There is more emphasis on song now while it used to be the traditional hymn-sermon-hymn pattern.

BBC: Congregation outgrows church

"Hearts of Iron, " a song about six golden eggs destroyed by a single iron one, becomes more mysterious as it progresses over an even, hymn-like tune.

NPR: Sparse Melodies and Six Golden Eggs

Half the Olympic program, on the other hand, was given over to religious ritual: processions, hymn-singing, incense-burning, gory animal sacrifice and strange incantations by exotically attired priests.

WSJ: The Ancient Olympics: Mud, Sex, Hymns...Sports Too

The words "Stabat Mater, " taken from a 13th-century hymn, refer to a standing, grieving mother.

WSJ: Culture City: A Conductor Finds His Muse in the Pews

That same year a South Carolina singing instructor named William Walker published a widely popular hymn book combining the now-familiar tune with Newton's words.

NPR: 'Amazing Grace'

Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to favour bringing back the Soviet hymn and replacing its original lyrics with a new text by the same author, the 87-year-old Sergey Mikhalkov.

BBC: Anthems out of tune with people

No surprise, then, that Quentin Tarantino shows up to hymn the auteurs of the genre, gabbling away as if he has only just emerged from an all-night multiple screening.

NEWYORKER: Not Quite Hollywood

Mr. MYERS: In "Hellfire, " Nick Tosches' biography of Jerry Lee, Nick recounts the scene where young Lewis was playing a Pentecostal hymn at a chapel service, and the preacher shot him a glance of reproach for he was playing it boogie-woogie style.

NPR: Boogie-Woogie Flu Sufferers, Unite

The committee's heard a lot of evidence about whether or not having a good gender balance in the workforce, and in particular, in the board room makes a company more competitive - and it will be interesting to see whether the two sides of the Coalition sing from the same hymn sheet.

BBC: Week ahead in committees