Monthly column on hymns and songs

It might have been any book, any church, almost any hymn. It was actually No. 22 in Praise!; a version of the 22nd psalm beginning 'Why, God, have you forsaken me?' The anniversary of Barry's bereavement came that week; as he sang, verse 6 struck him with particular force. I leave you to look it up.

He didn't sing the last verse at all. Afterwards he opened his book again. He sat quietly, treasuring the words afresh and adding a note in his diary.

Change the scene; this time I am there too. Another Baptist church, and the visiting minister brings all his hi-tech gear along. At the click of a switch from his lovely assistant (as he describes his daughter) everything zooms gracefully on to its big screen; sermon outline, photos to pray about, and of course the words of hymns and songs. Big enough print for people like me, so verses three to five need extra sheets floating in sideways.

Just suppose you were the widower that day; or had wanted for any reason to recapture those powerful words. Would you approach the minister afterwards to ask for a copy?

Digital

Close friends tell me that digital projection is the coming thing. Sadly, I believe them - if you ignore a few thousand country churches. As C.S. Lewis used to say, you are now listening to a dinosaur. But wait! The advantages of the best technology are clear at a glance, but a glance is all we get. The benefits of books sometimes appear only when we lose them.

Preparation

How does your church's Sunday start - apart from unlocking, light switches and handshakes? Unless you drift in 20 minutes late (which doesn't happen at Anfield, Gatwick, or the factory gate), you have some moments in which to prepare. You make space for prayer, and you can certainly praise God with greater understanding if you look up the hymns. The numbers are on the board!

Which usually depends on books. So let's count some other blessings. We see the size of what we are about to sing. Even 'page 1 of 3', which may not appear on screen anyway, doesn't tell us much. We see the shape of it; its choruses, climaxes, highs and lows. Belting everything out fortissimo is not singing with the mind. We see its subject, if there are headings or texts to help, and other delights at the front or back.

We see who wrote it, and when. So who cares? It is salutary and stirring to discover this true 'apostolic succession' of Christian worship. We can always add the occasional extra items, but hymnals provide a historic heritage for discovery and nourishment. They remind us of a great tradition. They invite further exploration. We are not the first to walk here; Hebrews 12.1-2!

Such details should be on screen too, but often they are missing, minute, or cluttered with copyrights and misprints. At best they appear only with the last verse, when they merely distract. A screen enslaves the eye, printed pages set it free.

Something to hold

And those newcomers? Deborah saw this in draft, and commented that a welcome at the door is warmer with a handshake and a hymn book! Visitors may well feel more comfortable with something to hold in their hands, than simply gazing up and being expected to sing.

Ultimately it is a question of control. With all this hardware, the technical wizard up front is wielding a subtle form of power over us. Books swing the focus back to the congregation. You can even buy your own hymnal and use it as you pray. It saves pennies, and survives power cuts.

I believe in hymn books

Digital

Preparation

Something to hold

Christopher Idle

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