MUUiscal Notes

    What is the closest thing Unitarian Universalists have to a sacred text? Many folks have suggested that perhaps our hymnal is the closest thing we have! From my perspective it would be hard to argue. That simple gray book that we hold in our hands each Sunday called Singing the Living Tradition is quite a treasure. It expresses theology and history. It exercises and nurtures both our cognitive and affective dimensions (our right and left brain, if you will). And, in many ways and on many levels, it binds us together as a community. It’s not perfect, but, as you may have guessed, I love it anyway!

     In the past several weeks and months, hymnals have been a topic in meetings I have attended, as well as in personal conversations. One fundamental cause for concern is that we don’t have enough hymnals to adequately supply all of the folks who may join us on a Sunday morning. Recently, one of our generous members has offered to donate nearly two dozen hymnals in memory of Flo Schnell, a musical member who is sadly missed. In each of these hymnals, a bookplate will remind us to celebrate Flo’s life. Although we haven’t had a major hymnal drive in quite some time, this commemorative option is always available.

    But someone need not have died to celebrate their life! Who could you honor with a hymnal? It could even be you! These hymnals truly are communal property, passing through the hands of so many of us as the church years go by.

    Several folks have also asked me about the turquoise hymnal called Singing the Journey. This supplemental text is filled with many lovely songs, with contemporary themes and contemporary rhythms. The melody lines (the singing parts) and the piano accompaniments are not as easily accessible as those in the gray hymnal, so over this past year, the choir has practiced many of the songs and used them as a steady source of anthems. This has allowed us to introduce you to this beautiful resource, and to bring you varied UU music. It is hoped that as the years pass and these songs become familiar to all of us, we will have the funds to purchase enough of these pretty little books to join the gray hymnals in the pews. But until then, there are plenty of songs to explore in the old gray hymnal! The important thing is to just keep singing!

    (And if you attend GA, please make sure to look for me as the UUFVB representative in the Opening Ceremony and Sunday Worship Service choirs!)

In harmony,

Ann Hossler
Director of Music Ministries