate flag, the ruling of the United States Supreme Court on marriage equality, I have witnessed the harm words can do. I have seen life-long friends “unfriend” each other and shut down any possibility of conversation and relationship. I have witnessed people demonize those who disagree with their particular belief or opinion. I have watched people walk away from those who would never intentionally cause harm.

It is important to choose our words with care, and no one should ever feel compelled to endure intentional harm. However, I believe we must strive to maintain relationships, to be in conversation with those who may not see eye to eye, and to extend God’s grace to those who mean no harm. Maybe John Wesley said it best: “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.”

May God watch over us as we seek to live in the grace and love of the Word.

Alice

Member Spotlight: Sonya Houston

What brought you to Glenn and what keeps you coming back?

My relationship with God has always been important to me. I was raised in the United Methodist church congregation my maternal grandfather helped start. On my father's side of the family one of my uncles was a Methodist minister and so is one of my first cousins. I think I am genetically predisposed to Methodism! The decision to visit Glenn was an easy one. Once I experienced Glenn, the decision to stay was even easier. Glenn members and staff have been so welcoming! Every Sunday the sermons, songs, worship and the love I feel from God through the people at Glenn keep me coming back. 

What was your first job and what lessons did it impart that you continue to carry with you?

My first job was at Asbury Hills United Methodist Camp in South Carolina. I had just graduated from high school but I had not turned 18. Alas, I was not old enough to fulfill my childhood dream of being a camp counselor. I ended up working on the camp's kitchen staff slinging hash and washing dishes that first summer hoping that if I proved myself and worked hard I would be able to return to camp after my freshman year in college as a full-fledged counselor. It worked! That experience prepared me for my first job in television because it taught me that hard work will eventually pay off! During my senior year in college I got an internship at a station in Charleston, South Carolina and that turned into a full-time job as a producer once I graduated. I learned all aspects of television production during that first year in the business-writing scripts, editing video, interviewing guests, chasing down breaking news, running teleprompter and putting together newscasts.

Sonya is a graduate of College of Charleston. Take a look at this video her alma mater produced on her and her work.
 

You work at CNN as television producer. Tell us about the rhythms of your day and the process for getting your show ready to be aired.

Working in television news is a fascinating paradox. Every day is different, yet every day is the same. World events change in the blink of an eye, but the process to get it on the air and ready in time for my show deadline is constant. My day starts super early! My phone is the first thing I grab after turning off that annoying alarm. As Senior Producer, I start making editorial decisions about our show from the moment I wake up. I go through emails sent out by our overnight editorial staff, seeing what events have developed overnight and what might be on the horizon. I also check CNN’s website, social media and other news sites to get a snapshot of what the morning looks like. By the time I walk in the door of CNN Center I have started an outline for the newscast which airs at 12pm eastern time.

One of the many things I love about my job is the fact that everyone on the show team has input into what stories we cover and what angles or interesting facts about a particular story we need to highlight for our viewers. I love the collaborative aspect of what we do. Some members of my team are based in Atlanta and others, including our anchor Ashleigh Banfield, are based in New York. We all get together for a video conference early in the morning to discuss the stories we want to cover, the show segments and the guests we are booking for the show. Throughout the morning the show rundown changes as new stories break and new angles emerge. Our team of desk producers, reporters, producers, associate producers and writers work on aspects of the show right up until the very moment the story airs on CNN. At noon it is show time and the hour that we’ve worked all day for finally gets on the air! You might have a live report from the White House, London, Dubai, Hong Kong—really anywhere the news is happening. Once the show is over at 1pm, we’re already working on the next day-looking for interesting guests to book and more stories to cover. The job doesn’t end once I leave the building. I keep “tuned in” to events throughout the evening. And before you know it, that alarm goes off and it’s time to rise and shine again!
 

You hold awards from CNN. Describe those awards and what work you did to receive them.

I hold an Emmy Award, four Peabody Awards and a duPont Columbia Award for CNN’s coverage of the following stories: Hurricane Katrina, South Asia Tsunami, 2008 Presidential Primary, Gulf Oil Spill and international breaking news.
 

What is your favorite TV show?

Obviously, I’m particularly partial to “Legal View With Ashleigh Banfield” airing at 12pm eastern time on CNN! But for purely escapist fun “Walking Dead” is must-see TV for me. The story lines and characters are compelling. I also love seeing Atlanta locations on the show!

Many thanks to Sonya for sharing parts of her story with us and for the ways her story weaves into the fabric of Glenn.

Understanding the Secret Symbols around Glenn

It sounds like something straight out of a Dan Brown thriller – obscure Christian symbols that convey hidden meanings and messages.

Just like Brown’s protagonist, Harvard University symbologist Robert Langdon, it’s possible for us to crack the code of Christian cryptograms and symbols to learn the deeper message.

In May 2015, Dr. Anthony A. Briggman, Assistant Professor of the History of Early Christianity at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology, spoke to Glenn’s New Class Sunday School on the topic of “Images of Christ in the Early Church.”

Many of us are familiar with the Christian fish symbol, used in ancient times to quietly indicate the presence of a Christian community without bringing on persecution by the Romans. Dr. Briggman explained to the class that an anchor was also an early secret symbol of Christianity, among many others. He explained that symbols are found on everything from unassuming marks on the ground in ancient Ephesus to impressive pieces of artwork displayed on historical church walls.

I asked Dr. Briggman if he could explain some of the symbols at Glenn – the ones we see every Sunday in the choir behind the ministers – the gold cross with six symbolic squares.

“Symbols by definition are meant to express something hidden or abstract,” Dr. Briggman said. “These symbols speak to the person of Christ and the sacramental rites central to the communion of faith.”

Here’s Dr. Briggman’s explanation of the Glenn cross and six square symbols surrounding it, moving from top to bottom:

The central symbol is a cross with a red sign toward the top. The glory and majesty of this golden cross is itself meant to form a telling contrast with the original, rough-hewn cross. We are meant to think of Jesus in the same way: as glorified not suffering. The letters on the red sign (INRI) constitute an acronym formed by taking the first letter of the Latin words on the original sign (Jn 19:19-20): Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum = Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews (the Latin alphabet uses an I instead of J).

With regard to the square symbols. The top tier represents the central sacraments of the Christian faith, the two initiated by Christ himself: the Eucharist and Baptism.

The symbol on the top left is the most easily discernible of all: the Eucharistic wafer being dipped into the cup. The letters placed on the bread (INRI) make a strong theological statement: this is the body of Christ broken for you on the cross (where the letters also occur). By taking the Eucharistic bread and cup we participate in – somehow commune with – the body and blood of Christ (1 Cor 10:16-17).

The symbol on the top right is the traditional symbol of baptism: the scallop shell. The symbol likely has its origin in the use of a seashell to pour water over the head of the baptizand. In this case the symbol includes a further layer of meaning: three drops of water – meant to remind us that we baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The remaining four symbols have to do with Jesus.

The symbols in the middle tier combine to represent his name and title. The symbol on the middle left provides the capital letters of the first three letters of the Greek word for ‘Jesus’: I-H-S (iota – eta – sigma; sometimes the sigma is represented by a C instead of an S). The symbol on the middle right provides the capital letters of the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ: X-P (chi – rho). So the person familiar with these acronyms will read the middle tier: ‘Jesus Christ’.

We are left with two symbols on the bottom tier.

The symbol on the bottom left is formed by an ornate Alpha = Α (top left) and Omega = Ω (bottom right), the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.  A reference to Rev 1:8 in which the Lord declares himself to be the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and End. There is a further layer of symbolism here. Layered on top of the Alpha is a cross, and layered on top of the Omega is an anchor, an ancient cryptogram used to represent the cross of Christ (if you ignore the flukes at the bottom, the stock and shank form a cross).

The symbol on the bottom right is a version of the five-fold cross. It has no consistent meaning, being variously interpreted as representing the five wounds of Christ (one for each hand, one for each foot, and one for his side), Christ and the four evangelists, or Christ and the four corners of the world. 

“Symbols can be rich lenses into your theological tradition or just so much scenery – it all depends on whether you know what they stand for,” Dr. Briggman said.

We may not be the hero in a Dan Brown thriller, but understanding the hidden meanings of the symbols around us can make the message we’re hearing that much more thrilling.

Dena Mellick
The Glenn Communications Committee

Special thanks to Candler’s Dr. Anthony Briggman for sharing his expertise.

A Glimpse into Vacation Bible School

This year's G-Force Vacation Bible School is off to a strong and fun start. The week is framed around Acts 17:28a - "In God we live, move, and exist." Kids and volunteers are learning what it means to move, act, care, follow, and share their faith. One tangible way they are doing this is by collecting a Mission Offering to support Imagine No Malaria. The amount raised so far is $1,132 with a weekly goal of $3,500. Want to help them reach their goal? You may give to the VBS Missions Offering here.

But the VBS fun doesn't stop on Friday...join us this Sunday for a VBS Celebration at 9:45 a.m. in Ward Fellowship Hall, kids parading and singing VBS songs in Worship at 11:00 a.m., and a cookout lunch at 12noon! Bring a side/dessert (nut-free) to share.

Here's a glimpse into their week:

Thank you to all of our generous and hard-working volunteers for making this week possible!

Susan, Erin & Aaron, and Jessica
VBS Chairs

Preparing for God

“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak. For God will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.” Psalm 85:8

It is often my habit when Wes is directing the Women’s Chorus to attend Sunday school. Two or three years back, I visited The New Class. Kempton Haynes, long-time member, United Methodist Minister, pastoral counselor and therapist, was in charge. There was a fine lesson, and as it concluded at 10:40 a.m., Kempton promptly stood up and dismissed the class and invited everyone to move on to our 11:00 a.m. service in the sanctuary. As I had wanted to make my exit for the same reason, and worried how I would do so without appearing rude, this delighted me. Actually, I was shocked, happily so, that Kempton and this class showed so much commitment to the worship of God.

From that morning on I looked for Kempton in the sanctuary on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. He was always there or shortly thereafter, moving into a center pew and sitting quietly in the character of prayer until 11:00 a.m. Why? I asked him to write his reasons, and with his permission, I copy them below.      

It is important for me on a Sunday morning to make a transition from the interaction of the Sunday School hour, as delightful as that may be, to a still space in which I can, not focus, but “unfocus.”  This allows me to let the prelude take me where it will…  Kempton Haynes, March 13, 2014.

There are others in the sanctuary as well, taking similar advantage of this time before the Call to Worship. This is the ideal time to pray. There, on the day our forebears and we designated, in the holy sanctuary our ancestors fashioned for this purpose, in the company of our Christian sisters and brothers and the angels, we come to encounter God. It doesn’t matter that during this time our prayers are not coordinated temporally or cognitively with others. The confluence of place, the spiritual and corporal presence of fellow worshipers, and God magnifies our prayers exponentially. Possibly even more important than offering formal, private prayers is simply to sit in silence, apprehending the moving voluntaries and the awing holiness of our sanctuary. And, as Kempton said, to “unfocus.” With heart and soul open, in the beauty of holiness, we may release and engage our souls with God. Though silent, this is nevertheless profoundly social and communal, for it effects a holy, spiritual propinquity among our sisters and brothers and the Holy Spirit. This is the only such opportunity we have each week; it is priceless, to be valued above all things, for everything depends on our relationship with God. 

While we may not be able to rationally articulate what we have learned, for, as in Paul, this inspires “sighs too deep for words,” this unfocused time with God prepares us to “hear what God the Lord will speak” in the ensuing service. God will respond and bless and strengthen us to proceed in His will and grace as we move from worship into the world. 

Steve

On Trying to Walk on Water

I'm writing this blog post after several unsuccessful attempts to make good on a foolish boast to my son Luke that, if you hit the ocean with enough speed, you can run a couple steps on top of the water before sinking to the bottom. Intuitively we both knew it could not be done. But that did not stop a small seed of hope from being planted every time I sprinted down the sand toward the breaking waves. Maybe, just maybe, the next time it would work.

The obstacles to walking on water arise well before our feet ever get wet, however. The likelihood of failure...or even just the slightest possibility of it...usually is enough to keep us planted firmly on solid, familiar ground. And to make water-walking even more of a challenge, it's often the case that should we decide to try it, others will gather around to see whether or not we can.

In my experience as a pastor, inviting someone to open up and share their faith--not to share an explanation of the faith, but to share their own experience of it--is, for many, like asking them to try walking on top of Lake Lanier. There is hesitation, nervous laughter (oh, I don't normally do that), and a great fear of looking dumb. Vulnerability is not a popular practice in our culture or in our churches.

But two Sundays ago I saw a group of Glenn members come together and do the unpopular work of being vulnerable about their personal faith and their beliefs about how the church should respond to a sensitive matter. One by one, men and women, young and old, stood in front of their longtime friends, their peers, total strangers--all brothers and sisters in Christ--and said out loud, "Here is my heart. This is what I feel." It was difficult. It was emotional. And it was beautiful.

Brene Brown, a researcher of shame and vulnerability in Houston, says, "Our capacity for wholeness is only ever as great as our capacity to risk brokenness." I don't think anyone would argue that they wholly walked on water that afternoon. But neither did anybody completely breakdown and sink. Instead we discovered through grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, that we can risk being vulnerable, we can struggle as one body made up of many parts, and together we can stay afloat. That movement of God's love is what has forever bound male and female, Jew and Gentile, slave and free, and it is what binds us all still, no matter what differences try to set us apart.

Josh

Growth at The Glenn School

Today was the last day of The Glenn School for my 11 month-old, Geoffrey. It was bittersweet, his first of “graduations.”  Nancy Asbury, often dubbed the “baby whisperer” handed him to me as we chatted about his day. I thanked her for the precious pictures she and all of Geoffrey’s teachers had taken over the months and put together in a photo book for us. As I held him, he leaned back toward Nancy and outstretched his arms for her to take him back. She did. 

Geoffrey entered The Glenn School this past January. As a first time parent, I was of course nervous about the transition to a new care situation. Yet, everyday, as I dropped him off, I saw how much he loved school and how much he was growing and developing. Geoffrey was the youngest baby in the “baby room” and for most of this semester he was pretty stationary while the others had mastered crawling and walking. He was somewhat of a commodity with the other children. His friends would bring him toys, and yell, “Geoffrey!” as he entered the room. One special day, he was even greeted with several hugs from his older friends. 

The vision and goal of The Glenn School is to meet children where they are developmentally and to provide excellent play-based care; they seek to nurture the child and family, empowering a confident, responsible and caring learner. This has absolutely been our experience at The Glenn School. 

I am the Minister of Youth and Hospitality at Glenn and I am also a proud Glenn School parent. I am thrilled that The Glenn School is a thriving ministry of Glenn Memorial UMC and I look forward to watching my child continue to explore, grow, learn, and love with the most excellent teachers and staff around.

A special thank you to the baby room teachers Nancy, Laura, Barb, and Dana and Director Cherry, and staff Sherrie, Latise, and Beth for your most excellent guidance and care! For more information on The Glenn School, please visit their website or feel free to email me!

Blair

Commencement

As I write these words, Emory graduates are wearing their caps and gowns, family and friends surround them, smiles abound, selfies are the order of the day, and there is a general air of celebration that is palpable. The ceremonies that are taking place on the quad, in the Glenn Sanctuary, at the Law School, Nursing School, Business School, Medical School and more all mark the end of years of hard work, study and the pursuit of a degree in higher education.

But while it might feel like the end of paper deadlines, exams and presentations, and endless sleepless nights, I believe the reason for the celebratory feel on campus today is the fact that this is really a day of new beginnings. I suppose that is why we call this day Commencement.  It is the day when these graduates are launched into their future. It is the day when they commence on a new leg of their life’s journey. 

While new beginnings can come with a certain sense of trepidation and anxiety over what the future may hold, new beginnings also come with endless opportunities. New beginnings come with the opportunity to learn from past mistakes, to build on the wisdom and lessons we have learned from our interaction with others, to leave behind painful experiences, to embrace possibility. The degrees that these graduates left campus with will open doors to new paths and experiences.

As Christians, we celebrate commencement everyday. Everyday is a promise of a new start, a new beginning, a new opportunity to live in God’s love. Everyday provides a chance to learn from past mistakes, to build on the wisdom and lessons we have learned from our interaction with others, to leave behind painful experiences, to embrace possibility.

I have been pondering the scripture verses that Chris Crosby sent me in a letter last week, Lamentations 3: 22-23 which read, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” As I’ve read and reread these verses, I have found myself celebrating the promise that with God every day is a new beginning, a new opportunity to experience the love of God, to start afresh with every intention to do my very best to love God and neighbor, and when I fail, to seek anew the forgiveness of a God who removes our sins and transgressions from us “as far as the east is from the west.”

We might not be walking around today in a cap and gown, yet we can give God thanks that everyday is commencement—a new beginning. 

Grace and peace,

Alice

From the Archives: 1955

A couple years ago, a hefty brown file folder that smelled like an attic appeared at Glenn. This note was attached:

Dear Susan,

For the Library: random copies of The Spire and rosters of the Ward Class. 1954-2013. Some years missing.

Bob  

As I sat with this folder, noting the weight of paper and time on my lap, it became clear that these soft-worn pages were a remarkable and irreplaceable gift. Reading the articles and scanning the photos of The Spire, the monthly newsletter that preceded Glenn Notes, made pieces in the story of this church come alive again. And revealed that some things never change, and some things could not be more different:
 

"Women’s Class Gifts"
January, 1955

This month the members of the Women’s Class have done many worthy projects, but there are four which stand out above the others. First, the class has sent a contribution to the pastor of the Toccoa circuit for the pamphlet, “The Circuit Rider.” Second, the members are preparing Christmas gifts for two theology students at Emory. The Women’s Class is also sending these two students through Emory. Third, the class has made another of the regular contributions to the Methodist Children’s Home, and fourth, an offering to the Leper Colony in Louisiana has been made by the members of the class.
 

"Glenn Can Meet Budget Quota of $125,000 If Everyone Gives"
March, 1955

Your Glenn Memorial Methodist Church is launching another ambitious budget campaign. In order to carry out its program of Christian service to the community and in the mission field, the budget for 1955-56 has been set at $125,000. Church officials and hundreds of members agree that this is not too high a goal for the church the size of Glenn.

Your church is located in the heart of one of the finest residential sections in the South. Incomes of individuals living inside the Glenn Memorial parish are far above the per capita average for the state as a whole. Glenn’s membership is made up of people from this area. It has been estimated that if every member of Glenn with an income would pledge up to the point of sacrificial giving, then your church would surpass its budget by thousands of dollars. There is nothing extravagant in the new budget. In fact, many corners have been cut to keep it at the $125,000 sum.

You, every member of Glenn Memorial Methodist Church, can help continue your church’s splendid record by pledging as much as possible when a representative of the church calls on you during the campaign. Workers are also needed for the campaign. A call to the church office will result in a job for you.
 

"Mrs. Carlos Payne Retiring After 15 Years of Service"
May, 1955

One of the most familiar verses in the Bible is found in the eighty-fourth Psalm: “I would rather be a door keeper for the Lord, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” If the writer of these words could have seen a modern church secretary, with her herculean tasks and her constant demands, one wonders would this venerable sage have had the faith and trust to have written: “I would rather be a secretary in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

Filling the place of church secretary is one of the most difficult positions that we know because this person must always have a smile on her face and pleasant music in her voice. Someone remarked, “There is more traffic in the church office that one sees in the Atlanta Terminal Station.” The telephone rings constantly and people ask many questions from “Will you please have someone look in the basement and see if my parasol is there; to – Please go to the scout room and tell Johnnie to come home.”

This lady must take care of all the pastor’s correspondence, and she must see the “seamy” side of the minister’s disposition. (This is a very trying experience because the writer of this article is well acquainted with ministers since he is one himself.) How many church secretaries learn that the minister’s feet are clay just like most of the other members!

Since 1940 Mrs. Payne has served the church as secretary. She was the first secretary selected for this church and she has filled the position faithfully. She has served with the following ministers: Dr. Nat G. Long, Dr. Joseph Smith, Dr. Edward G. Mackay, and Rev. Candler Budd. This church will always be indebted to this cheerful and pleasant lady, Mrs. Carlos Payne.
 

"Our Church School"
September, 1955

Thirty-six years ago, when a little log cabin “station” on Oxford Road, at Peavine Creek, marked the end of the Emory car line, and not every faculty member owned an automobile, Sunday School and church attendance posed a real problem for families moving from Oxford to Emory’s new campus, there being no church near by.

Almost before their furniture was in place, fifteen faculty couples met in the home of Douglas Rumbles on Haygood Drive and made plans for a Sunday School. The adult class continued to hold its meetings there until a church was organized in 1920, and the Sunday School moved to the Theology building, the adult group subsequently dividing into two sections, the men’s class and the women’s class. Increasing enrollment necessitated additional class rooms, Emory’s Education building meeting the need until completion of the Church School Building.

Today the Women’s Bible Class numbers among its 120 members five who belonged to the original group in 1919.
 

"Glenn Members from Age 2 to 90 Enjoying Our Church Night Suppers"
November, 1955

“The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is a principle of individual and mutual responsibility in the life of the protestant church.”

If we understand and accept this basic affirmation of Protestantism then a most urgent need is to find practical and specific ways of expressing this principle in the conduct of our own lives and the furtherance of the life of the church.

The cooperation of all departments of Glenn in putting over our church suppers on Wednesday nights has furnished numberless ways of realizing that “ministry is mutual” and demonstrated to all of us that this functioning is essential to the vitality of the church.

We began in September with the Woman’s Society of Christian Service sponsoring the program and attendance. The first attempt brought out 125 people. For eight nights that number has been the minimum with 200 as the maximum in attendance.

However, attendance, as gratifying as it may be, has not been the chief factor in evaluating our progress. Many of our members for the first time have begun to enjoy being of service to the church.

When our stewards took over the sponsorship of attendance, in fellowship with members on their lists, the life of the group took on new meaning as we began to feel that all of us are assuming responsibility together. A most enjoyable sight was that of a young mother and father sponsoring two tables, one of adults, and the other of their young children. They handled this situation beautifully with no prompting, a perfect example of parent-child cooperation.

Literally thousands of contacts have been made, by person, by phone, by mail and by prayer. Getting to know our young people as they become responsible for three programs was good for all of us. Their musical programs were especially worthy of our praise.

The nursery for small children and supervised study or play for those of school age have solved a most serious problem of previous suppers. The whole program, suppers, fellowship, and enthusiasm have stimulated attendance until a social habit is formed. To get acquainted with new members, to know of other church leaders and their activities, to feel one’s self a part, a force in the expansive and helpful forward movement of Glenn Memorial – these and other benefits have come from the church night suppers.

Our deepest gratitude to the late Bob Gerwig for his gifts of paper and time, ensuring that Glenn remembers and continues to tell its story.

Sara and The Communications Team

Member Spotlight: Ben Ladner

As Youth Sunday approaches, we bring you an interview from Glenn Youth senior, Ben Ladner. Along with 5 other seniors, Ben will give a reflection on his time at Glenn this Sunday. Be sure to join us at 11:00 a.m. for our annual youth planned and led service.
 

Looking back on your time at Glenn, tell us about an experience that shaped who you are today.

I think the choir tours have played a big role in shaping who I am. Looking back at my first choir tour and comparing it with my last, it's crazy to see how much I've changed and matured. Travel is a big part of my life, and the choir tours have taken me to a lot of different places. They've also provided me with service opportunities. I can't really think of one single experience that's shaped me, but remaining such an active and faithful member of the youth group has tremendously shaped me as a person. It's largely because of the youth group that I've been able to keep my head on straight and have such close ties with Glenn.
 

Glenn Youth is such a tightly knit community of friends that feel like family. Was there ever a moment when you felt particularly upheld and supported?

The first part of this question is exactly right. I feel upheld and supported by the youth in everything I do. The people in the youth group are always willing and able to listen to anything or anyone. I never feel afraid of sounding stupid or being cast out for something I say. That's part of the reason I'm so outgoing at youth, which has translated to other parts of my life as well. I also feel the support of the youth group even when I'm not the one being supported.  Seeing, hearing, witnessing, experiencing, whatever term you want to use, the youth support of others has made me feel equally supported.
 

You are musically talented and have graciously shared those gifts with the congregation. How has music enriched your life of faith?

First of all, thank you! I always enjoy playing at The Gathering or Youth Sunday. Music has had a huge impact on my faith. I've realized that God can be found in all types of music, not just Christian songs. You can find theology in a ton of music, so worship and prayer can happen through music if you feel a special connection with it.
 

When you move away to college, a lot of stuff will get packed up with you – ramen noodles, laundry detergent, photo albums, maybe a crying family member or two. What “stuff” will you pack up from Glenn to take with you?

Good question. Kathryn Mase actually did something like this for her senior reflection on Youth Sunday a few years ago. The strong sense of family and community is definitely something I'll take with me. Glenn has instilled a confidence in me that I've made a part of my everyday life and that I'll need to take to college. Glenn has also given me an appreciation for a traditional worship style at a time when many people my age are typically into a more upbeat, contemporary style - which is fine, but it's not really my thing. I love Glenn's style, so it's something I'll look for in a church when I go to college.

Thanks, Ben! Hear more from him and seniors Alex Clark, KJ Falco, Cameron MacKenna, Hallie Lonial, and Mary Katherine Henry this Sunday.

We are the Church

Pardon me if I've already shared this story, but bragging rights for a parent sometimes interfere with memory of who/when you shared your favorite stories. These days my little one is VERY into songs with hand motions. I cannot tell you how many times I've sang and acted out "ring around the rosy," "the itsy bitsy spider," and "if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands" in the last few weeks. One of her very favorites is "Here is the Church - Here is the Steeple" which then we move right into the song "I am the Church."

When we get to the part where we open all the doors and see all the people, I cannot help but grin ear to ear as she tries to name all of her "friends" from church. There's Mae-Mae and Geoffrey, Margaret and Frances, Ms. Natalie and Ms. Abigail, Ms. Dena and Ms. Ginny, and more. Let's just say this..."Pastor Alice" comes out very close to sounding like an obscenity. (Dr. Rogers assures me it's not the first time "a toddler" has called her this name!)  But what I love most about this song and our naming of our church family over and over again is that she is learning that yes, church is more than a meeting place and more than a steeple. This is a great reminder to all of us as we patiently see our church sanctuary under construction as the roof work continues in the coming months. The church is more than the outdoor facade - and we are defined not by what we look like or even our church budget and program calendar. The church is the people! 

In just a week's time I have humbly watched to see we are the church as we hold the hands of loved ones as they pass from this life into the next. We are the church as we baptize another child and welcome them into the fold. We are the church who sings and worships through hymn sings and spring concerts. We are the church as we celebrate and educate about Earth Day, learn and teach Bible stories, celebrate 90+ birthdays of our eldest members, and anxiously await the arrivals of babies through birth and adoption. We are the church as we pack backpacks full of food for local schoolchildren. We are the church as we gather for AA meetings, grief support groups, and Sunday School classes - who then bring meals to a grieving family's home.  

I am the church. You are the church. We are the Church together. See you under the scaffolding soon...as we truly are, by God's grace, a Church under construction. 

Grace and peace,
Susan

“God I Must Wholly Trust": Hymns of Fred Pratt Green

This Sunday, April 19, our 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. services will be principally music with brief reflections. The service will feature seven hymns of the British Methodist hymn writer, Fred Pratt Green (1902-2000). Among the greatest hymn writers of the 20th century, he wrote over 300 hymns and Christian songs, 17 of which are in the current United Methodist hymnal. Led by master hymn player Timothy Albrecht and supported by the Glenn Chancel Choir, this service promises an inspiring and moving experience for all. 

Given an honorary doctorate by Emory in 1982, Green gave Candler’s Pitts Theology Library his 51 meticulously organized and annotated scrapbooks showing the provenance, development, and publication of most of his hymns and sacred songs.* These provide rare insight into the creative art of this hymnic genius. In a brief video produced by Candler, Professor Robin Leaver of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music introduces this collection: Fred Pratt Green collection.

I had the privilege of spending a few hours in Pitts’ new, state of the art special collections research room - “The Jeschke-Graham Reading Room” -  looking into Green’s scrapbooks for information on the hymns to be sung in worship this Sunday. There one may find information and correspondence on the commission of “God is Here,” showing how the hymn changed via input from the Texas church that commissioned it. There is also telling correspondence with my predecessor at Glenn, Sam Young, who, as editor of our hymnal, commissioned Green to write a hymnic paraphrase of Isaiah 55:6-11. This correspondence reveals input from the hymnal psalm text committee which effected important alterations in Green’s hymn, “Seek the Lord.” Green worked hard to accommodate feedback from his commissioners. 

Among the reasons Green received so many commissions was his ability as a poet. A master of prosody with theological insight and disciplined craft, he wrote hymns of inspiring beauty and arresting power.

Green’s journey through the creation of “All My Hope is Firmly Grounded” began with a request from eminent English hymnist John Wilson (1905-1992) to write a new translation of Joachim Neander’s 1680 hymn, “Meine Hoffnung Stehet Feste.” Green’s scrapbook entries illumine this journey. You may click on the hyperlinks below to view images of these scrapbook entries.  

1.       Neander’s German version
2.      Literal Prose translation
3.      Translations by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) and Robert Bridges (1844-1930)
4.      Translations by John Jacobi (1670–1750)
5.      Green’s version of May, 1986 with notes
6.      John Wilson’s May 13, 1986 letter with feedback on Green’s hymn
7.      Green’s response to Wilson’s letter
8.      Green’s commentary on the process
9.      Green’s final version

Supporting the mysteries of poetic inspiration, evident in these documents are very practical considerations affecting the final version of the hymn. We see that Green retained Neander’s original meter and verse structure. This is made clear when Neander’s original is compared to Green’s final version - links 1 and 9 above. Green studied important historic translations - links 3 and 4 - so he could comprehend the choices his predecessors made and he responded to the careful scrutiny of his friend and commissioner John Wilson - links 6 and 7. The latter caused Green to change in stanza 1:

“Who in all life’s circumstances” to –
“Who, whenever I most need him.”

Wilson suggested this change because the melody, MICHAEL by Herbert Howells, would afford only a too brief eighth note to the word “life’s,” and that the word “circumstances” could not be sung elegantly to that tune. 

Also in stanza 1, Wilson suggested that “Never fails to keep his word” might be better stated positively. Green responded that sometimes a negative statement is more rhetorically effective. And so it remains.

Wilson challenged implied theology in stanza 2 as suggesting that when humans mature we might no longer need God. Thus, Green changed:

“Who can trust in human nature, Still so weak and immature,” to –
“Tell me, who can trust our nature, Human, weak, and insecure.”

These entries document nuanced evolutions ranging from changing words that are clumsy or inelegant to sing, or rhetorically ineffective, to ideas that might tend to heresy. Learning of these intimate considerations in setting profound theological tenets into hymns enhances our appreciation and empowers the joyful abandon with which we and our successors may sing these hymns into ages to come.

Our final hymn this Sunday is Green’s powerful “Christ is the World’s Light.” His scrapbook entry not only gives information on the provenance of this great hymn, but also reveals how Green began his career as a hymn writer, a career whose works will continue to bring the light of Christ so long as Christians sing.

Steven Darsey

*The materials referenced are from the Fred Pratt Green Papers, MSS 166, Archives and Manuscripts Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University