A number of years ago, I was president of the Senior Choir at the Lancaster Church of the Brethren. One my duties was to have someone give a prayer at the close of each rehearsal. However, I chose to do these myself. I began writing out my prayers beforehand. One of the first prayers I wrote was this one:
God of music, write a new song in our hearts. Let the melody of thy love flow forth in our lives. Let the harmony that structures our faith give purpose to our lives. Build a rhythm in our lives that pulsates with your spirit. Then add a lyric tthat tells of the wonderful things you have done for us.
We are your servants in this place. Let us share that new song with this congregation that others may catch the spirit. Let the waves of the sound go on and on forever.
Lord, our joy is tempered with concern for some among us who are ill. Bring healing into their lives. Others have concerns that are sometimes overwhelming. Bring peace to their hearts. All these favors we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
Later that evening, the ministers of music, Bill and Sue Lain, asked me if I ever considered writing hymns. I said "No, I hadn't," but the idea intrigued me. I pondered the notion, and began re-writing that prayer in poetic form. What I eventually came up with was the hymn that follows:
When I wrotethis hymn , I had this quote from Jeremiah in mind, But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." Jeremiah 31:33. The phrase, "Write a New Song on our Hearts," appears at the beginning of the 3rd line in each stanza. Collectively, what follows in each verse tells the story of the Christ event. That is the new song that God writes on our hearts. The first two lines of each verse use the various aspects of music as a metaphor for how we might live out the song in our own lives.
I originally chose Beethoven's ODE TO JOY as the hymn tune. In the summer of 2002, this hymn was chosen by Carl Doubleday, organist at Milwood United Methodist Church, Kalamazoo, MI to be used in a program to honor the minister of music, Nancy Elizabeth Helchman for twenty years of service at that church. Mr. Doubleday wrote a new hymn tune for the hymn which he entitled, NANCY ELIZABETH. I have not gotten his permission to use that tune on this site, so I have included the Beethoven tune.
God of love and God of music, teach us how to sing thy song.
Let it flow from deep within us, as we sing it all day long.
Write a new song on our hearts. Jesus comes to us today.
He was born in humble stable. He will live to endless day.
May the melody flow freely in our living of these days.
Let the sweetness of the music sound his everlasting praise.
Write a new song on our hearts. Jesus taught us how to pray.
He has set the great example; How to live from day to day.
May the harmony give structure to our faith and keep us strong.
Show us how to live together; to thy family we belong.
Write a new song on our hearts. Jesus taught us how to die.
Gave his life for us a ransom. "God have mercy!" is our cry.
May the rhythm of creation beat as one with your desire.
Send your Pentecostal Spirit. Set our very souls on fire.
Write a new song on our hearts. Jesus rose up from the grave.
He has gone again to Glory. He will all creation save.
Give us words to share with others. May we do our very best.
May the music travel onwards to the East and to the West.
Write a new song on our lips. Jesus, teach us what to say.
Savior, we will ever love thee as we march to endless day.
Original hymn-text by Jay D Weaver
Copyright (c) 1992 by Jay D Weaver
Hymn Tune ODE TO JOY by Ludwig Von Beethoven