Lutheran Blood Sport

In 1996, I attended a choral concert at Skoglund Center in Northfield, where the choirs of Augsburg, Concordia, Gustavus, Luther & St. Olaf all performed. The concert program was titled "F. Melius  Christiansen 125th Anniversary Concert". We in the audience, however, were fully aware of the true nature of the gathering - a battle of choirs, a.k.a. "Lutheran Blood Sport". (if the name F. Melius is not familiar to you, you're probably not a good candidate for this post.)

Most college rivalries are rooted in athletic contests. But we Lutherans leave that trivial pursuit to the Catholics: St. John's vs St. Thomas, St. Scholastica vs. St. Catherine's. We understand where the true test of excellence plays out: Concert Choirs on risers. While other schools batter themselves on the gridiron or the backboards, Lutheran schools do battle with hymns. "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence"; "Wake, Awake"; "Lost in the Night"; Randall Thompson's "Alleluia"; F. Melius' "O Day Full of Grace" ...

Audience listening in hushed silence with tears flowing. If you think Scandinavians are a stoic bunch, attend a choir concert. At concert end, the audience rises as one with rapturous cheers and clapping for their champions. No experience quite like a well tempered choir concert.

A Christmas gift to you. Experience it. Turn up the volume.

Click HERE for Kurt Bestor's "Prayer of the Children" composed in anguish over the genocide in Kosovo. Performed by the Nordic Choir. If this does not bring a tear to your eye, you should go back to your football game.

Can you hear the prayer of the children?
On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry
Turning heavenward toward the light

Crying Jesus*, help me
To see the morning light-of one more day
But if I should die before I wake,
I pray my soul to take

Can you feel the hearts of the children?
Aching for home, for something of their very own
Reaching hands, with nothing to hold on to,
But hope for a better day a better day

Crying Jesus*, help me
To feel the love again in my own land
But if unknown roads lead away from home,
Give me loving arms, away from harm

Can you hear the voice of the children?
Softly pleading for silence in a shattered world?
Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate,
Blood of the innocent on their hands

Crying Jesus*, help me
To feel the sun again upon my face,
For when darkness clears I know you're near,
Bringing peace again

Dali cujete sve djecje molitive?
(Croatian translation:
'Can you hear all the children's prayers?')
Can you hear the prayer of the children?

(*note: Originally, the song was written with the lyrics “Crying Jesus…” Bestor now recommends substituting the words “Crying softly…” enabling people to subconsciously substitute “Jesus, Allah, Yahweh, etc.” This way, the song's universal message of love will be felt without any barriers or limitations.) 

Read the Story Behind the Prayer of the Children.

Copyright © 2018 Dave Hoplin