The Global Choir is one of several choral groups at Minneapolis’ Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Since 2001 this small Choir has explored the vast landscape of sacred music from all over the world. It generally sings once a month at the 8:30 a.m. service in the Chapel and is directed by Barbara Prince, who serves in many capacities in the church. It includes members of the church’s regular choir and others regardless of age or experience. (I recently joined this Choir even though the last time I sang in a choir was nearly 60 years ago when I was a member of the Youth Choir at the First Methodist Church in Perry, Iowa.)
The Global Choir is one way that Westminster seeks to be in solidarity with her sisters and brothers around the world and to remind us in Minnesota that our Christian faith perspective is not the only one in the world. Another way is congregational and individual participation in our ongoing partnerships with churches and other organizations in Cuba, Cameroon and Palestine.
To illustrate this choral mission, here are the anthems from the Choir’s most recent appearance and from the forthcoming early worship service on February 16th.
On January 19th, the Global Choir sang Palestinian and Israeli anthems.
The Palestinian anthem, Truth Is Our Call, has the following lyrics:
- “Truth is our call and justice our claim. The will of our God is our vanguard and aim; the God of us all, of mercy and love, of freedom and peace for all of humankind.
- Refrain: We’ll strive and we’ll strive and we will not be still to lift all oppression with God’s help and will. We’ll raise high the banner of righteousness and truth, we’ll strive and we’ll strive and we will not be still.
- We shall not give in to fear or to hate; we will speak the truth and we’ll strive to be just. With love we will stir the conscience of the world; with patience and faith we’ll save our home and land.”
- Refrain.
Truth Is Our Call was composed by Rima Nasir Tarazi, a musician, an activist, a community leader and, above all, a humanist and a loving grandmother. After 1967, she started writing the lyrics for her compositions. Through those songs she documents the inhumane daily events taking place under the Israeli military occupation. She expresses the voice of Palestinian mothers, prisoners and children who all yearn for freedom, dignity and peace. Although Rima’s songs are about a dispossessed and suffering people, yet they are full of hope as they communicate the dreams and aspirations of the Palestinian people.
The Israeli anthem was Sim Shalom—Prayer for Peace. Here are its lyrics:
- “Grant us peace Thy most precious gift, O Thou eternal source of peace. Bless our country, that it may be a stronghold of peace. May contentment reign within its borders, bonds of friendship throughout the world. Plant virtue in every soul and love for Thy name in every heart. Give us peace.”
Sim Shalom (Song of Peace) was composed by Max Janowski (1912–1991), a composer of Jewish liturgical music, a conductor, choir director, and voice teacher. Born in Berlin, in his early 20’s he became head of the piano department at a music academy in Tokyo, Japan, but emigrated to the U.S. in 1937 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war he was the longtime music director at a synagogue in Hyde Park, near the University of Chicago.
Sim Shalom is dedicated to the U.S. African-American diplomat Ralph Bunche, who was awarded the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his work as the United Nations’ chief mediator in assisting Israel and its neighbors (Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria) in negotiating the 1949 Armistice Agreements that ended the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and established Armistice Demarcation Lines.
February 16, 2014
On February 16th in honor of U.S. black history month the Choir will sing an African-American spiritual and an anthem from Uganda.
The spiritual is “Who Will Be a Witness” with new words and music by Donald Moore, an Ohio-based composer, arranger, lyricist and author of over 800 sacred, secular, educational and pop choral works.[1] Its words are the following:
- “Who will be a witness, O my Lord? Who will be a witness, O my Lord? Who’ll be there beside me? Who’ll be there to guide me? Who will be a witness, O my Lord? I’m goin’ to heaven, want to do it right. I’m goin’ to heaven, I’ll be dressed in white.
- Who’ll be there to meet me? Who’ll be there to greet me? Who will be a witness, O my Lord? Don’t want to stumble, don’t want to fall. I’m goin’ to heaven when the roll is called. Heaven bells are ringin’. Saints are all a singin’. Who will be a witness, O my Lord? A witness, a witness, O my Lord. Who’ll be there beside me? Who’ll be there to guide me? Who’ll be there to meet me? Who’ll be there to greet me? Who will be a witness, O my Lord?”
The Ugandan anthem is “Come and Let Us Worship God,” which was composed by Cranmer Mugisha, a Bishop of the Church of Uganda, a “Jesus-loving, Bible-believing, Spirit-filled Anglican Church engaged in the mission of Jesus Christ in today’s world.” The anthem’s words are as follow:
- “Come and let us worship God, turn to serve the living Lord, move from where we are misled, do as ancient prophets said.
- Oh our living God, We, the creatures of your word, come to make our home in you, knowing that your word is true.
- Let us hear our Maker’s voice, and let Christ inform each choice.
- Sister women, brother men, let us turn to God again.
- Oh our living God, We, the creatures of your word, come to make our home in you, knowing that your word is true.
[1] Moore also is the President and CEO of Moore Racing Enterprises LLC, which maintains a competitive midget race-car team, and a smooth-jazz/greatest-hits solo performer.
One thought on “The Global Choir of Minneapolis’ Westminster Presbyterian Church”