On Pentecost they gathered
quite early in the day,
a band of Christ's disciples,
to worship, sing, and pray.
A mighty wind came blowing,
filled all the swirling air,
and tongues of fire a-glowing
inspired each person there.
The people all around them
were startled and amazed
to understand their language,
as Christ the Lord they praised.
What universal message,
what great good news was here?
That Christ, once dead, is risen
to vanquish all our fear.
God pours the Holy Spirit
on all who would believe,
on women, men, and children
who would God's grace receive.
That Spirit knows no limit,
bestowing life and power.
The church, formed and reforming,
responds in every hour.
O Spirit, sent from heaven
on that day long ago,
rekindle faith among us
in all life's ebb and flow.
O give us ears to listen
and tongues aflame with praise,
so folk of every nation
glad songs of joy shall raise.
Jane McAfee Parker Huber (1926-2008) was a Presbyterian, born to missionary parents in China but living most of her 82 years in the United States. In 2002 she received the Presbyterian Church of USA’s Woman of Faith Award. This award stated: “Huber’s creative renderings of ‘fresh words to familiar tunes’ have inspired Christians to sing hymns with expansive, gender-inclusive language and rethink all the images used for God and people.” She wrote over one hundred hymns, including this one for Pentecost.
The first two stanzas remind us of that first Pentecost recorded in Acts 2; the last two verses explain the purpose of the Holy Spirit in the twenty-first century. A suggested tune is St Theodulph, however, as I was trying to find a suitable version of this tune on YouTube, I hit a snag – the ones I found have only three verses. So Witney Congregational Church will be singing the verses, under their breath of course, to Hatherop Castle – most familiarly known as the ‘modern tune’ for O Jesus I have promised.
When we think of hymns it is vital that we consider both words and tune. If we decide to choose a different tune to that suggested in hymn books or online, we need to make sure the dum-di-dums fit. One can count the syllables in each line – this hymn is 7676D (for doubled) which is quite a common pattern but some tunes force the singer to stress the wrong words.
Hatherop Castle fits Huber’s words perfectly – the crescendo in the seventh line emphasises tongues of fire a-glowing; that Christ, once dead, is risen; the Church formed and reforming; and folk of every nation. These selected lines actually tell the Pentecost story from AD33 to today! The early believers showed their reception of the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire, which enabled them to tell many people about the resurrection; Pentecost has been called the birthday of the Church, but since then how we perceive church and ‘do’ church has changed; and the Word has spread throughout the world.
Heavenly Father, as we focus on the words of hymns, remind us that singing your praise is vital, giving voice to the love and adoration we have for you as Creator.
Jesus our Redeemer, as we focus on the tunes of hymns, remind us that you are the living Word, as well as Saviour and Lord.
Holy Spirit, as we fuse words and tunes in what we sing, remind us that you are the strength and power which uses hymns to touch our hearts and souls, turning us from singers to worshippers. Amen
Elaine Kinchin