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Shirley Erena Murray

1931 - 2020 Person Name: Shirley Erena Murray, 1931- Author of "Through All the World a Hungry Christ" in Community of Christ Sings Shirley Erena Murray (b. Invercargill, New Zealand, 1931) studied music as an undergraduate but received a master’s degree (with honors) in classics and French from Otago University. Her upbringing was Methodist, but she became a Presbyterian when she married the Reverend John Stewart Murray, who was a moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Shirley began her career as a teacher of languages, but she became more active in Amnesty International, and for eight years she served the Labor Party Research Unit of Parliament. Her involvement in these organizations has enriched her writing of hymns, which address human rights, women’s concerns, justice, peace, the integrity of creation, and the unity of the church. Many of her hymns have been performed in CCA and WCC assemblies. In recognition for her service as a writer of hymns, the New Zealand government honored her as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on the Queen’s birthday on 3 June 2001. Through Hope Publishing House, Murray has published three collections of her hymns: In Every Corner Sing (eighty-four hymns, 1992), Everyday in Your Spirit (forty-one hymns, 1996), and Faith Makes the Song (fifty hymns, 2002). The New Zealand Hymnbook Trust, for which she worked for a long time, has also published many of her texts (cf. back cover, Faith Makes the Song). In 2009, Otaga University conferred on her an honorary doctorate in literature for her contribution to the art of hymn writing. I-to Loh, Hymnal Companion to “Sound the Bamboo”: Asian Hymns in Their Cultural and Liturgical Context, p. 468, ©2011 GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago

Freeman Lewis

1780 - 1859 Person Name: Freeman Lewis, 1780-1859 Composer (attributed to) of "BOURBON" in Community of Christ Sings Freeman Lewis USA 1780-1859. Born at Basking Ridge, NJ, he became a surveyor, writer, and traveling school teacher who played the organ and wrote music on the side. His family moved to Fayette, PA, in 1796. In 1809 he married Rebecca A Craft, and they had 11 children: Runyan, David, George, James, John, William, Levi. Alpheus, Thomas, Margaret, and Mary Ann. Three died young (of flux and scarlet fever). He compiled and published a book of camp meeting hymns and other sacred music:”The beauties of harmony” (1813-16-18), which included some of his own compositions. An appendix to it contained explanations of musical terms amd rules and principles of composition. These were sometimes used in singing schools. He also served as county surveyor of Fayette County, PA (1823-36) and helped Jonathan Knight survey and find a route for the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. He served as organist for the Presbyterian Church in Uniontown, PA. His wife died in 1844, after which he moved to Knox. OH. His works include a 300 page family history, attesting to his being well-educated and having interest in many subjects. He died at Knox, OH. John Perry