ALTONA, MB
It was total mayhem at Second Altona Mennonite Church this week after Pastor Susan called for Hymn 67.
“I should have waited until the kids were dismissed for Children’s Church,” said Susan. “As soon as I said Six Seven there were hoots and hollers from all the young people and I thought suddenly we’d gone Pentecostal.”
Susan tried to soldier on with the hymn, but there was just too much commotion.
“The parents tried to get the kids under control,” said Susan. “But I guess they’d never seen them that enthusiastic about church before so they let it slide.”
It was the first time anyone under the age of 70 had actually picked up a hymnal.
“Please turn in your hymn books to hymn number Six Seven,” said Susan. “That’s all I said and things were out of control after that.”
A new edition of the Voices Together hymnal is set for publication this fall, which deletes hymn 67 completely.
“Funny, we couldn’t get them to return 606 to its rightful place, but they’re so quick to toss 67,” said Susan.
The new hymnal will feature all the Sam hymns but each one after 66 will be bumped up one number.
“Kind of like skipping floor 13 on the elevator,” said Susan. “I’m actually asking them to too hymn 69 while they’re at it.”