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Bright Rainbow Place Hymn
Image Copyright 2023 by Ole-Einar Andersen. All Rights Reserved.
A United Methodist Insight Special | Nov. 12, 2024
After a torrential political election season in the United States, a rainbow may be just what’s needed as God’s sign of hope and a promise of better times to come (Genesis 9:12-17). Enter "God's Kingdom on Earth Is a Bright Rainbow Place," an uplifting new hymn by a Norwegian United Methodist that is being sung in cathedrals and is now translated into English.
Ole-Einar Andersen, 74, a self-described “lifelong, theologically progressive/liberal United Methodist,” is a lay member of the historic Trondheim Methodist Church in Norway. He composed the hymn’s lyrics; and a dear friend, one of Norway’s most popular musicians, Henning Sommerro, composed the tune. Sommerro is world renowned for his chamber, choral and orchestra music, and his compositions for film, theater and opera.
The hymn was sung last year at the Lutheran Church’s Nidaros Cathedral, the world's northernmost Gothic cathedral and a national shrine, located at the tomb of St. Olav, who was the patron saint of Norway and the Viking king who brought Christianity there. It was sung there again in September during Trondheim Pride Week 2024. And a choir sang it during a “Rainbow Mass” at Oslo Cathedral, in Norway’s capital city during Oslo Pride 2024 in June. Moreover, the University of Oslo’s Faculty of Theology printed the lyrics its theological journal Nytt Norsk Kirkeblad.
Andersen, a longtime newspaper “culture” journalist, and briefly an Air Force chaplain with a theology degree, has been writing hymns for only about five years. His themes tend to proclaim “God's unconditional love and grace for all.”
“I have two hymn projects in progress now,” he wrote. "One is about a God without gender, and one is about God’s creation, the environmental crisis and our responsibility.”
Attendees at the 2024 Norway Annual Conference sang his hymn "Let Us Squander God's Love," inspired by the biblical story of a woman pouring expensive oil on Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:38). The music was composed by Norwegian Methodist musician and composer Kårfe Øgreid.
'Bright Rainbow' Composer
Ole-Einar Andersen composed lyrics his "Bright Rainbow" hymn;and a dear friend, one of Norway’s most popular musicians, Henning Sommerro, composed the tune. (Courtesy Photo)
Andersen translated his new “Bright Rainbow” hymn, with its vivid imagery, at the urging of several United Methodist friends in the U.S. Among those friends were retired Bishop Karen Oliveto and the Rev. Alfred Day, retired chief executive of the General Commission on Archives and History.
“After several rounds of (editorial) ‘language-washing’ from good people,” he writes, “I dare to launch the English version of my hymn, ‘Guds rike på jord er et regnbuested.’" Those helpful “good people” included former Methodist and Anglican priests in Trondheim.
As a regular and “very grateful” subscriber, Andersen asked UM Insight to consider publishing the hymn. “Especially after the 2024 General Conference in Charlotte,” he wrote, “I think the hymn is quite appropriate for use in the renewed UMC!”
Indeed, the budding hymnist hails from the distinguished Methodist Church in Trondheim, whose international congregation and long history embodies the denomination’s popular slogan of “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.”
"We want to be a safe, open, inclusive and open-minded congregation for all people,” begins the church’s welcome message on its website, which Andersen manages. “We strive and pray to be an open, inclusive congregation for all people–no prejudices attached–regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, nationality, cultural or social background.”
The sixth and final verse includes the hymn’s title and reads in English:
The core of the gospel is love with no ban.
We’ve all got a share in God’s heavenly plan.
God's kingdom on earth is a bright rainbow place.
It’s bustling with colors of love, peace and grace.
The Trondheim church was founded in 1881, 25 years after Norway’s first Methodist church was built. It's especially historic because it sheltered Jews hiding from German Nazis during World War II and housed a secret synagogue in its attic. After the Jews were deported, many of their liturgical objects were hidden there until they could return to Trondheim after the war.
In addition, the church earlier hosted the first political meeting of a persecuted Nordic tribe, known as the Sámi, in 1917, an action still celebrated annually throughout Scandinavia as Sámi National Day Feb. 6.
John W. Coleman is editor-at-large for United Methodist Insight.