By Rev. Cruz Edwin Santos
This year, September 15 through October 15 is designated as Hispanic Heritage Month in The United Methodist Church, giving local congregations the opportunity to celebrate the importance and contributions of the Hispanic culture in worship.
In 1996, the General Conference approved a second official hymnal of The United Methodist Church, Mil Voces Para Celebrar. Many will recognize the phrase “Mil Voces Para Celebrar” as the Spanish translation of Charles Wesley’s “O, for a thousand tongues to sing,” and that hymn takes its place as the first hymn in this all-Spanish hymnal (“How Great Thou Art” is number 2).
“Mil Voces Para Celebrar” (MVPC) is a complete hymnal and worship book, containing liturgy, services, resources, indexes, and hymns and songs of all kinds in Spanish. Some are Spanish translations of well-known English-language hymns, and all of the major familiar English favorites are included. There are also modern-day Spanish-language hymns in a variety of styles, as well as contemporary praise and worship choruses (coritos).
I would like to highlight a few specific selections from MVPC for you to consider using with choir, soloist, and congregation.
13, Te alabaré, Señor
18, Alzo mis manos
129, Tenemos esperanza
130, Padre nuestro (The Lord’s Prayer)
151, Camina, pueblo de Dios (also in The United Methodist Hymnal)
161, Santo Espíritu, excelsa paloma (includes English)
229, Amarte sólo a ti Señor
290, Momento nuevo
322, Te ofrecemos Padre nuestro (includes English; also in The Faith We Sing)
348, Unidos
Another resource that I would love to highlight that can be used in our beloved UMC is “Fiesta Cristiana”: “Fiesta Cristiana” is a bilingual collection of worship services that can be used with Hispanic congregations. Fiesta Cristiana not only contains traditional worship services, but also features services special to the Hispanic culture.
Attached here is a PDF with: “El Credo del Pueblo Inmigrante” (Creed of the Immigrant People) that I would like to encourage every church from our Greater Northwest area to incorporate something between September 15 to October 15 in your order of worship to celebrate the diversity and the contributions of our Latinx brothers and sister to our beloved UMC and communities.
Please visit this link on the ResourceUMC website for more resources. You can also find resources on the National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministries website.
Lets us celebrate together!
Please let me know if the Office of Hispanic/Latinx Ministry can be more helpful for you providing resources for your churches and the community you are serving.
Muchas gracias y bendiciones!
Rev. Cruz Edwin Santos serves as Director of Hispanic/Latinx Ministries for the Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church.
