Herb Brokering has entered eternal rest. I confess that I despise his "Earth and All Stars," but have a soft spot in my heart for the piled up images of "Thine the Amen."
I don't like "Earth and All Stars" either, what with it's loud boiling test tubes and all - and frankly don't care much for "Thine the Amen," either. But what I like or don't like is really beside the point.
Herb Brokering was a faithful pastor who worked tirelessly to serve God and the church for many years. His contributions are significant and there's no doubt his voice and perspective will be missed in Lutherandom.
Have to say...I loved "Earth and All Stars". Our kids used to sing it with the other Lutheran School children when we lived in Iowa. And as a chemist I particularly liked "the loud boiling test tubes" verse. It's OK--just more evidence that I never was confessional Lutheran material. ;)
You're kidding, right? EAAS has a lot of company in the doggerel category. I found the following looking for info on it, which is amusing:
"If you have trouble with “Earth and All Stars” you are obviously thinking about the words. Sing faster and don’t think till it’s over. Then try not to laugh.
"As for “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” (by Lesbia Scott??? What were her parents thinking?) I tend to get distracted by my own ‘improvements’ to the Olde Englishe atmosphere of trains and lanes:
A hymn on vocation it may be, but it's soooooo 1960ish that I can't abide it. It's right up there with being asked to break into small groups for discussion of this or that - Goodness! When will somebody BURY the 60's?????
In any case, Pastor Keith, compare EAALS to a "classic" Lutheran hymn on vocation - the 2nd verse of Lord, Thee I Love:
Yea, Lord, twas thy rich bounty gave My body, soul, and all I have in this poor life of labor. Oh, grant that I in every place May glorify Thy lavish grace And serve and help my neighbor. Let no false doctrine me beguile, Let Satan not my soul defile, Give strength and patience unto me To bear my cross and follow thee: Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, My God and Lord, Forsake me not! I trust thy Word.
10 comments:
I, too, will praise Him with a New Song.... :-)
I don't like "Earth and All Stars" either, what with it's loud boiling test tubes and all - and frankly don't care much for "Thine the Amen," either. But what I like or don't like is really beside the point.
Herb Brokering was a faithful pastor who worked tirelessly to serve God and the church for many years. His contributions are significant and there's no doubt his voice and perspective will be missed in Lutherandom.
Memory eternal.
Have to say...I loved "Earth and All Stars". Our kids used to sing it with the other Lutheran School children when we lived in Iowa. And as a chemist I particularly liked "the loud boiling test tubes" verse. It's OK--just more evidence that I never was confessional Lutheran material. ;)
Oh...and may his memory be eternal.
"The East German Ministry of Culture presented him with a peacemaking award."
It would be interesting to know what was behind that little bauble.
"Earth and All Stars" always makes me laugh and always takes me back to the first time I heard it.
I am curious as to why the dislike for "Earth and All Stars" - is it not simply a hymn on vocation?
You're kidding, right? EAAS has a lot of company in the doggerel category. I found the following looking for info on it, which is amusing:
"If you have trouble with “Earth and All Stars” you are obviously thinking about the words. Sing faster and don’t think till it’s over. Then try not to laugh.
"As for “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” (by Lesbia Scott??? What were her parents thinking?) I tend to get distracted by my own ‘improvements’ to the Olde Englishe atmosphere of trains and lanes:
…and one was hanged
and one was shot
and one was fried on a griddle hot
and however they died it hurt a lot
and I want to be one too."
from this worthwhile discussion at:
http://www.getreligion.org/?p=104
A hymn on vocation it may be, but it's soooooo 1960ish that I can't abide it. It's right up there with being asked to break into small groups for discussion of this or that - Goodness! When will somebody BURY the 60's?????
In any case, Pastor Keith, compare EAALS to a "classic" Lutheran hymn on vocation - the 2nd verse of Lord, Thee I Love:
Yea, Lord, twas thy rich bounty gave
My body, soul, and all I have
in this poor life of labor.
Oh, grant that I in every place
May glorify Thy lavish grace
And serve and help my neighbor.
Let no false doctrine me beguile,
Let Satan not my soul defile,
Give strength and patience unto me
To bear my cross and follow thee:
Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord,
My God and Lord,
Forsake me not! I trust thy Word.
Yes, but "Alleluia, Jesus is Risen" is wunderbar. It's the same melody as EAAS--but this hymn is worthy of much robust singing.
Rich Futrell
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