Praise and Thanksgiving

Marie J. Post was a 20th-century poet, teacher, and liturgist who played a vital role in modernizing the hymnody of the Christian Reformed Church. Born Marie Tuinstra in Jenison, Michigan, in 1919, she was raised in a tradition where the Genevan Psalms were a staple of worship. These early musical experiences deeply colored her rhythmic sensibility and her lifelong devotion to the "psalm-singing" heritage. After studying under the influential scholar Henry Zylstra at Calvin College, she spent several years teaching before dedicating herself to a prolific career in poetry and congregational song.

For over three decades, Post’s work appeared in the Grand Rapids Press and various religious periodicals, earning her a reputation for clear, accessible, and theologically rich verse. Her poetry often bridged the gap between everyday life and sacred mysteries, a quality evident in her collections I Never Visited an Artist Before (1977) and the posthumously released Sandals, Sails, and Saints (1993). Her work was not merely for the page; she was a frequent reader in schools and churches, where her presence helped revitalize interest in contemporary religious poetry.

One of Post's most significant professional contributions was her service on the 1987 Psalter Hymnal Revision Committee. During this time, she provided numerous original texts and paraphrases that helped shape the worship life of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Her contributions were characterized by:

• Psalm Paraphrasing: She had a particular gift for updating the language of the Psalms while retaining their original Genevan character.

• Contemporary Clarity: She avoided archaic language in favor of a "directness" that resonated with modern worshippers.

• Thematic Breadth: Her hymns often explored the relationship between the Creator and the natural world, as well as the call to social justice.

Post’s legacy is preserved in the 1987 Psalter Hymnal and its successors, where her ability to marry the ancient Genevan tradition with modern English poetic forms remains a hallmark. She died in Grand Rapids in 1990, remembered as a writer who helped her community "sing a new song" without forgetting the melodies of the past.