Today is the first Sunday in Lent and the American folk tune 'What Wondrous Love' was my sermon hymn at Reconciliation Christian Church in Orange, NJ. This also happens to be the first Sunday we heard our newly installed Conn 652 3 M/P organ. An oddity of course - a horseshoe console mated to an early 20th century tracker case (alas, now only a glorified speaker baffle). Nonetheless, this piece of vintage analog equipment produces a warm, full sound conducive to congregational singing.
The conjoining of text and tune is in my mind 'meta-theological' - conveying profound truth without delving into 'religious technicalities' .
This improvisation is offered in a similar spirit as we begin our Lenten journey.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, that caused the lord of life
to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
to lay aside his crown for my soul.
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme I will sing.
And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
and when from death I'm free, I'll sing on.
And when from death I'm free I'll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
and through eternity I'll sing on.
