Singing a Liberating Word: A Night of Hymns with Jan Lindholm
March 9, 2016 By: Joe McGurn
On March 8th, Salem State University presented another of its Writer Series events, which featured Professor Jeannette (Jan) Lindholm, PhD. This event, however, was not the standard event of an audience sitting and listening to the reading of poetry or fiction by an author followed by polite applause. Rather the Recital Hall was reminiscent of an old New England church service that might well have included a teacher, a preacher, sacred hymns, music, and a congregation. The teacher and preacher parts were both played by Professor Lindholm. Pianist David Pike, who, on Sundays, plays piano at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Rockport, Massachusetts, accompanied by Dr. Lindholm. Professor Lindholm’s background includes a Master of Theological Studies at Boston University, a Masters of English Language and Literature from Indiana State University, and a PhD in English Language and Literature from the University of Minnesota. Her religious and literary skills are realized in her composition of religious hymns. She explained to the audience that the Bible informs the writer of what those hymns should be about. She demonstrated, however, that her hymns combine the contemplative with the contemporary. That is, her hymns, while religious in nature, address issues of feminism or social exclusion based upon sexual preferences. The Central Campus Recital Hall had a large crowd of students, professors, and guests. Audience members all received a stapled hymnal entitled, Singing a Liberating Word: A Feminist Take on Hymns with Jan Lindholm. These hymnals allowed the lecture to evolve into the singing of hymns by audience members, which was led by Professor Lindholm. Each hymn had a purpose in mind. Were they as inspirational as traditional hymns? It would take a while to discover the audience’s reaction to them. The first hymn in the booklet, Tell Again the Joyful Story, entertains jubilant lyrics concerning God from a feminine perspective.
Tell again the joyful story of a God who spins the world, stirs the colors of the rainbow, casts them into clouds she swirls, How she cheers each rising day, Flings the sunlight ray by ray, Dances in the morning’s rapture! Hear a promise in her laughter!
Professor Lindholm at times used a non-patriarchal noun, such as Love, as a substitution for the name God. This is made clear in the hymn, The Crumbs Left on the Table, a hymn concerning the last supper. Consider the third stanza of lyrics.
Will Love seek out such anguish to speak a word of peace and rescue hopes that languish in Love’s resumed defeats? Can Love console, abiding Within a dwelling place Where sorrows still abiding Conceal Love’s quiet grace?
Dr. Lindholm’s hymns are both reverential to ancient religious traditions and beliefs while, simultaneously addressing contemporary issues, such as feminism or sexual preference. Her final hymn, Hear the Spirit of Creation, seemed to capture the audience’s attention more than any other hymn before it. Almost everyone in the recital stood, no instruction needed, and sang as one
Hear the Spirit of creation Surging through each root and vein, Source of soul sprung inspiration, Word awakening heart and brain, rousing us to bold invention, acts of beauty, love, and praise; faith revealed without pretension, found in gesture, line, and phrase.
After the last hymn was sung, and the last “Amen” spoken, the audience still standing applauded, and cheered. Professor Lindholm stood on the stage smiling, and yes, it seemed that everyone in the audience came away inspired. Contributor's Note: Joe McGurn is a graduate student at Salem State and this is the second piece about the Writer Series that he has written for Red Skies. Be sure to read his other article here: https://redskiesmagazinessu.wordpress.com/2016/02/16/caroline-leavitt-at-salem-state/