Quick review: hymn tunes have names and meter (which is the number of syllables in each line). Look up the tune name in the alphabetical index in the back of the hymnal, then look in the metrical index for different tunes using that meter.

Using “Take Up Your Cross” as an example, look at LM (Long Meter) tunes other than erhalt uns herr, tunes that your community might know. From the list of page numbers next to the LM tune listings, start with the first one and look at it. Sing the words of “Take Up Your Cross” to that tune instead of the text printed with it.

Yes, sing it aloud; it’s the only way you can spot awkwardness and avoid accents that fall on the wrong syl-LA-ble. Not every LM tune fits every LM text! You don’t want to choose too upbeat a tune for a calm, thoughtful text, nor a slow, thoughtful tune for a vigorous text.

Then sing through the next tune. And the next. If you don’t find a tune you like, try a different hymnal. After awhile, you’ll start recognizing the tunes by their names, which speeds up the process somewhat.

Almost all communities know old hundredth, so for the sake of example, try singing “Take Up Your Cross” to the old hundredth tune. Works okay? All the verses? Cool. You have just added another text to your community’s repertoire, on a tune that your community already knows!

Once you’ve found an appropriate tune, you can use a music notation program, such as Finale or Sibelius, to put the desired text into the new tune, then add it to your worship aid. Or in a small community, you might simply play a full verse of the chosen new tune first, as an introduction, before the assembly sings the new text. (That’s also the one time when a words-only worship aid works.)

Sometimes there just isn’t an alternative tune in a particular meter. But most of the time what’s in the back of the hymnal can be a terrific resource for expanding your community’s text repertoire!