• Unique class hymn welcomes Baylor freshmen to campus this fall — and every fall

    While it’s common for incoming freshmen to be welcomed to college by campus leaders, it’s not so common for that encouragement to come in the form of a hymn — but that’s what we do at Baylor.

    Since 2008, each incoming class has been welcomed with its own unique hymn, each capturing an aspect of this moment of excitement, possibility and transition in a student’s life. The hymns are written and composed by Baylor University Chaplain Burt Burleson, BA ’80, and Associate Chaplain Ryan Richardson, MDiv ’04. (Previous class hymns can be found on iTunes, dating back to 2008.)

    This year’s hymn, “Sing to the Day,” features lyrics by Burleson, music by Richardson, and an arrangement by Baylor graduate student Sam Johnson. The hymn was performed during the first hour of each Orientation session, so that students immediately could share a common message and song. The music video for this year’s hymn features snapshot images of the Baylor experience — moments for students to capture, embrace and celebrate:

    The lyrics to this year’s hymn capture that sense of gratitude and wonder:

    Longings and love
    Gifts from above
    Set deep within, waiting in wonder to begin
    Hungers of heart
    Veiled works of art
    Ready to see what in God’s grace will come to be

    Lift up your voice!
    Sing out your praise!
    Lift up your voice!
    Let us sing to the Day!

    This is the time
    Seek and you’ll find

    Mysteries unfold
    Treasures of truth that we will hold
    Know as we’re known
    True selves at home
    Soulfully dwell
    Waking in light our dreams to tell

    Lift up your voice!
    Sing out your praise!
    Lift up your voice!
    Let us sing to the Day!

    Passions create
    New worlds await

    Callings made clear
    Pathways of promise now appear
    Lives to be lived
    Given to give
    Fears fade away
    As we all sing unto this Day

    Lift up your voice!
    Sing out your praise!
    Lift up your voice!
    Let us sing to the Day!

    Lift up your voice!
    Sing out your praise!
    Lift up your voice!
    Let us sing to the Day!

    Sic ’em, Baylor Spiritual Life!

    You might also like:
    * 7 ‘sacred spaces’ created just for prayer & worship on Baylor’s campus (July 2019)
    * Seeking the heart of God in the heart of Baylor’s campus (April 2019)
    * How many of these Bible verses have you seen on Baylor’s campus? (Feb. 2019)


    Credits:
    Lead vocalist : Meredith Marcum (junior, theater performance)
    Ensemble Members: Matthew Davis (Truett Seminary student), Emily Adkins (senior, integrated studies), Cade Kyle (junior, church music), Tevae Shoels (sophomore, choral music)
    Cellist : Samuel Johnson (Truett Seminary student)
    Violinists : Amanda Schubert, Augusta Schubert
    Organist : Johnathan Sumner (Truett Seminary student)
    Pianist: Ryan Richardson (associate chaplain; spiritual life)
    Videographer: Matthew Aughtry
    Sound engineer: Casey Pittman