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Retiring Dvorak to Continue Brown Hymnal Tradition
CROMWELL, CT (March 20, 2006) - The Brown Hymnal Society will continue, even
though its unofficial leader, Bob Dvorak, is retiring as superintendent
of the East Coast Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
"I'm the music director, chairman of the board, and the only board
member," Dvorak quips. The Brown Hymnal Society has no formal
organization, but the name is attached to those who gather to sing songs
from the brown hymnal as well as other older hymns.
Dvorak recently led hymn sings in three California cities that attracted
275 people. He travels annually to California, Minneapolis, and Pilgrim
Pines Conference Center in Swanzey, New Hampshire, to lead the hymn
sings. He also has led the singing at the last two Feasts in Keystone,
Colorado, as well as "wherever I'm invited."
Some Swedish hymns are sung in the native tongue, as well, even though
they are not in the hymnal, but Dvorak says, "It's a Swedish that would
make any true speaker blush." A standard is "Let a Little Sunshine In"
by J.A. Hultman. That song led Hultman to be known as "The Sunshine Singer."
Evangelical Covenant Church hymnals generally are referred to by their
colors. "The Covenant Hymnal" was brown and published in 1931. It was
replaced by "The Hymnal," which was green, and was eventually followed
by red and the current blue editions.
"You don't have to be able to sing" to participate in the hymn sings,
Dvorak laughingly insists. "It's a plentiful noise, and I hope a joyful
noise.
"It's just having some fun with the old hymns that people like to sing,"
Dvorak continues. "We chuckle at ourselves a fair amount at this."
He notes, however, that the hymns were an important part of the
spiritual formation of those who come to sing. "They'll say, "We haven't
sung this one in a long time."
People of many ages participate in the sings. "It's interesting to me
that the younger persons who come to this are amazed when they see how
uninhibited the older people can be."
Dvorak started the hymn sings when he was pastor at Winnetka Covenant
Church, a Chicago suburb, where he has convened the Brown Hymnal Society
on numerous occasions. And, he says he will continue to lead the events
when asked.
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