ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Office of Public Relations

What began as a message of comfort and hope during the world’s pandemic has become an unexpected blessing this Easter season with its release today (Good Friday, April 10, 2020).

More than 500 voices, all affiliated with Abilene Christian University, came together virtually to sing “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”

Voices were contributed from around the world, including Canada, Turkey, Germany, Thailand and Japan. Students, employees, alumni and friends of Abilene Christian submitted their voice tracks over a 10-day period, with more than 300 submissions coming the final day.

“What better way to acknowledge the pain and suffering in our world, and the hope and promise of the future, than with this beautiful song that all of us can relate to in some way,” said Dr. Phil Schubert, ACU president. “It’s a virtual hug from us to the world.”

The song was composed for a cappella choir usage in 1910 by Peter Lutkin, and it has been a tradition at the university, based in Abilene, Texas, since the 1930s. It is ACU’s closing anthem at all major events.

The virtual choir was a joint production of the ACU choral program and ACU’s office of student productions.

Photo credit: EpicFireworks on VisualHunt.com / CC BY