In the Lutheran Church, there are few statements that hold as much weight as the Apostles' Creed. Martin Luther wrote that The Apostles' Creed "sets forth all that we must expect and receive from God; in short, it teaches us to know him perfectly." [Martin Luther, "Large Catechism," ed. Robert Kolb and Timothy Wengert]. It is rumored that Saint Augustine once said that the one who sings, prays twice; then to sing the creed is to proclaim it and pray it—twice. I propose to craft a hymn sing centered around the text of the Apostles' Creed. The goal of this Hymn Sing is to illuminate the creed in a way that a sermon alone could not.
The format of said Hymn Sing would be to read a segment of each article of the Creed, then sing it. The proposed format is such:
Opening Hymn Come Join the Dance of Trinity ELW 412
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth,
Praise to the Lord arr.Distler
(Chantry 264)
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
Of the Father’s Love Begotten ELW 295
Verse 1, Solo; 2-3, choir; 4-5, All
I believe He suffered under Pontius Pilate.
Ah, Holy Jesus arr. J. Ferguson
AFB Choirbook
I believe He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.
Out of the Depths arr. Schutz
Luther C-114
I believe He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Ride on King Jesus arr. Hogan
St. Olaf C-1984
OR
Crown Him with Many Crowns ELW 855
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
Come, Holy Ghost, G. P. Palestrina
Our Souls Inspire The Parish Choirbook
Luther B-4 (p.62)
I believe in the holy catholic church, and in the communion of saint
For All the Saints ELW 422
Verses 1-4 Ferguson’s Setting
(On Order)
I believe in the forgiveness of sins,
Wondrous Love arr. P Christiansen
AFB Choir Book
I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
Panis Angelicus E. Barnum
Photcopied Manuscript
Amen.
Hallelujah, Amen (Judas Maccabeus) Handel
CLC Library
Sending Hymn We All Believe in One True God ELW 411
Verse 1, Choir The Parish Choirbook
Luther B-4 (p.62)
I also propose that a Psalm be sung or read in between the second and third articles with prayers of intercession. Exegetical homilies will occur before each petition and may include the reading of Martin Luther's explanation of the article.
It is imperative that a Confessing Christian learn the Apostles' Creed, but it is more important that each Christian understand the creed in light of other material. Without the another point of view, faith becomes stagnant.
