Last fall, Christianity Today announced a hymn contest (CT, Oct. 23, 1981). The specific aim: a new hymn that would use late-twentieth-century imagery. Nearly 500 entries were received, coming from nine countries besides the U.S., with entrants ranging from literary novices to professional theologians.
Most writers’ efforts were truly commendable. Some, however, missed the primary purpose of the contest and sent instead seasonal songs, wedding hymns, and texts for other special occasions. A number of writers submitted original music, although one of the requirements was that the text be set to a standard, existing hymn tune. Others suggested tunes that were not compatible with their texts. Many entrants included letters expressing their appreciation to CT for the contest.
The judges gave careful thought to determining winners, and to the final, published texts. Theological accuracy, contemporary language and imagery, poetic excellence, and congregational singability were all primary considerations. They selected three prize winners and two honorable mentions.
First prize of $250 was awarded for E. Margaret Clarkson’s “God of the Ages,” set to the well-known tune Bunessan (to which “Morning Has Broken” is usually sung). Miss Clarkson, a free-lance writer living in Willowdale, Ontario, Canada, has written numerous other hymns (“So Send I You” is probably one of the most familiar).
The $100 second prize went to another Canadian, Margaret Stinton, for “Lord of Lords,” to be sung to the Welsh tune Cwm Rhondda (“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”). Mrs. Stinton lives in Calgary, Alberta.
Frederick Steffen of Toccoa, Georgia, was awarded the third prize of $50 for “God’s Eternal Truth Yet Stands.” It has been set to the tune Dix (“For the Beauty of the Earth”). Mr. Steffen is director of the School of Music at Toccoa Falls College, Georgia.
Honorable mention was accorded another of Miss Clarkson’s entries, “O Father, You Are Sovereign,” which may be sung to Lancashire (“O Brothers, Lift Your Voices”). The other honorable mention went to Carol Fox Thorne for “Celebration Unending,” set to Sine Nomine (“For All the Saints”). Although a Commun-ion hymn, the judges felt it was worthy of special recognition.
CHRISTIANITY TODAY is sincerely grateful to the panel of judges for its fine work: Donald P. Hustad, professor of church music at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky; Norman L. Johnson, composer and arranger for Singspiration, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Richard D. Dinwiddie, visiting professor of church music at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois; Luci Shaw, well-known poet and editor for Harold Shaw Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois; and Carol R. Thiessen, CT associate editor. CT is especially indebted to Mr. Johnson for his reharmonization of the Bunessan setting, which appears here with the text of “God of the Ages.”
These hymns may be printed in church bulletins and sung in services without further permission. They may not, however, be included in any hymnal or booklet, or reproduced in any other manner, without written permission from CHRISTIANITY TODAY.
Second Prize
Lord of Lords
Text: Margaret Stinton
Tune: Cwm Rhondda (Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah)
Lord of lords, the sparkling heavens
Show the greatness of your hand,
Brilliant galaxies unfolding,
Distant suns your wisdom planned,
Morning stars in concert singing—
Praise the One whose pow’r we see:
Lord of might and majesty!
Lord of light, your gift of beauty
Fills our planet here below.
Crystal snow and silver moonlight,
Forest green with life aglow,
Sapphire ocean, flaming sunset
Your creative joy proclaim!
Lord of all, we praise your name!
Lord of love, we bow before you,
Humbled by your constant grace,
Word Incarnate, sent from heaven,
On the cross you took our place.
By your death and resurrection
We shall live through endless days!
Lord of life, we sing your praise!
Lord of nations, by your Spirit
Cause our fear and greed to cease.
Restless hearts and lives refashion
By the entrance of your peace.
May we now with firm commitment
Follow in obedience true:
Lord of lords, we worship you!
Third Prize
God’s Eternal Truth Yet Stands
Text: Frederick J. Steffen
Tune: Dix (For the Beauty of the Earth)
God’s eternal truth yet stands—
Ever living, giving light;
None can silence his commands,
None prevail against his might.
Word made flesh, resounding Voice:
He has spoken, we rejoice!
God’s pure, healing love yet binds
Wounds of loneliness and pain;
Broken lives and darkened minds
In that love find hope again.
Lord, your servants may we prove,
Reaching others with your love.
God’s enabling power yet leads
Those who on his strength rely;
Great our calling, great our needs,
Greater still God’s rich supply.
In our weakness he is strong—
This his promise, this our song!
When eternity shall dawn,
Night be turned to endless day,
Pain and sorrow both be gone,
Every tear be wiped away,
God shall ever be our might,
All our comfort, all our light.
Honorable Mention
Celebration Unending
Text: Carol Fox Thorne
Tune: Sine Nomine (For All the Saints)
In celebration, clap your hands and sing
In praise to God, our ever-living King;
With joyful hearts our worship now we bring:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
We drink the wine, together break the bread—
Each one in turn is comforted and fed;
We join our hands—one body, Christ the head:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Modulate to a higher key:
Past place and time, we rise beyond this earth—
Our fellowship in heaven finds rebirth;
Anew our voices sing the Savior’s worth:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Honorable Mention
O Father, You Are Sovereign
Text: E. Margaret Clarkson
Tune: Lancashire (Lead On, O King Eternal)
O Father, you are sovereign
In all the worlds you made;
Your mighty Word was spoken,
And light and life obeyed.
Your voice commands the seasons
And bounds the ocean’s shore,
Sets stars within their courses
And stills the tempest’s roar.
O Father, you are sovereign
In all affairs of man;
No powers of death or darkness
Can thwart your perfect plan.
All chance and change transcending,
Supreme in time and space,
You hold your trusting children
Secure in your embrace.
O Father, you are sovereign,
The Lord of human pain,
Transmuting earthly sorrows
To gold of heavenly gain.
All evil overruling
As none but Conqueror could,
Your love pursues its purpose—
Our souls’ eternal good.
O Father, you are sovereign!
We see you dimly now;
But soon before your triumph
Earth’s every knee shall bow.
With this glad hope before us
Our faith springs forth anew:
Our sovereign Lord and Savior,
We trust and worship you!
