Martha Whitmore Hickman

From the 284 hymns, songs, praise choruses--some new, some old, some from other countries and cultures--I chose 52 on which to base the reflections which make up this book. Some pieces, though newly-discovered, were already personal favorites ("I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry"--which goes through the cycle of life with particular imagination and grace). Some evoked memories for me of personal times or circumstances ("A Mother Lined A Basket"--As a child I had a china baby doll who came to me in a wicker basket, and, being a child of Sunday School, I named the doll Moses). Some seemed to relate particularly to events and dilemmas of our time ("Here Am I"--in which we are faced with the contrast of God's presence with the poor, and our own sometime indifference.)

Why 52? So that choir directors, if they chose, can use one of these pages as a devotional with which to begin choir practise, or to introduce a new song. On Sunday, the director may read the reflection to the congregation, as preparation for their singing it together.

Each of the 52 entries begins with the title of the song and is followed by a related Scripture quotation. Then comes the reflection on the song--perhaps on its varied meanings or on the emotions or memories or hopes it evokes. The reflection is followed by a brief prayer.

"The Faith We Sing" was published in December of 2000 and is widely used and appreciated. Don't be confused by the numbering system. Though intended for wide interdenominational use, the book was published by The United Methodist Church's Abingdon Press, and in order not to confuse its page numbers with those of the official United Methodist Hymnal (they are often used together), which goes to page 962, the songs in "The Faith We Sing" are all numbered in the 2000 range, beginning with 2001 and going on from there. An ingenious system, though surprising at first.

The book is published in many editions: a pew edition, a choir edition (with additional choral parts), pianist edition, accompanist edition, an edition for guitar players and praise bands, a worship planner edition which has commentary on each song, a large-type edition, a braille edition and several electronic editions. The book has been very popular in its several editions. By the time you read this there may be more!