Center for Church Music

St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist (September 21^st), 2024

“Your Word Is Like…”

Unless they fall on a Sunday, we don’t always take much time to observe Saints’ days. But there’s always much to be gained by doing so, even in small ways like personal devotions. They continue to strengthen us for our daily life and work…

St. Matthew’s day is a good example. Although we don’t know much about him as an apostle (beyond Jesus calling him at his tax collector’s booth), his work as an evangelist was and is profound. The message that God’s grace, for his people and the world, is complete and universal shines throughout his Gospel account.  This reality inhabits the daily tasks of our vocation as well as we minister to people in the pew.

It is interesting that Martin Luther chose St. Matthew’s day to publish his German translation of the New Testament in 1522. (There’s even a woodcut of Luther at the time as the new St. Matthew).

May the music we make continue to shine divine light on this often dark world.

The words of German hymnwriter Carl Garve (1825) lay out so well the dynamic power of the Word of God…

Your Word, O Lord, is gentle dew to suffering hearts that want it;
Oh, shed your heavenly balm anew, to all your garden grant it;
Refreshed by you, may every tree bud forth and blossom gaily
And fruit and seed bring daily.

Your Word is like a flaming sword, a sharp and mighty arrow,
A wedge that cleaves the rock; that Word can pierce through heart and marrow.
Oh, send it forth o’er all the earth, to purge unrighteous leaven
And cleanse all hearts for heaven.

Your Word, a wondrous star, supplies true guidance when we need it;
It points to Christ and so makes wise all simple hearts that heed it;
Let not its light e’er sink in night, but keep it brightly burning,
And fill our deepest yearning.                                                                    

[Translation: Catherine Winkworth]

Amen.

Barry Bobb

Director

Resource Room

• Books, magazines, recordings, the Schalk American Lutheran Hymnal Collection (541 volumes) and the ever-expanding archives of the original manuscripts of great American Lutheran composers & hymn writers.
• Liturgical Choir Music Library

Digital Initiative

• All of the volumes in the hymnal collection can be perused online at www.hymnary.org or from this website. See "Hymnal Collection Index."
• Many of the original manuscripts are accessible online at the Center’s website (including Manz, Schalk, Hillert, Pelz, Thoms, Busarow, Bouman and others...) See "Composer Manuscript Indices".

Website

• Devotions, interviews, profiles, essays, forums, ideas, an arts registry

Print publications

• Books and monographs in the Shaping American Lutheran Church Music series available through Amazon and Fortress Press

Encouragement of the next generation

• Hillert Award in Student Composition---open to any undergrad or graduate student at a Lutheran university or seminary in the United States
• Schalk Scholars
  • Creates awareness and access to current research in the areas of music and the arts
  • Provides stipends for research as well as publication and venues for presentations for these emerging scholars
  • Arts Registry
  • Contact information and samples from composers, visual artists, writers, designers, media artists.