Alan L. Shumway is the pastor of one of this country’s more intriguing churches…or at least of a church with one of this country’s more intriguing histories.
The First Baptist Church of Waterville, Maine, where Shumway is pastor, was founded in 1818 by the first president of what was at the time Waterville College. In due course, the college was re-christened as Colby College, the name by which we know it today. Since Colby is the twelfth oldest liberal arts college in the United States, as well as one of our most prestigious institutions, the intertwining of First Baptist’s founding with the College’s would be enough to justify our interest. But there is more to the story.
In 1834, a young man fresh out of his doctoral studies at Andover Theological Seminary was ordained at First Baptist Church in Waterville and became its pastor. His name was Samuel Francis Smith; and Samuel Francis Smith has, to some greater or lesser extent, touched every American life since three years before he was ordained.
In 1831, while he was still at Andover, a classmate asked Smith to translate and then versify some German hymns in order that they might be used in the Seminary’s worship programs. Among the hymns given to him for translation was one whose music Smith had never heard before, but by which he was totally overwhelmed. He glanced through the German words and quickly found them unworthy of the grandeur and appeal of the score to which they were set. Instead of translating, then, Smith simply composed—the story says in less than thirty minutes…the words that the music seemed to him to evoke in his spirit. Those words went like this…My County, ‘tis of thee/sweet land of liberty…and Smith titled them, “America.”
Smith’s song hymn was first performed publicly on July 4th that year and became so immediately popular that it was commercially published for the first time only a few months later. At just what point Smith discovered the relationship between the German score he had never heard before and Britain’s “God Save the King” is not clear; but it would not have mattered anyway. “America” would always rules the waves on this side of the Atlantic.
Dr. Smith was born in Massachusetts on October 21, 1808, making this year the bicentennial of his birth; and First Baptist, Waterville is planning a considerable celebration in his honor, beginning, appropriately enough, on July 4th. So if some of us chance to see some press coverage of First Baptist in Waterville and/or come across some eulogistic mention of Samuel Francis Smith…or even should we chance to hear the “America” he gave us being played somewhere…we can hone in on the pleasure of knowing a bit of his story and especially of knowing that his pattern of careful devotion and pioneering ways still holds.
You see, I got an e-mail from Pastor Shumway a couple of weeks ago saying that on Maundy Thursday, for the service of communion at First Baptist, the readings used were the words of Jesus as they appear in The Words of Jesus – A Gospel of the Sayings of Our Lord. I can not be sure, of course, but so far as I know, that makes First Baptist Church – Waterville the first congregation in this country to use the Sayings as the appointed text for a holy day congregational communion or eucharist. Those who would like to see what that order of service looked like, will find it appended below. Patent in its presence here is Pastor Shumway’s permission for anyone who wants to, to make free use of it. More to the point, however, is what he wrote me just a day or two later:
“I saw indications that people were sensing the ‘voice’ of Jesus as they listened to the Sayings. It was a different level of intimacy – ‘actual’ intimacy, formative rather than simply informative – heart-felt as well as understood.”
Pioneering ways indeed. That Waterville First Baptist Church must be some kind of great place, and I hope to see it someday. Meanwhile, it is enough that once again they have shared with the rest of us the work of generous pastors skilled in the business of careful devotion.
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First Baptist Church – Waterville, Maine Maundy Thursday Communion - March 20, 2008 [ Pastor’s working notes] Before the meal begins, as introduction to the saying of the grace>>> Acts 2: 42 (The first gatherings of the followers of Jesus after his resurrection and ascension) “devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and he prayers” 46- “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, THEY PARTOOK OF FOOD WITH GLAD AND GENEROUS HEARTS, praising God and having favor with all the people.” PRAY PREPARE TO EAT [Readings are from THE WORDS OF JESUS – A GOSPEL OF THE SAYINGS OF OUR LORD] Saying IV, 39, page 171 - Instructions about their last meal together Hymn “An Upper Room did our Lord prepare” #275 – vss.1&2 O WALY WALY Saying IV, 43, page 175 - His words concerning the bread and wine WE SHARE THE BREAD AND CUP BY INTINCTION AT EACH TABLE Saying IV, 45, page 176 – the New Commandment – (This is where the name Maundy Thursday comes from –the Latin word for commandment is maundatum. This is a time to remember our Lord’s command to love and serve one another) Saying IV, 40, page 172 - Final instructions about servant leadership Hymn “ An Upper room did our Lord prepare” #275 (verses 3 and 4) Meditation on the Upper Room and the Lonesome Valley Parting Hymn “Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley” #254 vss. 2-4 Saying IV, 49, page 180 - The Benediction
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