Handbook to the Mennonite Hymnary is Lester Hostetler’s companion to the hymnal of the Mennonite churches, providing background notes on the hymns and tunes it contains. For each entry Hostetler supplies information on the author, composer, and origin of the text and melody.
The book serves both worship and study, helping congregations understand the history behind their sung devotion and tracing the sources of a diverse hymnody. It documents the blending of older church song with the particular traditions of the Mennonite community. As a reference for hymnologists and church musicians, it preserves the lineage of a distinctive body of sacred song.