The Church of Scotland is launching a new hymnary supplement called God Welcomes All during this year’s General Assembly.
The launch event will take place at St Cuthbert’s Church in Edinburgh on Sunday May 19 from 7-9pm, and will feature special guests who have songs included in the collection. Tickets are free but expected to go quickly.
God Welcomes All is the first addition to the Church Hymnary since the fourth edition (CH4) was launched in 2005. It is a collection of over 200 hymns and songs in a wide range of styles by writers from Scotland and around the world. The majority have been written in the last 20 years, including songs by well-known writers such as John Bell, Getty Music, Phil Wickham, Fischy Music, Shirley Erena Murray, Sinach and Rend Collective.
With a focus on hospitality and welcome, the collection includes songs based on scripture, for different parts of worship, and the Church year, and covering contemporary themes such as creation and the climate crisis, lament, healing, pilgrimage, ageing and dementia, migration, and reconciliation.
We are also forming a choir to help lead singing on the night. There will be a rehearsal on the afternoon of the event and online rehearsals on the evenings of 1st and 14th May. Singers should be able to read music. We will be in touch with all those who sign up for the choir with further details.
Reserve your place now to join in the singing from your seat, be part of the choir, or simply come along to listen.