As word spread through the denominational building that the new hymnal had arrived early, a celebratory flash mob formed in the atrium as staff and members of the Christian Reformed Church’s Board of Trustees held an impromptu hymn sing.
Lift Up Your Hearts: Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs is the first hymnal released by the CRC in 20 years.
“So much has changed in the past 20 years,” said Rev. Joyce Borger, worship and music editor at Faith Alive. “With more focus on social justice issues, creation care, authentic emotions, and global awareness, along with greater ethnic diversity, we are a different church. Songs need to be added to the existing repertoire of our churches to reflect these changes while maintaining the timeless classics we’ve grown to know and love.”
Lift Up Your Hearts is a joint production of both the CRC and the Reformed Church in America. In addition to the hardcover pew edition of Lift Up Your Hearts, digital editions of the complete hymnal and music and words for projection will be available at the end of August. A spiral edition of the complete hymnal will release later in May.
“This is a hymnal of the church for the church,” said Borger. “Our ultimate desire is that this collection be deep enough to give voice to our praises and laments, be both sung prayer and proclamation, and play a significant role in the faith formation of Reformed Christians old and young alike.”
About the Author
Gayla Postma retired as news editor for The Banner in 2020.
