RESOURCES FOR SPANISH, HISPANIC, AND LATINO
WORSHIP AND MUSIC TRAINING

MUSIC RESOURCES

  1. HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH MUSIC RESOURCES

    Several United Methodist publications provide history, commentary, and practical suggestions for incorporating this music in worship:

  2. HISPANIC RESOURCES CONTAINED IN THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
    1. Mil Voces Para Celebrar is an official hymnal of The United Methodist Church, not bilingual, but entirely in Spanish. It includes worship services, printed prayers, hymns, and other worship resources. It is of comparable size and content to The United Methodist Hymnal. Mil Voces Para Celebrar contains not only Hispanic and Spanish-language hymns from many nations, but also Spanish-language translations of many English-language hymns.
    2. Hispanic Hymns from The United Methodist Hymnal
      • 59 Mil Voces Para Celebrar (O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing) – also in Mil Voces Para Celebrar (MVPC)
      • 65 ¡Santo! ¡Santo! ¡Santo! (Holy, Holy, Holy)
      • 81 ¡Canta, Débora, Canta! This energetic hymn from Brazil has become the unofficial theme song of Methodist women in Brazil.
      • 107 La Palabra Del Señor Es Recta (Righteous and Just Is the Word of Our Lord)
        This psalm text comes from Cuba. Be careful to preserve the gentle syncopation of the melody that gives a 3 against 2 rhythm. Point out to the people that this hymn begins in minor, shifts to major, and returns to minor. Encourage the women of the choir and congregation to sing the two-part harmony.
      • 149 Cantemos al Señor (Let's Sing unto the Lord)—also in MVPC
        This Mexican hymn can be an exciting psalm of praise. It is especially conducive to accompaniment by guitars, maracas, hand clapping, or other rhythm instruments. Be sure to keep a strong accent on the downbeat.
      • 180 Jesús Es Mi Rey Soberano (O Jesus, My King and My Sovereign)—MVPC
        This Mexican hymn's text expresses comfort, hope, and commitment. Don't be surprised by the suddenness of the ending following the fermata in the last line.
      • 191 Jesus Loves Me—MVPC
        This favorite song of children includes a verse and refrain in Spanish.
      • 210 Toda la Tierra (All Earth Is Waiting)—MVPC
        This Advent hymn from Spain has a repetitive melody that help congregations quickly learn the Spanish.
      • 222 Niño Lindo (Child So Lovely)—MVPC
        This is a quiet, peaceful Christmas song from Venezuela. It is important to preserve the rhythmic pattern throughout this song, which in every measure consists of a triplet on beat one followed by a duplet on beat two. The use of different percussion instruments on beats one and two will enhance this rhythm.
      • 233 En el Frío Invernal (Cold December Flies Away)
        This Christmas carol comes from the Catalonian area of Spain. An interesting parallel might be drawn between portions of this text and that of "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming." Set the opening tempo so that the quicker moving notes of the ending are not too rushed.
      • 243 De Tierra Lejana Venimos (From a Distant Home)
        This is an Epiphany carol from Puerto Rico. One way of singing this hymn could have three soloists sing stanza one, and then a different soloist each sing stanza two, three, and four, with the congregation singing refrains after all stanzas. Have the congregation repeat stanza one and the refrain to conclude.
      • 279 Mantos y Palmas (Filled with Excitement)—MVPC
        This Mexican hymn conveys some of the excitement of the Palm Sunday entry into Jerusalem. It is effective with percussion instruments. Women should be encouraged to sing the parallel harmonies from the hymnal.
      • 305 Camina, Pueblo de Dios (Walk On, O People of God)— MVPC
        A strongly articulated bass line downbeat on one and four will contribute to the sense of walking with Christ to Calvary and beyond to Resurrection and salvation. Congregations will enter into the spirit of this hymn if the accompanists will build intensity at the end of each stanza as the melodic line rises and pushes them on into the refrain.
      • 313 Christo Vive (Christ Is Risen)
        This is a powerful Easter text with march-like music by Argentine composer Pablo Sosa.
      • 344 Tú Has Venido a la Orilla (Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore)—MVPC
        The English text of this hymn has become a favorite of many congregations, and their familiarity with the music may make it a good choice to introduce the singing of the Spanish text. The flowing melody is enhanced by the beautiful parallel harmonies in the women's voices. Guitar accompaniment is especially appropriate.
      • 356 Pues Si Vivimos (When We Are Living)—MVPC
        This hymn from Mexico is especially appropriate for funerals, memorial services, or in times of conflict or trouble. The light arpeggiation of the hymnal setting suggests guitar accompaniment. Many congregations will already know this music from having used it as the musical benediction of hymn 666, "Shalom to You."
      • 434 Cuando El Pobre (When the Poor Ones)—MVPC
        This hymn comes from the Roman Catholic Church in Spain, and it speaks of God's (and our) identification with the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the suffering of the world. Observe the subtle rhythmic change of the melody between verse and refrain, and encourage soprano and alto voices to sing in harmony.
      • 583 Sois la Semilla (You Are the Seed)—MVPC
        This is a joyous hymn from Spain with an evangelism theme, also appropriate for ordination, consecration, and commissioning.
      • 637 Una Espiga (Sheaves of Summer)—MVPC
        This Communion hymn from Spain is sung all over the world in many languages. It celebrates the unity all Christians share in the sacrament
    3. Hispanic and Spanish-Language Resources from The United Methodist Book of Worship
      • 188 Señor, Apiádate de Nosotros (O Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us) (Columbian)
      • 199 Come! Come! Everybody Worship!
        Includes Spanish translation of this Natalie Sleeth song.
      • 211 Christ Is Born
        A Christmas prayer with music by Raquel Mora Martínez, Mexican American, with instructions for percussion instruments.
      • 217 Remember that You Are Dust
        Short musical response by Skinner Chávez-Melo, Mexican, especially appropriate for Ash Wednesday imposition of ashes.
      • 266 Las Posadas (Service of Shelter for the Holy Family)
        Service for Advent from Mexico.
      • 280 A Christmas Eve Service of Las Posadas
      • 479 Prayer of Confession
        by Lydia S. Martinez, Hispanic, USA, 20th century
      • 511 Prayer For God's Reign (from Cuba)
      • 527 Prayer for the World and Its Peoples
        by Elizabeth Lopez Spence, USA
      • 534 Blessing for a Quinceañera (Girl Celebrating Fifteenth Birthday)
        by Roberto Ecamilla, Hispanic American, 20th century
    4. Himnario Metodista: Prepardo y editado bajo la dirección del Comité del Himnario de la Conferencia Río Grande de La Iglesia Metodista Unida. Copyright © 1973 by The United Methodist Publishing House. Now out of print and largely unavailable, but copies remain in distribution in churches.
  3. HISPANIC AND SPANISH-LANGUAGE HYMNS AND SONGS FROM
    THE FAITH WE SING
    1. Consult the Worship Planner Edition of The Faith We Sing for practical tools and suggestions for how to use these songs in worship.
      • 2007 Santo, Santo, Santo (Holy, Holy, Holy)
      • 2011 Tuya Es la Gloria (We Sing of Your Glory) - MVPC
      • 2019 Santo (Holy)
      • 2026 Halle, Halle, Halleluja
      • 2033 Gloria a Dios (Glory to God)
      • 2044 Gracias, Señor (My Gratitude Now Accept, O God)
      • 2049 Dios Está Aquí (God Is Here Today)
      • 2063 Eres Digno (You Are Worthy)
      • 2077 Sólo Tú Eres Santo (You Alone Are Holy)
      • 2078 Alleluia
      • 2098 The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy
      • 2184 Enviado Soy de Dios (Sent Out in Jesus' Name)
      • 2186 Canto de Esperanza (Song of Hope)
      • 2229 Somos Uno en Cristo (We Are One in Christ Jesus)
      • 2231 ¡Miren Qué Bueno! (O Look and Wonder)
      • 2235 Caminando (We Are Singing/Marching)
      • 2262 Te Ofrecemos Padre Nuestro (Let Us Offer to the Father)
      • 2271 Vengan Todos Adoremos (Come! Come! Everybody Worship)
    2. CD-ROM Resources for Singing (Cokesbury)
      1. The Faith We Sing – Presentation Edition: for slide and PowerPoint projection of lyrics; contains all 284 songs; available backgrounds include Cross & Flame, or thematic (Advent, Communion, Easter), and are interchangeable and removable. Includes licensed use.
      2. The United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Sing: contains complete contents of The United Methodist Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, and The Faith We Sing Worship Planner Edition. Search feature, scripture, lectionary, meter, key, topics, more. MIDI files play back one verse.
  4. GENTE NUEVA CDS OR CASSETTES FOR COMMUNITIES OF FAITH (Discipleship Resources)

    Designed with Hispanic faith communities in mind, these two CDs or cassettes offer a way to share and participate in a rich variety of songs of faith from Spanish-speaking cultures. Sing along with the vocal CD/cassette or sing to the instrumental-only CD/cassette. A booklet is included that features lyrics to the songs and suggestions for worship planning. Two 90-minute CDs or cassettes, available only in Spanish from Discipleship Resources.

    Gente Nueva (un juego de 2 CDs/casetes)
    Casetes para comunidades de fe
    Audio Casetes: $19.95 ISBN#: 0-88177-260-7; DR Stock#: DR260
    CDs: $24.95 ISBN#: 0-88177-360-3; DR Stock#: DR360
    Una colección de coros en español para usarse en servicios de alabanza y en grupos pequeños de la iglesia. Contiene canciones de la fe cristiana de varios países hispanos entre otras "Somos uno en Cristo," "Unidos," "Te alabarán, Oh Jehová, todos los reyes." Estes casetes pueden ser utilizados de varias maneras, pues han sido diseñados para las comunidades de fe del pueblo de habla hispana. El paquete incluye: 2 casetes (vocal e instrumental), un folleto con letra de las canciones, y también sugerencias para diseñar servicios de alabanza. (No discount available on this item.) (1999)

    Cassette/CD #1
    Cassette/CD #2
    1. Al Cantar de los pajaritos 16. Tu reino es vida
    2. Al despuntar en la lome el dia 17. El profeta
    3. Quiero adorarle 18. Espiritu de Dios
    4. Santo, santo, santo 19. Jesús, Jesús de Nazaret
    5. Te alabarán, oh Jehová 20. Tu fidelidad
    6. Bueno es alabarte Jehová 21. Gente nueva
    7. En momentos asi 22. El mundo en Crisis!
    8. Hay momentos 23. Pues si vivimos
    9. Has cambiado mi lamento en baile 24. La palabra del Señor
    10. Amarte solo a ti, Señor 25. Enviado soy de Dios
    11. Escudriñemos nuestros caminos 26. A Dios den gracias los pueblos
    12. Somos uno en espiritu 27. Tu has vennido a la orilla
    13. Somos uno en Cristo 28. El Señor es mi fuerza
    14. Unidos 29. Camina, pueblo de Dios
    15. El justo florecerá como la palmera

    Music and Chords for Gente Nueva

    Gente Nueva: Canciones para comunidades de fe is a collection of Spanish songs for worship and celebration, available in both cassette or compact disc editions. Each collection includes a words-only songbook. Fifteen of the twenty-nine songs in the collection — just over one-half — are available with full musical settings and chord symbols in Mil Voces Para Celebrar. One other is available in The Faith We Sing, and four are duplicated in The United Methodist Hymnal. All hymnals are available from Cokesbury (telephone 800-672-1789, www.cokesbury.com). Gente Nueva is available from Discipleship Resources/Upper Room Bookstore on CD and cassette (telephone 800-972-0433, www.discipleshipresources.org).

    Abbreviations Key:
    GN: Gente Nueva. Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 1999.
    MVPC: Mil Voces Para Celebrar. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1996.
    TFWS: The Faith We Sing. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.
    UMH: The United Methodist Hymnal. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989.

    TITLEGNMVPCTFWSUMH
    Al despuntar en la loma el dia 206  
    Santo, santo, santo4 2007  
    Te alabarán, oh Jehová 544  
    En momentos así761    
    Hay momentos864   
    Amarte solo a ti, Señor10229  
    Somos uno en espíritu12267   
    Somos uno en Cristo132732229 
    Unidos14348   
    Espíritu de Dios18162   
    Pues si vivimos23337 356
    La palabra del Señor es recta2432 107
    Enviado soy de Dios253072184 
    Tú has venido a la orilla27195  344
    El Señor es mi fuerza28246  
    Camina, pueblo de Dios29151  305

  5. GLOBAL PRAISE 1—SPANISH, HISPANIC, LATINO TITLES OR MUSIC (Cokesbury)

    • 11 Bèjé mouin, sé Rous d’amou (The God of Love My Shepherd Is)—Haiti
    • 15 Canção da caminhada (If Walking Is Our Vocation) – Brazil
    • 18 Dame la mano (Give Me Your Hand)—anon.; trad. folk melody and chorus
    • 24 Psalm 42—Trinidad and Tobago; trad. Caribbean melody
    • 27 Gloria, Gloria, Gloria—Pablo Sosa, Argentina
    • 28 Gloria a Dios (Glory to God)—Peru (The Faith We Sing [TFWS], 2033)
    • 31 Hallelujah—Caribbean folk song (TFWS 2026)
    • 40(a-2) Star-Child (Spanish translation)
    • 41 ¡Miren qué bueno! (O Look and Wonder)—Pablo Sosa, Argentina (TFWS 2231)
    • 42 Oré poriajú verekó (Kyrie)—Paraguay
    • 49 Santo, santo, santo (Holy, Holy, Holy)—Argentina (TFWS 2007)
    • 59 Tenemos esperanza (We Have Hope)—Argentina
    • 61 Tuoy es el Reino (Yours Is the Kingdom)—Pablo Sosa, Argentina
    • 65 Tua Palavra na vida (Your Word in Our Lives)—Simei Monteiro, Brazil
    • 66(a-2) When Our Lives Know Sudden Shadow—Spanish translation
    • 67 Tuya es la Gloria (We Sing of Your Glory)—Latin American (TFWS 2011)

  6. GLOBAL PRAISE 2—SPANISH, HISPANIC, LATINO TITLES (Cokesbury)

    • 3 Enter into Jerusalem (English text) – Jamaica
    • 12 Alabad al Señor (Taize)
    • 18 Ouve, Deus de amor (Hear us, God of love) – Brazil
    • 20 Gracias, Señor! – Dominican Republic
    • 24 Le lo le lo lay lo – Puerto Rico
    • 27 Lord’s Prayer (English text) – Jamaica
    • 28 El cielo canta (Heaven is singing) – Pablo Sosa, Argentina
    • 31 There was a man named Jonah (English) – Trinidad and Tobago
    • 33 Tua Palavra é lâmpada – Brazil
    • 36 Vamos todos al banquete – El Salvador
    • 37 We gather ‘round your table (English) – Trinidad and Tobago
    • 41 Arriba los corazones – Panama
    • 47 O choro pode durar – Brazil
    • 56 Darkness now enfolds us (English) – Trinidad and Tobago
    • 72 Vai com Deus! (Portugese) – Brazil
    • 73 Que Deus nos abençoe (Portugese) – Brazil
    • 94 Este momento – Argentina
    • 98 Yo quiero ser – Latin American
    • 107 Kende, si ta mi ruman? – Curaçao
    • 108 Brothers! Sisters! Who are they? – Curaçao
    • 109 Vengan, vengan todos – Cuba
    • 113 Enviado soy de Dios – Cuba
    • 127 Nada te turbe (Taizé)
  7. OTHER MUSICAL RESOURCES

    1. Regocijate y Canta (Kearney, NE: Morris Publishing, 1995)
      Copyright © 1995 Primera Iglesia Metodista Unida de Corona, NY. (Jorge Lockward, Frank Colón, et al)
    2. Cantos del Pueblo (Songs of the Community) (Cokesbury)
      Un himnario sobresaliente que combina los himnos tradicionales de varias comunidades hispanas. También tiene himnos escritos originalmente en ingles y traducidos al español, los cuales son populares en la iglesia hispana. Contiene solamente la letra y puede ser usado por todas las denominaciones.
    3. Todas las Voces (All Voices) (Cokesbury)
      por Pablo Sosa
      Cristo en los cantos de todo los pueblow de América, 16 cantos religiosos de 12 países latinoamericanos. Cantos del pueblo, interpretados con instrumentos auténticos de los países latinoamericanos.
    4. Lo Mejor 1 Selecciones Musicales (The Best Musical Selections I) (Cokesbury)
      Una colección de 50 cantos contemporaneous grabados en formato de canales separados. Este dará acceso a las iglesias a aprender los cantos con las voces, con la opción de eliminarlas y solo dejar la instrumentación a través del botón de balance. La colección incluye cantos de alabanza y adoración ye son útiles para cubrir cualquier necesidad de grupo coral, coro formal, duos, trios y solos. Incluye un libro de música y letra y dos casetes en canales separados.
    5. Lo Mejor 2 Selecciones Musicales (The Best Musical Selections 2) (Cokesbury)
      Una colección de 19 arreglos corales para grupos de alabanza, coros, cuartetos, trios, duos y solistas. Material ideal para el ministro de música, directores de alabanza o cantantes en general. Contiene ritmos que varian de lo tradicdional a lo contemporáneo: Jazz, Marcha con Sabor Caribeño y sonidos tradicionales.
    6. Adoremos (Let’s Praise) (Cokesbury)
      Marcos Witt
      Una refrescante interpretación de la adoración, un estilo de vida más que una forma de expresión.
    7. Celebremos: Segunda Parte
      Colección De Himnos, Salmos Y Cánticos Para Suplementar El Himnario Metodista. (Discipleship Resources, 1983.) (Now out of print, but still in many churches.)

WORSHIP RESOURCES

  1. REJOICE IN WORSHIP

    Rejoice in Worship is a series of short, bilingual interpretive leaflets on a wide array of worship topics. A team of Hispanic writers and worship leaders prepared them in response to expressed needs of Hispanic congregations and faith communities for faithful guidance in enriching and renewing worship. It is intended that all items in the series will be available online. At this writing (9/15/2002), only items 1 through 6 are online. The current location on the GBOD site for the listing of all articles online is as follows:

    Regocijaos en la Adoración

    Rejoice in Worship

    1. "Crear conciencia de nuestra herencia wesleyana a través de los sacramentos"
      "Creating Awareness of Our Wesleyan Heritage as Experienced through the Sacraments"
      Por el Rev. Ariel Zambrano
    2. "Los simbolos in la adoración"
      "Symbols in Worship"
      Por el Dr. Roberto Escamilla
    3. "El Año Cristiano: Celebración de nuestra historia de fe"
      "The Christian Year: Celebrating Our History of Faith"
      Por el Dr. Noé E. Gonzales
    4. "La música y la adoración dentro del contexto hispano"
      "Music & Worship in the Hispanic Context"
      Por la Rev. Yolanda Pupo-Ortiz
    5. "Adoración bilingüe: Expresión de nuestra fe en dos idiomas"
      "Bilingual Worship: Expressing Our Faith in Two Languages"
      Por el Rev. Josué Mora P.
    6. "El culto de sanidad"
      "The Healing Service"
      Por la Dra. Carmen Gaud
    7. "La niñez y su jornada espiritual"
      "Children and Their Spiritual Journey"
      Por Clara Visot
    8. "El ministerio del acólito"
      "Acolyte Ministry"
      Por el Rev. Reinaldo Toledo
    9. "El liderato de la juventud hispana en la adoración"
      "Youth Leadership in Hispanic Worship"
      Por el Rev. Franklin Guerrero-Jiménez
    10. "Qué hacer cuando no hay músicos en la congregación"
      "What to Do When There Are No Musicians in the Congregation"
      Por el Dr. Samuel A. Grano de Oro
    11. "¡Arriba las corazones! Prefacios alternos para la communion"
      "Lift Up Your Hearts! Alternate Prefaces for Holy Communion"
      Por el Rev. Irving Cotto

    (NOTE: Items 1-11 above are also available by contacting Jean Musterman at GBOD by calling toll-free 877-899-2780, ext. 7070,
    or by e-mail at jmusterman@gbod.org.)

  2. BOOKS ON WORSHIP
    1. ¡Alabadle! Hispanic Christian Worship (Cokesbury)
      editado por el Dr. Justo L. González
      Explica la alabanza hispana en las diferentes denominaciones. Contribuidores son expertos en el mundo contemporáneo de la alabanza y teologia hispana. Escrito solamente en ingles.
    2. Obras de Wesley (Wesley’s Sermons) (Cokesbury)
      editado por el Dr. Justo L. González
      ¡Ya disponible en su totalidad! Este proyecto importante y formidable es eswcrito completamente en español. Editado por el Dr. Justo L. González, cada libro tiene alrededar de 400 páginas y esta encuadernado en cubierta dura. 14 volúmenes.
    3. Qué Signnifica Ser Metodista Unido (What It Means to Be United Methodist)
      Pamphlet. (Cokesbury)
    4. Manual de Adoración (Worship Manual) – Junta General de Discipulado (GBOD, 1996)
      El manual lleva al lector a la reflexión sobre las bases biblicas, teológicas, y litúrgicas para la adoración. Se enfatiza la creatividad para crear servicios de adoración que lienen las necesidades del pueblo hispano. (Discipleship Resources)
    5. Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation: Worship – Creating Opportunities to Meet and Respond to God. (Cokesbury, 2000) by Dan Benedict
      One of the set of Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation for the 2001-2004 quadrennium. English.

Dean B. McIntyre is Director of Music Resources for the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Telephone (615) 340-7073, or toll-free (877) 899-2780, ext 7073. E-mail dmcintyre@gbod.org.