326. We Lift Our Hearts to God

Text Information
First Line: We lift our hearts to God
Title: We Lift Our Hearts to God
Author: Cor Wm. Barendrecht (1975)
Meter: 667 867
Language: English
Publication Date: 1987
Scripture: ; ; ;
Topic: King, God/Christ as; Love: Our Love for Others; Preaching (6 more...)
Copyright: Text and music © 1987, CRC Publications
CCLI Number: 7019148
Tune Information
Name: HESSEL PARK
Composer: Emily R. Brink (1976)
Meter: 667 867
Key: F Major
Copyright: Text and music © 1987, CRC Publications


Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Phil. 4:7
st. 2 = Rom. 12:1

This text is a fitting confession for Christians who must leave the comfortable pew and venture into God's world. The text of stanza I says that we go out to serve, "to work in church and kingdom," under God's protection and with God's blessing of peace. In stanza 2 author Cornelius (Cor) Wm. Barendrecht (b. The Hague, the Netherlands, 1934) quotes from the Heidelberg Catechism (Q&A 32) to say that serving God is a whole-life act of worship, "a living sacrifice."

Also quoting New Testament phrases, poet Barendrecht wrote this unrhymed verse text, his first hymn, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1975. Educated at Grand Valley State University and Calvin College, both in Grand Rapids, Barendrecht is a writer and has served as editor for several Christian publications. He was cofounder and editor of the
Christian literary magazine For the Time Being (1970-1978) and is currently director of business and communication of the Grand Rapids Area Ministries and editor of Grace Notes.

Liturgical Use:
As a parting hymn at the close of worship.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

Psalter Hymnal editor Emily R. Brink (PHH 158) wrote HESSEL PARK for the Barendrecht text in 1976; the text and tune were first published in For the Time Being. The tune is named for the Hessel Park Christian Reformed Church, Champaign, Illinois, where Brink was music director while teaching at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

HESSEL PARK consists of two long melodic units, each with its own pattern of dramatic rising phrases and descents to the tonic. Sing this tune in unison at a moderate pace with a large organ plenum as supporting cast.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook


Media
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