The first two weeks we looked at the "One Army" theme and the priorities of "deepening our spiritual lives, uniting in prayer,identifying and developing leaders, and increasing self-support and self-denial." Take a look at those meetings and sermons here http://www.ustream.tv/channel/salvation-army-arlington .
This weeks the emphasis moves to "One Mission," and the calls are to "emphasize our integrated mission" and to "reach and involve youth and children." I looked for songs to fit into this concept I came upon a remarkable song in the songbook.
#864- Rise Up, O Youth! -- The literary devices in this hymn are outstanding. The stanzas/verses are sung from the perspective of non-youth. There are three options for understanding who is calling the youth in the verse in my opinion: older saints as in people with gray hair, the saints (as in the great cloud of witnesses), or the Lord ( who in the chorus is called upon for help).
The chorus comes in boldly with an unified answer from the youth for move "forward to the fight!"I think the greatest appeal if to imagine that youth=anyone Christian alive and breathing (and maybe I say this because I am 31 years old!), and the call comes from the great cloud of witnesses: Moses, Paul, Titus, John Chrysostom, Francis, Luther, Wesley, Fletcher, the Booths, Brengle, and my grandfathers (Roy Tompkins and Andy Miller). They are saying 'Raise up, O Youth!(even youth with gray hair), and in his name unsheathe thy sword."
The only problem is that this hymn has no tune that fits it well. The recommended tune is pilgrims, which is a bit slow drawn out. The metric index doesn't help much here either (11:10:11:10), it seems that all these hymn tunes have the same feel. No time to compose a good tune this week, we are off to Officers' Councils tomorrow. Maybe it could be a good response reading. In the meantime, maybe you can compose a good tune. If not choose "O Youth" to "leap to the frontiers of a stricken world."
1. Rise up, O youth! for mighty winds are stirring,Men’s hearts grow faint
through all the earth today;Evil, with evil everywhere conferring,Summons
its legions forth in dread array.
Hear then our answer: Lord,lead us on Fighting nor resting until thy war is won.
2.Deep in our hearts another voice is calling,Urgent, insistent sounds the
voice divine;Out in the darkness men are thickly falling;Go with the cross, it
is thy battle sign.
3.Forward, O youth! but first, in true submission,Bring
all thou hast and art to Christ, thy Lord;Take from his hand his glorious
commission,Rise then,and in his name unsheathe thy sword.
4.Arm then. O youth! the battle front increases.Leaping the frontiers of a
stricken world;Strive till the foes of God are dashed to pieces,Back with
their armies into darkness hurled.
Forward to the Fight,
Andy Miller III, Capt.
