"MUSIC CELEBRATION SUNDAY", May 10, 2015 at First-Plymouth Church, Lincoln Nebraska. Alleluia Choir, Choristers, Te Deum Choir and Plymouth Choir accompanied by the Plymouth Brass and Plymouth Ringers.
This very Lutheran hymn is one of my all-time favorite hymns, and I have known it since Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Auburn, California, first began using the Lutheran Book of Worship in 1979. A year later I worked on staff at Holden Village, where Herb Brokering had earlier also been on staff. When we sang it in the Village services, groups took turns singing the verses, depending on what their jobs in the village were, or what our "out in the world" jobs were. I am now a member of the United Church of Christ, and "Earth and All Stars" is not in either of the hymnals my little church uses, use, but I'm the music director, and I think we'll be singing this Sunday, especially with Psalm 148 being the psalm for the day. I do enjoy First-Plymouth's videos!
Purposeful language is a necessity in worship. God is not only "He". This church is a United Church of Christ as well as being in fellowship with the UU's, so radical inclusion is part of their theology. Leaving them to worship is probably the best path to take. One minding one's own business is a lost art
No, that is necessary! God has no gender. Had Herb written these lyrics a little later than he did, I'm sure he would have used "God" rather than "He," just as Lutheran liturgies have been de-masculinized the language of the services.
