Chancel Choir Commissions New Choral Piece for 150th Annivesary
Jun 17, 2021 | by Patricia Neighbors
In honor of our 150th anniversary, our music department commissioned Molly Ijames to write/arrange a choral piece for the occasion. Molly Ijames is from Flint Michigan and is active as a composer, arranger and clinician. The piece is an arrangement of the well-known hymn, How Firm a Foundation. I would like to share with you what Molly wrote about the piece.
June 18, 2020 - “Not many churches withstand a century and a half in these days! If FUMC began in 1870, the time in history was on the brink of exciting days. The US was recovering from the Civil War and Americans were on the verge of new inventions such as the telephone, the light bulb, and the phonograph, which would come in just a few short years. Protestantism, including the Methodist and Baptist denominations, and several iterant preachers and song-leaders were revolutionizing outdoor church meetings, particularly D.L. Moody and his song leader, Ira Sankey, who held evangelistic meetings worldwide. Congregational singing was radically changed because of their influence. One hymn favorite that was sung in both the North and the South was How Firm a Foundation. It was first printed in 1832, and it had become a favorite by such leaders as Theodore Roosevelt and Andrew Jackson. Robert E. Lee requested it to be sung at his funeral on October 12, 1870.
In the middle of our world’s current hardship, I hope this piece is a bright light for all of you, and that it will bring joy to your musicians and church body in the middle of the unknowns. The text of this hymn reflects the faith that we’ve all no doubt endured, and I pray that God’s promises will continue to be revealed to you as you walk through the next season as a church. God is good, even in the troubles we experience, and His goodness will never fail us.
“I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.”
I hope this piece is a rich blessing to you. I send my deepest congratulations and warmest wishes to your church body as you reflect on His goodness in the coming days. I look forward, with you, to the day when we can all join in singing together again!”
Sincerely,
Molly Ijames
The choir is enjoying learning this piece, written specifically for our church. It has a very Early-Americana sound to it and is a strong affirmation of our Foundation. We look forward to sharing this piece in worship on June 27th.