Current Denominational Hymnals

Baptist Hymnal, 1991
Convention Press
127 9th Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee 37234
This hymnal was published for Southern Baptist churches. The editor was Wesley L. Forbis. This is a general collection of contemporary, classical, and traditional hymns, contemporary and traditional gospel songs, renewal songs/choruses, and ethnic hymnology.

Celebration Hymnal [Songs and Hymns for Worship] (1997)
Word Music/Integrity Music
The Celebration Hymnal [Songs and Hymns for Worship] is a non-denominational hymnal edited by Tom Fettke and Published by Word Music/Integrity Music in 1997. The hymnal is one of the most comprehensive collections of praise and worship music yet published. Although there is a smattering of traditional gospel songs and a few "main-line" hymns (i.e., "Holy, Holy, Holy"), the main thrust of the hymnal is in the direction of praise and worship music. Many entries have arranged accompaniments with modulations. Also scattered throughout the hymnal are a variety of worship aids such as responsive readings.

Chalice Hymnal (1995)
Chalice Press
P.O. Box 179
St. Louis, MO 63166-0179
The Chalice Hymnal is the hymnal for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) published by Chalice Press in 1995. The hymnal contains a broad range of representative hymns from historic hymns to contemporary. with a significant number by contemporary "main-line" hymnists such as Brian Wren, F. Pratt Green, Ruth Duck, Carl Daw, Jr., etc. Of particular importance to the editors was inclusive language and the hymns generally reflect appropriate language changes to traditional hymns. The overall organization follows that of many new hymnals being published today: musical refrains, scripture, prayers, etc., scattered among the hymns.

Hymnal 1982
The Church Hymnal Corporation
800 Second Avenue
New York, New York 10017
The Hymnal 1982 is the hymnal for The Episcopal Church in the United States (The Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church) and is the successor (revision) of the Hymnal 1940. Guided by the Standing Commission on Church Music and published in 1985 by the Church Hymnal Corporation, the hymnal covers the broad range of Christian hymnody from the remote past to the present time (at least to about 1982). There are several edition of The Hymnal including an accompanist's edition (which has full keyboard accompaniments to all the hymns) and a pew edition which omits the accompaniments on many hymns (melody only). Both editions contain a comprehensive body of service music indicated by S1-S288. The hymnal is arranged according to the Church Year. Comprehensive indexes are included in both editions. However, the pew edition has no index of meters. Of particular importance to the editors was inclusive language and the hymns generally reflect appropriate language changes to traditional hymns.

Lutheran Book of Worship (1978)
Augsburg Publishing House
Minneapolis, MN
'Lutheran Book of Worship' (1978) is the most recent hymnal of the Inter-Lutheran Commission on Worship (Lutheran Church in America, The American Lutheran Church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod), Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis. This hymnal has influenced [has influenced a number of hymnals of the past decade]. 'The Hymnal Companion to the Lutheran Book of Worship' by Marilyn Kay Stulken (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981) is a particularly valuable reference for hymns of all traditions. (SWU)

New Century Hymnal (1995)
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115
'The New Century Hymnal' (1995) is the official hymnal of the United Church of Christ.
In 1977 the General Synod XI of the UCC directed that a new official hymnal be created that used inclusive language. A broad selection process and careful scrutiny of metaphors and pronouns ensured that the texts would speak to all people equally. Numerous ancient texts were newly translated. This hymnal contains many international texts. Many tune arrangements include guitar chord notations.

Presbyterian Hymnal [Hymns, Psalms, & Spiritual Songs] (1990)
Westminster/John Knox Press
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396
The hymnal for the Presbyterian Church, USA. The hymnal uses inclusive language and [is sensitive to the diverse nature of the church. There is a Psalter (although not complete) and extensive examples of "world hymnody." In fact, this hymnal has more examples of world hymnody than any other standard American denomination hymnal published by 1998. (WDL)

Psalter Hymnal (1987)
CRC Publications
2850 Kalamazoo SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49560
The hymnal for the Christian Reformed Church. The 'Psalter Hymnal' contains metrical versions of all 150 Psalms as well as metrical versions of other Biblical passages. In addition, there are hymns for various occasions.

RitualSong (1996)
GIA Publications, Inc.
7404 South Mason Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60638
This hymnal for the Roman Catholic church is a comprehensive worship resource. It includes liturgy for Hours, Rites, and Mass, and over 500 general hymn texts. The book also contains more settings of Psalms and Canticles than any other published hymnal. Many of the texts are found in no other source. Hundreds of texts are set to plainsong melodies.

Sing To The Lord (1993)
Lillenas Publishing Company
Kansas City, MO 64141
Sing to the Lord is the new hymnal for the Nazarene Church published by Lillinas Publishing Company in 1993. Edited by Ken Bible, the hymnal contains predominantly gospel songs from the 19th and 20th century with some instances of historic hymns and newer praise and worship music. An "Index of Worship Sequences" features two or more hymns with the same theme which could be used as hymn medleys.

United Methodist Hymnal (1989)
The United Methodist Publishing House
201 8th Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
'The Methodist Hymnal' (1989) is the hymnal for The Untited Methodist Church. Although the hymnal includes a basic core of the well-known classical hymns from the English, German, Scandinavian, Welsh, Latin, Greek and North American traditions, much new hymnody is also included, particularly African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American, Native American, and others. There are also Canticles with spoken or sung responses and 100 Psalms.

Worship the Lord (1989)
Warner Press, Inc.
Anderson, Indiana 46018
Worship the Lord is a hymnal for the Church of God published in 1989 by Warner Press, Inc. This new hymnal contains a balance of traditional Church of God gospel hymns ("Heritage Hymns") as well as some newer (20th century) gospel songs, praise and worship music, as well as some Spanish language hymns.

Hymnal [A Worship Book] (1992)
Brethren Press
Elgin, Illinois
Hymnal [A Worship Book] is the hymnal for the Church of the Brethren, the General Conference Mennonite Church, and the Mennonite Church in North America. Edited by Rebecca Slough and published by the Brethren Press in 1992, the hymnal contains a comprehensive body of Anabaptist and Pietist hymnody spanning the past and reaching into the present. Diverse musical styles are represented including traditional chorales, ancient plainsong, 19th- and 20th-century gospel songs, an impressive selection of American folk hymnody and African-American spirituals, as well as some newer praise and worship music.

Worshiping Church (1991)
Hope Publishing Company
Carol Stream, Illinois 60187
The Worshipping Church is a non-denominational hymnal edited by Donald P. Hustad and published by Hope Publishing Company in 1990. The hymnal is intended for a broad range of worshippers with diverse musical tastes. Consequently, there are representative hymns from almost every tradition and historical period including praise and worship music. There is a definite emphasis on "folk-like" music, which as the Introduction to the hymnal states, "...with the potential to become accepted by a congregation." The overall organization follows that of many new hymnals being published today: scripture, prayers, poems, etc., scattered among the hymns. There are extensive companion volumes.


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