The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC) began accepting orders for its new hymnal, Glory to God, in the summer of 2012. By the end of May 2013, over 1000 congregations and institutions (Presbyterian and ecumenical partners) had placed prepublication orders for the hymnal. David Gambrell, staff representative to the Presbyterian Committee on Congregational Song (PCOCS from the Office of Theology & Worship, said, “The launch of any new hymnal — more than any other resource, event, or program — has incredible potential to transform the identity and mission of a denomination. The church’s eager embrace of this new hymnal — shaped by the biblical story, steeped in diverse ways of worship, seeking above all to give glory to God — gives me great hope.”

Members of the PCOCS led many workshops around the denomination to prepare people for the new hymnal. After hearing a presentation by PCOCS chair, Mary Louise Bringle, the Rev. Peter R. Del Nagro (Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Church; Youngstown, Ohio) echoed Gambrell’s hopefulness. “Apart from the merits of the new hymnal, in listening to Dr. Bringle I was struck by the number of exceptional people there are in the Presbyterian Church. I’m feeling hopeful about the future of this denomination ... This new hymnal is going to pull a fractious Church together and help us get there.”

Pre-publication orders for Glory to God, the new Presbyterian Hymnal, were significantly higher than expected. (Stay tuned later this week for an announcement about the final numbers!) To celebrate, the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation (PPC) has extended the early-order pricing. Here is a list of editions and their prices effective through December 31, 2013:

• Pew Edition ($17.50)
• Large Print Edition (words and music; $25)
• Accompaniment Edition ($75)
• Gift/Pulpit Edition ($40)
• Companion (to be published in 2014; $50)

Orders may be placed online or through Customer Service (1-800-533-4371). Hymnals will ship in mid-late September.

Another piece of good news: we are trying to raise the character limit for imprinting hymnal covers. The current limit (30 characters) was set by the printer's mechanical constraints. A number of churches were excluded by the lower limit. Hearing congregations' requests, PPC returned to the printer with hopes of raising the limit to 40 characters. There is a good possibility we have a solution! Stay tuned for the final word. Affected congregations will be contacted directly.

Whether you have ordered hymnals, or are waiting to examine the book before purchasing, plan to attend one of the six publication celebrations. These two-day events will be the best place to immerse yourself in the new resource. Workshops will cover the hymnal's contents, history, and much more. Registration is only $35. The first 100 registrants at each event will be entered to win a free accompaniment edition.