Why I Wrote The Little Hymnal

Preaching the Gospel isn’t reserved just for the pulpit. More often than not, it’s the arts that touch our daily lives most deeply, becoming unexpected means of grace. After all, our liturgies are inherently poetry, and the Psalms were our very first songbook.

The Christian tradition boasts a rich repertoire of hymns, and these melody lines—like the tune to "Amazing Grace"—live deep in our collective imagination. We hum them without even thinking.

During times of crisis, if we pay attention, inspiration opens a window toward wisdom and hope. That is the soil from which The Little Hymnal: An Ecumenical Songbook grew. By pairing fresh, modern texts with familiar, beloved tunes, these hymns give voice to the Gospel in a way that speaks directly to our world today—addressing immigration, climate change, and our expanding understanding of the universe.

I felt compelled to write these verses so that individuals and faith communities could articulate the heart of Christ's teachings: honoring the divine image in every person, standing in solidarity with the marginalized, and embracing the real cost of discipleship. My deepest hope is that these song lyrics serve as a signal that new life is on the horizon.

Ash & Creed Press is making the hymnal available in a print edition and also as a collection of PowerPoint files and a Word document for congregational use. The files make it easy to project lyrics onto sanctuary screens. Go to The Little Hymnal page by clicking on the link below, and you’ll be able to download a sample pack of the PowerPoints and Word document.

Here’s a verse from the hymn Arise, O Church (TLH 9. Melody: “O Beautiful, For Spacious Skies”):

Let justice roll like living streams through hills and vales of time.
And so, bring in the Gospel dream that we may be a sign.
A signature of God’s own hand now forming us anew:
Bring peace to all in every land, compassion that is true.

Click here to learn more about The Little Hymnal today.

Rev. Kenn Storck
August 12, 2026