‘O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.’

 Psalm 96:1

 Like all literature, the words Christians use in worship reflect the times in which they were written and often, as language changes, the words of hymns can become old fashioned, even archaic. Hymn and song writing needs to marry together the musical, the poetic, and the social and theological concerns of the community in which it lives and grows. The words not only need to make sense but have some theological nourishment in them. A hymn has to have something worth saying and singing, even if it’s only two lines long.

 Songs in Season gladly acknowledges the beauty of music that has sustained Christian communities long enough to become familiar. It offers fresh words to that music while remaining faithful to the witness of the Scriptures and the foundational doctrines of the universal Church.

I am sure that those who sing these hymns will find their faith and understanding enriched. – Revd Dr D’Arcy Wood

Rod Horsfield has dedicated his life to Christian communities and the people who lead and serve them. He has been a parish minister in rural and city parishes, an educator, Principal of a Training College, theatre actor, backyard beekeeper, poet, preacher and performer. He is a passionate advocate for the gathered congregation as the foundation of the Church’s presence and mission in society and for their recovery of worship that is the ‘full, conscious and active participation of the people’.