My Faith Looks Up to Thee

Turn your ears toward the sky the next time you are outside our church, for our church bells system has been repaired and is resounding once again Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life!

It has been nearly three years since our Verdin Carillon system, originally installed in 1974-75, rang from the heavens above Daley Plaza.  Because of the generosity of one of our members, our presence in the center of the Loop is reclaiming a space for vigilance:  playing peals calling all to worship, ringing hymn melodies of the season, and marking time on the quarter hour as we traverse the sun in our unified course together.

Technically, it’s a miracle the three amplifiers previously powering the system lasted as long as they did, about 10 years.  The very large speaker arrays, mounted in combined groups outside the 23rd floor of the building, require 400 watts per speaker.  They were connected to channels on the amplifiers which possessed a 400 watt limit, so every time the speakers rang, they were causing the amplifiers to peak.  The new amplifier supports 800 watts per channel, and is capable of a wider dynamic of sound fidelity, so not only are the speakers properly supported, but the resonance and overall sound of the digital bells is optimized with a much greater range of frequency.

The resumed schedule has the Westminster clock chime ringing every quarter hour and tolling the hour from 8:00am until 10:00pm.  Ten minutes prior to each of our services, a 6 bell peal rings for one minute, calling everyone to worship.  Finally, at :46 minutes of the hour from 8:46am until 6:46pm, the following selected hymns serenade our city for two verses:

8:46am         Amazing Grace
9:46               Beneath the Cross of Jesus
10:46             At the Cross Her Station Keeping
11:46             Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
1:46pm         My Faith Looks Up to Thee
2:46               I Need Thee Every Hour
3:46               The Old Rugged Cross
4:46               Abide With Me
5:46               Be Thou My Vision
6:46               Were You There?

The hymns will be changed to a springtime, joyful selection on Easter Monday.

Where cross the crowded ways of life,
Where sound the cries of race and clan,
Above the noise of selfish strife,
We hear your voice, O Son of man.

Till all the world shall learn your love
And follow where your feet have trod,
Till, glorious from your heaven above,
Shall come the city of our God!

May the sound of our church bells abide with all who hear them throughout the days, uplift the spirit of our neighborhood, and remind all who listen of our holy presence in the heart of our city.