In this series, Loft Choir members will share our individual thoughts on our favorite hymns in the Unitarian Universalist hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition. The Loft Choir sings hymns with the congregation each week and as singers, musicians, members and friends, we have our favorites - hymns that are beloved for their tunes, their structure, their text or their meaning. Like many among us, I came from a different religious tradition and like my Loft Choir friends, have sung in many choirs. I have many favorite hymn tunes like Dix, Hyfredol, Lobt Gott, Ihr Christian, Sine Nomine, Lasst uns erfreuen, St. Denio, and even Leoni. Those hymns, with their erect structures and chords, stand out for me as perfect examples of church singing, and invariably I love them. And there are the tunes that come from the English, American, and African American folk traditions - I've loved singing those forever. But now that I call UUC my spiritual home, I have added many other tunes to my favorites list - and many could not be called hymns at all. Some of these include Though I May Speak With Bravest Fire (34) and Blessed Spirit Of My Life (86), From All The Fret And Fever Of The Day (90), Spirit Of Life (123), Let Love Continue Long (129), and Come Sing A Song With Me (360).

My favorites change over time, with one tune or text resonating with me for a week or a season, or longer. Right now, that favorite is One More Step (168). It has a pretty little tune in a lilting rhythm, but that's not the reason it made my current favorites list. Last week, my daughter, a brand new reader, asked me about this song and when I couldn't remember it, she found the hymnal on the piano and leafed through it until she found it. She then held open the hymnal and sang it to me, every word and every note. She learned it in the children's worship Sunday, and it's a great one for children, very readable and likable and with a universal message of goodness that kids just 'get'. When we are in church on third Sundays, my new reader stands with me as I point to the words we sing together. That is an amazing experience to share and a new and wonderful way for me to experience music and UUC!

The lyrics are:
One more step, we will take one more step, 'til there is peace for us and everyone, we'll take one more step.
One more word, we will say one more word, 'til every word is heard by everyone, we'll say one more word.
One more prayer, we will say one more prayer, 'til every prayer is shared by everyone, we'll say one more prayer.
One more song, we will sing one more song, 'til every song is sung by everyone, we'll sing one more song.