The words of this lovely hymn moved my heart when we sang it in church a few weeks ago. Take a few minutes to listen and sing/pray along with this hymn. If you are reading this through email you may have to go to the blog to see the YouTube video for the recording, then read the “rest of the story” as Paul Harvey would say. John Ernest Bode (1816-1874) wrote the words to this hymn and gave the church one of its most enduring hymns of Christian discipleship. This hymn has its origins in the confirmation of the poet’s daughter and two sons in 1866. It was published two years later as a leaflet by Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and was called the “Hymn for the Newly Confirmed.” It was so popular that Bishops in the Church of England were weary of singing it and discouraged its use at confirmations. When I went to YouTube to find a video to share here on the blog I was surprised at the number of variations of the tune to this hymn, so you may know it by a different … [Read more...]
Well in a Hymn
With “well” being my word of the year, it is natural for me to go on a hymn search to find this word and its lessons in music. One obvious hymn is the familiar hymn, at least well known and loved by my faith community, Peace like a River or as it is called, It is well. Here is it lyrics and song. If you are reading this in email you may have to go to the website to see it: The story behind this hymn is amazing, tragic and full of grace, love and faith. A Chicago lawyer, Horatio G. Spafford, a man who had suffered almost unimaginable personal tragedy, wrote this hymn. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Scriptures. The Spafford’s only son died from scarlet fever when he was only four. He lost most of his real estate holdings in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. He knew his family needed something for some rest and relaxation after all that trauma, so he decided to take his wife and four daughters to England The Spaffords traveled to New York … [Read more...]
Go My Children With My Blessing Hymn Story
We sang the lovely hymn a few weeks ago “Go My Children with My Blessing. I didn’t know much about its author or its tune so thought it would be a fun story to share. I love the quote that those who sing pray twice and isn’t that the truth! Even if you aren’t a singer, saying the words from music can be a divine moment! Here is the song if you are not familiar with this hymn. If you are reading this by email you may need to go to the blog to see the video: Aren’t those words so reassuring and heart- warming? Comforting and nourishing, for sure The author is Jaroslav Vajda who lived from 1919-2008 and was born in my home state of Ohio. He was a Lutheran pastor and served parishes in Indiana, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. He wrote more than 200 hymns, though he didn’t write his first hymn till age 49. Hope for all of us late bloomers! I found an interview with him about this hymn where he said, “When I was working at Concordia Publishing House as a book editor … [Read more...]
What Wondrous Love is This Hymn Story
We sang “What Wondrous Love is This” last week during our Lenten service. Both the music and lyrics haunted me – so lovely and meaningful and full of love. This hymn invites us to pause and ponder the wonderful love from God and the gift of grace. The music is based on an American folk hymn of unknow origin. It is known, however, that the tune was discovered by composer William Walker on his journey through the Appalachian region of America and probably dates to the early 1800s. Though the tune had been around for many years, it was passed on by rote, and not written down. The Appalachian region is well known for having many Irish and Scottish immigrants, which is shown in the hymns haunting text and minor tune. We actually are not sure who wrote the lyrics either – researchers write several stories, but someone somewhere created a masterpiece to refresh our souls. It was used often as a camp song and was very popular during the Second Great … [Read more...]
Creator of the Stars of Night – Advent Hymn
Different hymns are featured in our church’s hymnal based on the seasons of the church year. Right now, we are tipping into the familiar ones from Advent: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and Hark, the Glad Sound for example. This week I discovered a new one: Creator of the Stars of Night. This tune is a plainsong and the lyrics are based on a 9th century Latin hymn. Do you know what a plainsong is? I didn’t. A plainsong is a simple chant sung in Christian worship, like the more familiar Taizé or Gregorian chants. Many times these melodies are sung without instruments. “Creator of the Stars of Night” was originally written as an evening hymn for Advent somewhere between the 7th and 9th centuries. The text remained relatively consistent for several hundred years and could be found in dozens of hymn books from Rome to England. This changed in the 17th century when Pope Urban VIII modified this and other hymns in the 1632 edition of the Roman Breviary. What a long history this hymn … [Read more...]
Thy Holy Wings – Hymn Story
Thy holy wings O Savior, Spread gently over me And let me rest securely Through good and ill in thee. Oh, be my strength and portion, My rock and hiding place, And let my every moment Be lived without thy grace. We sang this hymn a few weeks ago in my parish. I led the worship so prayed these words at four different services over the weekend. Both the tune and the deep meaning of the lyrics lingered in my soul like a pleasant fragrance and a warm hug. The words are based on Matthew 23: 37: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.” The other Bible verse reflected in this hymn is Psalm 91:4: "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge." The image of Christ as a hen gathering us under his wings is both soothing and also unusual for me. You too? … [Read more...]
Meet Sylvia Dunstan
Ever hear of Sylvia Dunstan? I hadn’t until I noticed her name at the bottom of a Lenten hymn, we sang at church a few weeks ago. The words from Bless now, O God, the Journey were meaningful, especially the last line. Here is one verse: Bless now, O God, the journeyThat all your people makeThe path through noise and silenceThe way of give and takeThe trail is found in desertAnd winds the mountain roundThen leads beside still watersThe road where faith is found. We find faith while we journey, not only when we finally make it to our destination. Our path winds through noise, silence, give, take, deserts and mountains. It’s all part of life, ever shaping us. As the hymn concluded, I wondered who wrote these powerful words – Sylvia Dunstan. Then I noticed it: (1955-1993) She was younger than me and what? She died so young? I knew I wanted to learn more about this writer of words that won my soul. Canadian Sylvia Dunstan told others her love of music came from her … [Read more...]
Hark, the Glad Sound Hymn Story
“Hark, The Glad Sound” was the first hymn we sang this year during our church’s midweek Advent Service. I noticed it also is the first hymn listed in our hymnal in the Advent section. I knew this song but didn’t know much about its author and enjoying learning the hymn stories behind our church music. Its words present wisdom and insight for our Advent time too. Philip Doddridge wrote this hymn in 1735. Do you know anything about him? I didn’t and was surprised to learn he composed more than 400 hymns in all, Most of his music wasn’t published but was created for and intended for his congregation, generally to accompany his sermons. His congregation didn’t use hymnals, but instead had someone sing the hymn line by line from the pulpit with the congregation repeating each line in turn. I was also amazed on how old Hark the Glad Sound was - created almost 300 years ago. Doddridge was born in London, June 26, 1702. He was the youngest of 20 children and at birth … [Read more...]