Handbook to the Mennonite Hymnary

"Handbook to the Mennonite Hymnary" by Lester Hostetler is a guide from the mid-20th century that opens up the history of the hymns in the Mennonite Hymnary, helping people understand and love the songs even more. Dedicated to those who value church hymns, the book seeks to add spiritual meaning to singing; the introduction lays out the book's goal and why it matters, showing how important it is to make congregational singing rich. The author thanks those who helped with research, pointing out that studying hymns is a group effort. Early parts of the book teach about the history, design, and main ideas of hymns, as well as how to use them in personal and group worship; it's organized into sections about worship topics, Bible stories, music, and how to use hymns in family and church settings, showing how it thoroughly works to keep Mennonite hymn traditions alive.