Oh For A Thousand Delegates

The RMN office recently pulled this old chestnut out from our archives. I wrote this during General Conference 04 on the first night I arrived in Pittsburgh.

I hope you enjoy it but remember, sing lustily! Be no more ashamed to sing this song then when you sang the songs of the devil! (Sorry, that's a Methodist joke, check out the "tips for singing" in the front of our hymnal if you don't get the reference... someone should post them in the comments for us. I apologize for suggesting that you ever sang songs of the devil, or of mentioning him at all. For the record, I am comfortable using gendered language in this instance)  CUE THE ORGAN!

                               Oh for a Thousand Delegates

Oh for a thousand delegates to open up the doors,
To bring God’s reconciling love to the General Conference floor.

Our church has failed God times before, legitimized its sin
We learned repentance and reform, may we now let people in.

Our common witness shows God’s love and answers Jesus’ call
To liberate our family and reclaim our church for all.

Jesus, the name that’s been abused and used for hate and fear
We know that Christ transforms the world and can start to change things here.

As baptized children we were claimed and we will not be torn
United to participate, water washed and spirit born.

We live our lives with truth and grace, which makes our Maker proud
We cannot hide what God has made, and of this we’re self-avowed.

Comments

[southdakotajay]

Some things only get better with age. Loved it then, love it now. And I was the pianist.

Thanks for this oldy but goody - maybe we can use it again somehow this year.
Peace with Justice

[Julie A. Arms]

Excellent, Will. I sent it to our choir director to see if we can sing it on the 20th.

[David Braden]

Oy! I was just under one year too late to have participated in the singing of this song at Holy Covenant. Maybe I can convince the music leaders to sing it again the Sunday before General Conference. Truly inspired, Will. Nice job!

[Sue Laurie]

Will, I drove home from General Conference 04 and had a preaching engagement the very next day, Sunday, at Holy Covenant UMC. The music leaders allowed me to add your song to the worship that day. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the faces of the congregants as they broke into smiles ~ especially in the last verse. Inspired,
Sue

[Jenn]

Here they are, as swiped from
http://www.gbgm-umc.org/BensalemPA/wesley.html

I. Learn these tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.

II. Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.

III. Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a single degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.

IV. Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, then when you sung the songs of Satan.

V. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.

VI. Sing in time. Whatever time is sung be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend close to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to sing to slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.

VII. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.