New Hymns for Ordinary Time: "As a Fire Is Meant for Burning"

Greetings, and I hope you’re enjoying your summer so far! Some of you have contacted me affirming the monthly-hymn plan, so I’m glad we’re finding a sweet spot for introducing parish hymns. Thank you for the feedback.

Next weekend, Ordinary Time 17, we will introduce "As a Fire Is Meant for Burning," No. 734 in the Worship IV Hymnal:

1. As a fire is meant for burning with a bright and warming flame, so the church is meant for mission, giving glory to God’s name. As we witness to the Gospel, we would build a bridge of care joining hands across the nations, finding neighbors ev'rywhere.  
2. We are learners; we are teachers; We are pilgrims on the way. We are seekers; we are givers; we are vessels made of clay. By our gentle loving actions, we would show that Christ is light. in a humble, listening spirit, we would live to God’s delight.
3. As a green bud in the springtime is a sign of life renewed, so may we be signs of oneness mid earth’s peoples many hued. As a rainbow lights the heavens when a storm is past and gone, may our lives reflect the radiance of God’s new and glorious dawn.

The text is well-suited for AGP’s mission of missionary discipleship. Written by Ruth Duck in 1982, she draws from 2 Corinthians 4:7 and Matthew 4:14-16, and a passage from theologian Emil Brunner in 1901. It is quite apropos of AGP: “Mission work does not arise from any arrogance in the Christian Church; mission is its cause and its life. The Church exists by mission, just as a fire exists by burning. Where there is no mission, there is no Church; and where there is neither Church nor mission, there is no faith.” 

The tune "Beach Spring" first appeared in an 1844 collection of tunes called The Sacred Harp, which originated in the Northeast but was adopted in the South. "Beach Spring" suggests a rustic slice of Americana with folk characteristics. One may think of the melodies for “Wondrous Love" and “Amazing Grace” as parallels in character.

If you'd like to learn this song, click here watch a video performance on YouTube.