Simple Gifts

The following is an abridged version of a sermon preached at Central Methodist Church Chippenham at the Folk Festival Service 25th May 2014

The hymn Lord of the dance – was written by English songwriter Sydney Carter in 1963.

From the moment he wrote it the hymn became popular, soon entering the standard Anglican collection Hymns Ancient and Modern and becoming a firm favourite of church congregations, folk camps and school assemblies.

According to Sydney Carter’s obituary in the Daily Telegraph in 2004:

“The hymn's success stems from two elements. It has a lively, catchy tune, adapted from an air of the American Shaker movement. But the optimistic lines "I danced in the morning when the world was begun/ and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun" also contain a hint of paganism which, mixed with Christianity, makes it attractive to those of ambiguous religious beliefs or none at all”

Carter himself admitted that in writing the hymn he had been partly inspired by the statue of Hindu god Shiva which sat on his desk; and, whenever he was asked to resolve the contradiction, between a Christian hymn and this Indian god he would declare that he had never tried to do so.

I am not going to get into a debate about the theology of “Lord of the dance” – though for many years the hymn was ignored by the Methodist Church. It wasn’t included in the 1981 book “Hymns & Psalms”. However, it has been include in our new book “Singing the faith”.

Personally, I’m not entirely convinced by what the hymn is trying to say. So why then have I included it this morning – apart from the reference to dance of course? I’ve included it because of the tune.

Again, according to Sydney Carter’s obituary, many who first heard the hymn “naively assumed that it must be several centuries old; but others detected a disturbing ambiguity beneath its Nonconformist inspiration.” But Carter wrote it in the 1960s and he used a tune written in America in the mid 19th century by Joseph Brackett a member of the Shaker Christian sect. The song was called “Simple Gifts”.

The song was largely unknown outside Shaker communities until Aaron Copland used its melody for the score of Martha Graham's ballet Appalachian Spring, first performed in 1944. Copland used "Simple Gifts" a second time in 1950 in his first set of Old American Songs for voice and piano, which was later orchestrated. Many people thought that the tune of "Simple Gifts" was a traditional Celtic one but both the music and original lyrics are actually the compositions of Brackett. "Simple Gifts" has been adapted or arranged many times since by folksingers and composers.

The song was composed in 1848 by Shaker Elder Joseph Brackett as an easy-to-learn tune for Shaker worship. Shakers were as vigorous in their worship as they were in their work. They were Christians who believed that Jesus would return to judge the world, so they had better be ready. Men and women were separated in Shaker villages and agreed to lead celibate lives. They lived simply, with few personal possessions.

Their workshops, which supported their villages, were famous for their creativity. They were not shy about sharing their products or their songs with the public, because the survival of their celibate church depended on recruiting new members.
The one time each week when everyone stopped working and men and women mingled was during worship, which involved singing and dancing that sometimes got so wild that outsiders gave the group its common name, Shakers.

The original words to Joseph Brackett’s tune are:

Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight
'Till by turning, turning we come round right.

This song for Shaker worship is perhaps not in the same league as a Charles Wesley hymn for theology! And yet the words suggest to me anyway something really important to the Christian faith the need to turn our lives around from sin. And also to recognise the gifts we have been given by God. And how in recognising those gifts, and accepting them, and using them, we will feel right with God.

Perhaps the most famous passage in the Bible that mentions gifts is that in 1 Corinthians 12 we heard read a moment ago.
The church Paul founded in Corinth clearly gave him concerns. Across 1 Corinthians, it is clear that Paul is concerned that this group of believers is divided over so many things. The divisions are in part due to what the BBC reporter Robert Peston might call “socio economic grounds”. In other words, there was division because some people were rich and others poor. Some were Greeks former pagans and others were Jewish. Then there were divisions about the treatment of the Lord’s Supper.

But perhaps the biggest division was over what are termed “spiritual gifts”. Or more accurately, there were divisions over how the spiritual gifts should be used.

Now I think it is important to realise that Paul recognised that within the church in Corinth, just as in other churches, and indeed in all communities, there was diversity. That is fine in his eyes. Paul realises that people will be different and will have different gifts. It is when the diversity leads to divisions that Paul is concerned.

Paul sees the different gifts within the church at Corinth as having been inspired by the Holy Spirit and these diverse gifts enrich the community in a God given way. Paul realises that having people with different callings and different life circumstances is all evidence of people having been blessed by the Holy Spirit.

Now, I need to say that in the passage from 1 Corinthians we’ve heard read, Paul is focusing specifically on what are often termed “spiritual gifts”. And throughout his writings Paul lists many examples. But it’s fair to say that these are not a full list. And as the Christian writer Paul Sampley points out in his commentary on 1 Corinthians, although Paul is discussing spiritual gifts specifically, the same is true about all we are granted to do as believers. Whether that takes place as some service for others or some kind of ministry or whether in a work context.

So, when I’m talking about gifts, I’m not just thinking of the spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues or gifts of healing. I’m thinking much wider than that.

Paul recognises that there are apportionments of gifts, servings of gifts and of workings of gifts:

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, 1 Cor 12 NRSV

When we look at a diverse group of people, we begin to see what Paul means. In this congregation today there will be many, many gifts. Some will be gifts of musicianship in order perhaps to lead worship and sing of God’s love. Others will be more practical such as a gift of woodworking. And in this town over the folk festival we will see evidence of many gifts. Now it may be that some of the people with gifts do not recognise them as coming from God. But their gifts are given from God. And even if they do not realise that their gifts are God given, if the gifts have produced happiness, laughter, joy and pleasure, then how cannot that be a gift from God? These things can be thought of as fruits of the spirit.

It is no accident that people have certain gifts. Paul tells us:

11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 1 Cor 12 NRSV

The Holy Spirit is the source of all gifts and the Holy Spirit allocates such gifts as the Holy Spirit chooses.
Paul also makes the point that whilst accepting the diverse allocation of gifts, whatever gifts one has been given, the gift is not given in order to vaunt oneself but the gifts are designed to serve the common good of the community:

7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good

That is a quite a challenge. I’m sure we can all think of examples of people who have been given a talent but who then use that gift in an abusive way or in a way that isn’t for the common good.

And in any case as I said earlier Paul reminds us that:

11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Therefore, no one should boast of having any particular gift, because the Spirit has doled gifts out as the Spirit sees fit.
Bringing this back to the Folk Festival. What strikes me is the sheer sense of fun and pleasure the performers had. I am sure there could be some Morris Dancers who have “diva” moments, but they are few and far between. What they do is for their enjoyment of course, but the gift they have for dancing and playing music serves no other purpose really but to bring pleasure to others. That is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

Likewise those who have been singing or performing. Yes there is enjoyment for oneself, but there is the bringing of pleasure to others.

Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain'd
To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight
'Till by turning, turning we come round right.


Post Script

After the service a church member told me how much "Lord of the dance" means to her. Firstly, she was at a student Christian conference in 1963 when Sydney Carter came and taught them his new hymn. And the lady met the man who would become her husband at the conference.

Then she said how on one occasion her four year old granddaughter had been with her in church and "Lord of the dance" was sung. Later that day Copland's "Appalacian Spring" was on Classic FM. The granddaughter said "Grandma it's the damp settee song" "What do you mean sweetheart?" "We sang it in church. I am the Lord of the damp settee"