TIP of the day: matching hymns to scripture

MJ. Smith

1. The following resources are especially useful for matching scripture to scripture readings. Note some are in Vyrso and therefore have limited linkage options.

• Scifres, Mary J., and David L. Bone. Prepare! 2014-2015: An Ecumenical Music & Worship Planner. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2014.
• Scifres, Mary J., and David L. Bone. The United Methodist Music & Worship Planner 2014–2015. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2014.
• Spencer, Donald A. Hymn and Scripture Selection Guide: A Cross-Reference Tool for Worship Leaders. Revised and expanded edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1993.
• Vincent, Charles, D. J. Wood, and John Stainer, eds. The Hymnal Companion to the Book of Common Prayer with Accompanying Tunes. Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged. London; New York; Bombay; Calcutta: Longmans Green, and Co., 1914.

For the all except the Spencer resource, one must work from the lectionary date containing the passage to the recommended hymns.

2. The Passage Guide has a Music section that covers a limited number of resources. For illustration purposes, I am assuming that you are on a lectionary and wish to open the Passage Guide from the Lectionary.

3. Notice that  only two of the four resources originally listed are selected - the omitted resources are Vyrso resources. Note that your monographs of hymn texts are not included.

4. To create a more comprehensive list, one must build a collection of your resources that include hymns or psalters. My collection depends upon mytags. Build a collection and include it in your customized Passage Guide. A reasonable collection rule as a starting point is: "title:hymn OR topic:hymn"

5. With the Passage Guide including your collection of hymn text you get significantly more results ... with more false positive because a collection runs a simple search for the reference passage.