Recording

We are at the Dummerston Church recording a hymn to be used online at the service Sunday. The procedure is this: one by one, we go up to stand where Mary Westbrook-Geha, our organist, has prepared an iPad where Mary has recorded herself playing the hymn on the organ. The hymn is I Sing the Mighty Power of God, which is #68 in the Pilgrim Hymnal. The text is by famous Congregational hymn writer, Isaac Watts (1678-1748).  The tune is ELLACOMBE from the Wirtemberg Gesangbuch (1784). You put on a pair of earbuds which allows you to hear the organ. You position yourself so that your face is centered in a little window. You push the start button and see a 4-3-2-1- countdown and the organ plays a brief introduction. Then you sing the hymn along with the organ - each one singing their part (Bass for me, Alto for Ellen) - three stanzas in all. Here is the text:

1 I sing the mighty power of God
that made the mountains rise,
that spread the flowing seas abroad
and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
the sun to rule the day;
the moon shines full at his command,
and all the stars obey.


2 I sing the goodness of the Lord
that filled the earth with food;
he formed the creatures with his word
and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how your wonders are displayed,
where'er we turn our eyes,
if we survey the ground we tread
or gaze upon the skies.


3 There's not a plant or flower below
but makes your glories known,
and clouds arise and tempests blow
by order from your throne;
while all that borrows life from you
is ever in your care,
and everywhere that we can be,
you, God, are present there.

On Sunday, all these individual recordings will be blended into a choir. We did this last Sunday and  people loved it.  Probably 60 or more people are usually tuning in.

Nancy Tierra recording the hymn