Our church has been truly blessed with an amazing gift. For the past two weeks, we have been able to enjoy our new Steinway piano during worship. I have to say that I feel like the luckiest participant in the enjoyment of this new gift. I have always loved the fact that God gives us the opportunity to glean such pleasure from the act of worship. At First Baptist, I have been reminded of that week after week for two years of playing our magnificent Casavant organ. Now, we really have a piano to match!
Gordon and Sarah Herring have given so many generous gifts to our church and our community over the years. The gift of the new Steinway Model D is one that will continue to affect my daily life and our worship for a long time. With that in mind, I have dedicated an arrangement in their honor to commemorate the dedication of this new instrument.
I have spent a lot of time thinking about exactly what I wanted to play on this special day. Years ago, I began an arrangement of “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” to the tune OLD HUNDREDTH, but I have never completed it or felt completely settled with what I had started. Maybe this seems farfetched, but now I think it was waiting for this moment. Many of us grew up singing this hymn so much that it has possibly become monotonous and we no longer think about what we are singing. But this doxology is the perfect song of praise to give to God on an occasion like this Sunday.
Of course, it would not be a Shelton Ridge Love arrangement if I didn’t add a little bit of flare, but every note is intended to be a reflection of my thankfulness and praise to a wonderful and great God. The middle of the arrangement includes a call to praise by including the hymn “Sing Praise to God.” It is my desire that through this piece, we honor the Herrings for their generous gift and praise our God for whom this music is produced and from whom all these blessings flow.
– Shelton