Singing our way in San Jose!

I sat in the San Jose Civic auditorium this morning with my husband. We were attending the worship service of the 218 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA. There were a few wonderful songs such as "Bearing Witness and Following the Word into the World: In Christ Alone," written by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend. But lifted with these songs were several monstrosities.

Using the music of "Oh for a thousand tongues to sing," others in the auditorium sang words written by Mirian Therese Winter. She is a Catholic sister who sometimes writes songs in reference to the divine feminine. I did not sing.

How could those who love Jesus Christ sing"O for a world where everyone respects each other's ways, where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise. ... We welcome one world family and struggle with each choice that opens us to unity and gives our vision voice." as a substitute for:

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name."

Another song was "O God, we Raise Our Voices," written by Rev. W Robert Martin III. The music was "The Church's One Foundation,"written by Samuel S Wesley. So instead of singing:

The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

She is from every nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued."

Some sang:

O God, we raise our voices remembering our past
Brave times of valiant choices on which our hopes were cast.
But now we seek perspective for all the future holds,
Grant us a clear directive to fashion Christ -like goals

We live with vast divisions of race, and creed and view,
a time of dire revisions to what you'd have us do.
So let us seek a pathway that leads us from such night,
and puts us on a highway that guides us toward your light."

Many may find themselves needing to sing a verse from "The Church's One Foundation," which we often don't sing but which was included in the original hymn by Samuel J Stone.

The Church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord to defend,
To guide, sustain, and cherish,
Is with her to the end:
Though there be those who hate her,
And false sons in her pale,
Against both foe or traitor
She ever shall prevail.