Building a Hymnal from the Church Up

Celebrating Grace Hymnal Nears Development Completion

After more than two years of preparation, the highly anticipated Celebrating Grace Hymnal is in its last phase of development and review before going to the press in early 2009 for release in spring 2010. The hymnal's innovative online companion music and worship resource is also in construction, with the full site scheduled to be available simultaneously with the hymnal.

"Celebrating Grace is a hymnal built by Baptists for Baptists," said Mark Edwards, Worship Resource manager of Celebrating Grace Hymnal. "The project team has five editors and more than 50 committee members, including pastors, theologians, church musicians, music educators and laypeople. We have placed emphasis on inclusive input by many people across the country."

Inclusive By Design

Editors and committee members received high praise from pastors, church musicians and students who attended 15 regional events called HymnPosiums. Participants had the opportunity not only to preview some of the music and resources in the new hymnal, but also to provide valuable input to the Celebrating Grace leaders on the content.

"Most frequently, a hymnal is designed by a few editors who select the hymns," said J. Thomas McAfee, chairman and president of Hallmarks Systems, Inc., and chairman of the Celebrating Grace Hymnal project. "We have intentionally changed that development model. We have deliberately sought input from musicians, music scholars, pastors and lay leaders. We want this hymnal to be the worship and music resource that church leaders and their congregations look forward to using in their worship and services."

A joint initiative of Townsend-McAfee Institute of Church Music of Mercer University and Mercer University Press, Celebrating Grace Hymnal has been designed to make a theological statement of belief and practice even in its organization. The book is divided into two sections: "I will be your God," which includes hymns and songs about the Trinity - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, and "You will be my people," which is about God's people - the Church as a community, at worship and on mission.

The contents of the hymnal will represent a broad range of old and recent congregational songs, a variety of musical genres, and readings - ancient and modern. Hard copy editions of the hymnal will include the pew edition, an accompanist edition, a leather-bound pulpit edition and a loose-leaf edition to accommodate choir folders.

The Worship Matrix

The unique online component is receiving high marks from music directors and pastors even in its prototype stage. The Web-based resource expands the use of the hymnal and assists church leadership in their planning of worship services. Primarily, but not exclusively, designed to complement Celebrating Grace, the Matrix will have a Web page for each of the hymnal's 600-plus hymns and songs. It will provide supporting scripture passages, quotes, composer/writer information, devotional thoughts and other worship support materials. It will also offer supplemental music resources, including orchestrations, keyboard, handbell accompaniments, children's materials, congregational anthems, and more, that will be available as downloads to enhance use of the hymn.

"We have addressed through the Matrix many of the worship needs we heard requested by the churches," said McAfee. "No matter the size of the church or the congregation or the music program, the Matrix will have resources to enhance the worship experience."

For more information on Celebrating Grace Hymnal, visit the Web site at www.celebrating-grace.com or contact Mark Edwards, Worship Resource manager, at mark.edwards@celebrating-grace.com.