Category Archives: Hymns

A HYMN FOR TODAY – The Master Has Come

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

The Master has come, and He calls us to follow
The track of the footprints He leaves on our way;
Far over the mountain and through the deep hollow,
The path leads us on to the mansions of day.

The Master has called us, the children who fear Him,
Who march ‘neath Christ’s banner, His own little band;
We love Him and seek Him, we long to be near Him,
And rest in the light of His beautiful land.

The Master has called us, in life’s early morning,
With spirits as fresh as the dew on the sod;
We turn from the world, with its smiles and its scorning,
To cast in our lot with the people of God.

The Master has called us, His sons and His daughters;
We plead for His blessing and trust in His love;
And through the green pastures, beside the still waters,
He’ll lead us at last to His kingdom above.

12.11.12.11.D – Sarah Doudney, 1871

Tune: ASH GROVE – Jones’ Bardic Museum, 1802

arr. Katherine K. Davis – 1939

#637 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

A HYMN FOR TODAY – My God, I Thank You, Who Have Made The Earth So Bright

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

My God, I thank You, who have made

The earth so bright

So full of splendor and of joy,

Beauty and light,

So many glorious things are here,

Noble and right.

I thank You more that all our joy

Is touched with pain,

That shadows fall on brightest hours,

That thorns remain;

So that earth’s bliss may be our guide

And not our chain.

I thank You, Lord, that you have kept

The best in store;

We have enough, yet not too much

To long for more:

A yearning for a deeper peace

Not known before.

I thank You, Lord, that here our souls,

Though Amply blessed,

Can never find, although they seek,

A perfect rest;

Nor ever shall, until they lean

On Jesus’ breast.

8.4.8.4.8.4 – Adelaide Anne Proctor, 1884

Tune: EULOGIA – Matthew Harber, 2011

#415 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

A HYMN FOR TODAY – There Is a Land of Pure Delight

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

There is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign,
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.
Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood
Stand dressed in living green:
So to the Jews old Canaan stood,
While Jordan rolled between.

There everlasting spring abides,
And never-with’ring flow’rs:
Death, like a narrow sea, divides
This heav’nly land from ours.
But timid mortals start and shrink
To cross this narrow sea;
And linger, shiv’ring on the brink,
And fear to launch away.

O could we make our doubts remove
Those gloomy thoughts that rise,
And see the Canaan that we love
With unbeclouded eyes!
Could we but climb where Moses stood,
And view the landscape o’er,
Not Jordan’s stream, nor death’s cold flood
Should fright us from the shore.

CMD (8.6.8.6.D) – Isaac Watts, 1707

Tune: JORDAN – William Billings, 1786

Arr. Charles L. Willis, 2010

#751 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

606 – Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

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606 – Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

This YouTube vid features Ken Nafziger of Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, VA, leading a Mennonite group in “606” — as it is known.  It recently became a feature of an extensive discussion among participants of a hymnody discussion board I’m on.  Fair Warning: It might get “in your head” and refuse to go away!

I heard Ken speak about this hymn at a 2008 conference at Pepperdine University in Mailbu, CA.  Using the 1709 Thomas Ken lyrics, “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,” it is almost universally known among acapella Mennonite churches as “606” as it was numbered in an older Mennonite hymnal. After singing it in Stouffer Chapel at Pepperdine with Ken leading, I lobbied hard to include it in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs — a new hymnal for which I was co-editor — but it is 3 pages long which could become cumbersome. Ken was gracious enough to come to a lecture I did regarding the new hymnal, and made several valuable suggestions which contributed to the project.

Below is another link to an article discussing the usage of the hymn among acapella Mennonite churches.

What do you think?

http://www.themennonite.org/issues/11-6/articles/606_When_why_and_how_do_Mennonites_use_the_anthem

 

Addendum:

The earliest instance of this tune in print (discovered to-date, that is) is the ninth edition of Lowell Mason’s Boston Handel and Haydn Society Collection in 1830, where it was designated as “Doxology.”  It first appeared in the fifteenth edition (1876) of Harmonia Sacra, entitled “Dedication Anthem,” which is its designation in the Hymnal: A Worship Book, alongside “(606).”     [p. 290, Hymnal Companion, Writer/Compiler – Joan A Fyock, ed. Lani Wright, ©1996, Brethren Press]

Source: http://rockhay.tripod.com/worship/music/606.htm

A HYMN FOR TODAY – O Word of God incarnate

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

O Word of God incarnate,

O Wisdom from on high,

O Truth unchanged, unchanging,

O Light of our dark sky:

We praise you for the radiance

That from the hallowed page,

A lantern to our footsteps,

Shines on from age to age.

The Scripture is a banner

Before God’s host unfurled;

It is a shining beacon

Above the darkling world.

It is a sacred vessel

Where gems of truth are stored;

It is the heav’n-drawn picture

Of Christ, the living Word.

O make Your church, dear Savior,

A lamp of purest gold,

To bear before the nations

Your true light as of old.

O teach your wand’ring pilgrims

By this their path to trace,

Till, clouds and darkness ended,

They see You face to face.

7.6.7.6.D – William W. How, 1867

Tune: MUNICH – Neuvermehrtes Gesangbuch, 1693

#279 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

A HYMN FOR TODAY – All My Hope on God Is Founded

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

All my hope on God is founded;
He doth still my trust renew;
Me through change and chance He guideth,
Only good and only true.
God unknown, He alone
Calls my heart to be His own.

Pride of man and earthly glory,
Sword and crown betray his trust;
What with care and toil he buildeth,
Tow’r and temple fall to dust.
But God’s pow’r, hour by hour,
Is my temple and my tow’r.

Daily doth th’Almighty Giver
Bounteous gifts on us bestow;
His desire our soul delighteth,
Pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand at His hand;
Joy doth wait on His command.

Still from man to God eternal
Sacrifice of praise be done,
High above all praises praising
For the gift of Christ, His Son.
Christ doth call one and all:
Ye who follow shall not fall.

8.7.8.7.6.7 – Joachim Neander,1680
trans. Robert S. Bridges, 1899

Tune: IRBY – Henry J. Gauntlett, 1849

#317 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

Modern Hymn Writers Aim To Take Back Sunday – NPR

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Modern Hymn Writers Aim To Take Back Sunday – NPR

Modern Hymn Writers Aim To Take Back Sunday – NPR

by  —  July 08, 2013 3:28 PM

Modern hymn writers Kristyn and Keith Getty run through their song "In Christ Alone" at their home near Nashville's Music Row.

Modern hymn writers Kristyn and Keith Getty run through their song “In Christ Alone” at their home near Nashville’s Music Row.

Courtesy of Stephen Jerkins

There was a time when hymns were used primarily to drive home the message that came from the pulpit. But then came the praise songs.

Matt Redman’s song “Our God” is the most popular piece of music in Christian churches today. That’s according to charts that track congregational singing — yes, there is such a thing. But approaching the Top 10 is a retro hymn: “In Christ Alone,” co-written by Keith Getty.

Keith’s wife, Kristyn, sings the hymn, while he plays the piano in their home near Nashville’s Music Row. The couple came to town to write songs not for individual artists, but for what Keith Getty calls “the congregation.”

“Our goal is to write songs that teach the faith, where the congregation is the main thing, and everybody accompanies that,” he says.

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Read more at the link  — http://www.npr.org/2013/07/08/200013769/modern-hymn-writers-aim-to-take-back-sunday

A HYMN FOR TODAY – Almighty God, Your Lofty Throne

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

Almighty God, Your lofty throne
Has justice for its cornerstone,
And shining bright before Your face
Are truth and love and boundless grace.

With blessing is the nation crowned
Whose people know the joyful sound;
They in the light, O LORD, shall live,
The light Your face and favor give.

Your name with gladness they confess,
Exalted in Your righteousness;
Their fame and might to You belong,
For in Your favor they are strong.

All glory unto God we yield;
Jehovah is our help and shield;
All praise and honor will we bring
To Israel’s Holy One, our King.

LM – Psalm 89:14-18, arr. McNaugher’s Psalter (1912)
Tune: Winchester New – Rebenlein’s Musikalisches Handbuch der Geistlichen Melodien (1690),
arr. William Henry Havergal (1847)

#16 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

A HYMN FOR TODAY – From Every Stormy Wind That Blows

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
‘Tis found beneath the mercy seat.

There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads,
A place than all besides more sweet;
It is the blood-bought mercy seat.

There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy seat.

O let my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy seat!

LM (8.8.8.8) – Hugh Stowell, 1828

Tune: RETREAT – Thomas Hastings, 1841

#326 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012

The last verse is sometimes not included with this hymn.

A HYMN FOR TODAY – Ah, Holy Jesus

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A HYMN FOR TODAY

Ah, holy Jesus, how have You offended,
That mortal judgment has on You descended?
By foes derided, by Your own rejected,
O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon You?
It is my treason, Lord, that has undone You.
‘Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied You;
I crucified You.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
The slave has sinned, and yet the Son has suffered
For my atonement, though I nothing heeded,
God interceded.

For me, kind Jesus, was Your incarnation,
Your mortal sorrow and Your life’s oblation,
Your death of anguish and Your bitter passion,
For my salvation.

Therefore, dear Jesus, since I cannot pay You,
I do adore You, and will ever pray You,
Think on Your pity and Your love unswerving,
Not my deserving.

11.11.11.5 – Johann Heermann, 1630                                                                                                       trans. Robert S. Bridges, 1899                                                                                                          Tune: HERZLIEBSTER JESU – Johann Crueger, 1640                                                                            #228 in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 2012