Worship and Arts by Young

How has this hymn equipped you to listen more deliberately to God’s  call?

When I took a worship class at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota in 2000, the professor Mons Teig conducted a survey of favorite hymns. Most of the students who were on fire for God, serving with all of their hearts picked, “Here I Am, Lord.”  Not surprisingly, “Here I Am, Lord” got the most votes at Our Savior’s favorite hymn survey in 2012.  This hymn came out as a result of Roman Catholic renewal hymnody from the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Stirring and memorable, the text, “Whom shall I send? Here I Am, Lord” captured people’s hearts and the hymn became one of the most often sung for worship throughout the world.

This month’s featured hymn was written by Daniel Schutte.  Schutte’s life as a lover of music was planted early through the inspiration of his grandparents, listening to them play the piano. While he was studying at St. Louis University, he had opportunities of experiencing the connection between music and communal worship, learning the power of music to move one’s soul to encounter God.  During his college years, he met John Foley, who later became a director of the center for Liturgy at St. Louis University and composer of “One Bread, One Body” (ELW 496).  Young Seminarians–Daniel, John and a few others–played and sang liturgies. They wrote music based on scripture; these pieces were edited by Daniel, entitled as “Neither Silver Nor Gold.”  This beautiful scriptural-based music had a significant impact on people’s prayers.

Schutte also attended the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, Calif. (M. Div, 1979) and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley (Master of liturgical theology, 1980).  Following his graduation, he joined the Jesuits and served as the director of liturgy at Marquette University (1982-1986). He is currently the director of music at the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit institution.  As an accomplished artist, he uses his painting skills for the covers of many of his recordings. His favorite themes, “light” and” hope,” can be found in his paintings with rich color as well as in his music.

In 1980, Schutte wrote “Here I Am, Lord” for the ordination of some of his fellow Jesuits in Berkeley, California.  This hymn is based on Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’  And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!'” Michael Hwan, a professor of sacred music at Perkins School of Theology, comments about an unusual attribute on this hymn: “The stanzas speak from the perspective of God in the first person singular, ending with the question, ‘Whom shall I Send?’  The refrain is from the perspective of the singers of the hymn, responding with ‘I will go, Lord.’ ”  To get more sense of the dual points of the perspective, a cantor or choir may sing the stanzas and people sing the refrain.  This hymn fits well for Stewardship Sunday, ordination, or Rally Sunday.  This hymn also can be used during Communion –“Finest bread I provide.”

Sometimes God’s calling is very clear in dramatic settings as they were with Isaiah, Samuel, or the Apostle Paul.  Other times, God’s calling is in a still, small voice inside of us.  If we listen carefully, we will know what he wants us to do.  Listen!  God is calling! How has this hymn equipped you to listen more deliberately to God’s call?  D. Michael Bennethum said, “As baptized Christians, they have vocation, a calling from God not just to ‘go to church,’ but also to be the church at all times and in all places, including in and through their daily labors” ( 21).   How does Bennethum’s definition impact your understanding of God’s calling– when you are  “at church” and when you are “being the church?”

Young Chung