Tenth Sunday after Trinity

The Lasting Importance of a Hymnal

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This past week, I read a fascinating article in Christianity Today about hymnals. While Lutherans have traditionally been hymn-singing people, there has been a consistent push over the years to move away from hymnals and display hymn lyrics on screens, even in Lutheran churches. 

The article I read was so interesting because church leaders from other denominations are shifting away from screens in sanctuaries and returning to using the hymnal. One Reformed church in California is working hard to relearn how to use their hymnal, gathering 45 minutes before service to sing together and get comfortable turning the pages.

But why are churches going back to hymnals? Because of their permanence, their durability, and quality of lasting a Christian’s lifetime, serving as the Christian’s songbook, with ink on paper.

The hymnal endures, while all forms of technology have only a brief lifespan before requiring repair or replacement. These technologies mirror the technological and consumer world we live in. 

The last paragraph of the article really excited me because the pastor being interviewed said his goal for the church was for every member to have both a Bible and a hymnal, because “We can’t take projectors with us everywhere.”

If you need a Bible or hymnal, please ask—I would be happy to provide those resources.

By the way, it’s the 20 th anniversary of the Lutheran Service Book (LSB), the hymnal of the LCMS! You can read a little blog about LSB here.

You can read the article mentioned above here.

In Christ,
Pastor Rogness