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| Worship in Song Rockville United Church
Some hymns tell a story, some exhort believers, some call us to awareness of social needs, some to awareness of the world’s natural resources, some are a call to mission. The hymnbooks published since 1985 reflect the breadth and diversity of people in our churches. Political, social, theological, cultural, and economic changes have influenced our hymns and language has been changed to reflect out present understandings. That is a time honored tradition. It is said that the Wesley brothers, John and Charles, and their mother, Susan, rewrote each other’s hymns and added verses regularly. We sing the gospel in hymns. Other’s have said, to sing praise to God is to pray twice. Today we see that every part of our worship service is captured in a hymn. I have chosen most from your list of favorite hymns. Many are from the mid to late 19th century. Something in these hymns is enduring. They have touched the lives of numerous people who have kept the alive. Some hymns of comfort come out of tragic circumstances when there was nothing left but struggling faith - and those are the ones that resonate with our human condition and buoy our faith today. We begin with our call to worship, Come Sing, O Church, in Joy! New words by Brian Dill, set to an 18th century tune. Hymn 262, “God of the Ages”
written by Daniel Crane Roberts, an Episcopal priest in Brandon,
VT in 1876. The words were written to commemorate the 100th anniversary
of the US Declaration of Independence. Originally set to a Russian
hymn tune, it was later set to a new melody composed by George William
Warren. The opening words have been changed from “God of our
Fathers”, to reflect a wider constituency. In 1984, Jane Parker
Huber also used this tune to write, 370 Just As I Am - 1836 by Charlotte Elliott, an invalid. She was despondent not to be able to help her clergyman brother raise funds at a bazaar to build a school for the poor children of other clergy. This hymn, however, brought in more money than the bazaar, and has been a testament to the suffering of people and the grace of God. It is perhaps best known in our times as the hymn of commitment sung at Billy Graham rallies. 557: O What Shall I Render, written in 1968 and set to a Latin American melody 599: Jesus Remember Me, Written in 1981, by Jacques Berthier, a French pianist and organist, who devoted the latter part of his life to composing for the Taize` community Psalm 25: is our OT text:
The book of Psalms is the hymnbook of the bible, and Psalms were
spoken chanted and sung from the beginning of recorded worship.
In the monastic tradition the entire psalter was chanted every week.
The call and response pattern we will use is demonstrated as John,
Carol and Amy sing through the refrain. Pat Ameling will chant and
at the point where the text has an “R” we will sing
the refrain as it is printed in the bulletin. “Hallelujah” is a traditional Caribbean melody and song. As the children sing and play through it once, and start to dance out of the sanctuary, please join us in singing. 335 Our NT text is 1 Corinthians 13, set to music first by contemporary composer Hal Hopson. “Though I May Speak” Three hymns are born of suffering and sorrow. Capturing those universal feelings of loss and at the same time finding one’s way back to God, they speak to the heart of our religion: faith, hope, and grace. 403 The first, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, written by Joseph Scriven, is a testament to faith under the most trying circumstances. The fiancee` of this young Irishman was drown just before their wedding day. He left home and emigrated to Canada where he threw himself into his ministry to the poor. Learning that his mother was sick he wrote the poem “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. She treasured it and shared it with a number of people. Soon the author’s name was lost. In Canada, Scriven once more fell in love and his 2nd fiancee` was killed as well. Joseph drown sometime later. Among his possessions was the original draft of this now famous hymn. It’s simplicity has brought comfort and solace to countless people. 100 years after his death 100m people gathered at his grave in thanksgiving for his words. When the world seems like a friendless place, we have an eternal friend. In the Garden, is one of the most popular hymns ever written. Born of sorrow as a young father watched his wife’s life ebb slowly aware after the birth of their 2nd child. She had been an avid gardener with a beautiful array of roses. The morning after her death, C. Austin Miles, went to heer garden - the dew was still on her roses. He fell to the ground denouncing God and weeping. His faith destroyed and hope gone. Then moments later, through his sobs, he heard the voice of God, “I will walk with you… It took only one hour for him to compose the music and write the words to his encounter In the Garden. General Miles died in Japan after WW II When God seems absent we rediscover God in many different places.
From our pain God drops words of comfort and hope into our lives. Hear Our Prayer O Lord 589 Our Father, Jesus’ prayer set to a West Indian Folk Melody allows us to feel this primal prayer with rhythm and joy. 428 WE Give Thee but Thine Own is a hymn of dedication 341 Fanny Crosby is among the best composers to capture the spirit of the American gospel song movement. It is the music of the people. She wrote more than 8000 gospel songs and her songs are still song more often than any other writer. Her friend, Mrs. Joseph Knapp, an amateur musician and the wife of the founder of Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., played a melody for Fanny and asked “what does this tune say?” Fanny responded immediately, “Why, that says, ‘Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine.’” Tallis’ Canon 369 I’m Gonna Live so God Can Use Me |
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Is Still Speaking www.stillspeaking.com |
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