It's hard to believe that Adam's first year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary is done. Just like that. Of course, he'd be the first to say that it didn't happen "just like that." Balancing classes, work, homework, and family life has been a challenge during this back-to-school journey, with this past year being perhaps the most challenging to date. And yet we see God's grace in bringing us through another school year, and halfway through this 6-year journey! Looking back, we've been given--oftentimes unexpectedly--just what we needed for body and soul!
As Adam and I make plans for his second year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, we're considering how best to use our resources to provide for our family. We've been blessed these past few months with opportunities to share my music at WELS/ELS churches in Southeastern Wisconsin, and we hope to pursue more of these opportunities. If you are interested in talking more about a visit to your congregation (Southeastern Wisconsin and possibly beyond), please contact me or pass my information on to your pastor or music coordinator. Since my music is meant for congregational singing, my goal is that the hymns I share during a visit to your church could then be used in your congregation on a regular basis (I'd make sure you have the necessary music and bulletin files to make that happen)!
Those of you who know me well, know that I have quite the collection of old hymnals, gathered from yard sales, thrift stores, and used book stores. Some are so worn that only a couple of strings remain of the binding, just barely holding the pages together. I imagine those books being paged through over and over, being used to sing beloved old hymns to the One who gave us our voices! What a treasure to have hymns of old, hymns that proclaim the timeless truths of the gospel. What a privilege to join in these hymns along with the whole Christian church on earth! While I treasure these old hymns, I also consider it a unique privilege to be part of creating new hymns for the church. When one of my text-writing friends sends me a new hymn text, my housekeeping usually grinds to a halt and my kids might just watch a little too much TV. All so that I can have some time with this brand new text, as I hope to write a tune that will carry it to people's ears and into their hearts. One such text is "We Cannot Help But Sing" by Laurie Gauger. I'll be sharing more about this new hymn in the coming weeks, but for now I'll leave you with a few verses, which really bring out the many reasons we have to sing:
We cannot help but sing, O Lord, your deeds declare, your bounty bless.
In psalm and hymn and sacred song, we praise you with our every breath.
From all the earth our songs arise; in faith and praise your church is one.
All saints and angels harmonize in this, your choir, so sweet and strong.
Our music brims with hope and joy as we proclaim your victories,
Like Mary's bold Magnificat and Miriam's dance at parted sea.
We also sing to beg for grace when guilt and shame weigh down the soul,
Like David in his suffering psalms, we sing: "Forgive us, make us whole."
"We Cannot Help But Sing" ©2015 Laurie Gauger, www.lauriegauger.com
As Adam and I make plans for his second year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, we're considering how best to use our resources to provide for our family. We've been blessed these past few months with opportunities to share my music at WELS/ELS churches in Southeastern Wisconsin, and we hope to pursue more of these opportunities. If you are interested in talking more about a visit to your congregation (Southeastern Wisconsin and possibly beyond), please contact me or pass my information on to your pastor or music coordinator. Since my music is meant for congregational singing, my goal is that the hymns I share during a visit to your church could then be used in your congregation on a regular basis (I'd make sure you have the necessary music and bulletin files to make that happen)!
Those of you who know me well, know that I have quite the collection of old hymnals, gathered from yard sales, thrift stores, and used book stores. Some are so worn that only a couple of strings remain of the binding, just barely holding the pages together. I imagine those books being paged through over and over, being used to sing beloved old hymns to the One who gave us our voices! What a treasure to have hymns of old, hymns that proclaim the timeless truths of the gospel. What a privilege to join in these hymns along with the whole Christian church on earth! While I treasure these old hymns, I also consider it a unique privilege to be part of creating new hymns for the church. When one of my text-writing friends sends me a new hymn text, my housekeeping usually grinds to a halt and my kids might just watch a little too much TV. All so that I can have some time with this brand new text, as I hope to write a tune that will carry it to people's ears and into their hearts. One such text is "We Cannot Help But Sing" by Laurie Gauger. I'll be sharing more about this new hymn in the coming weeks, but for now I'll leave you with a few verses, which really bring out the many reasons we have to sing:
We cannot help but sing, O Lord, your deeds declare, your bounty bless.
In psalm and hymn and sacred song, we praise you with our every breath.
From all the earth our songs arise; in faith and praise your church is one.
All saints and angels harmonize in this, your choir, so sweet and strong.
Our music brims with hope and joy as we proclaim your victories,
Like Mary's bold Magnificat and Miriam's dance at parted sea.
We also sing to beg for grace when guilt and shame weigh down the soul,
Like David in his suffering psalms, we sing: "Forgive us, make us whole."
"We Cannot Help But Sing" ©2015 Laurie Gauger, www.lauriegauger.com
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