God So Loved the World

It was a splendid service today. Scriptures and hymns were all wonderful. The Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent were:
Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:14-21

Our introit hymn was Christ Is the World’s Light written by Fred Pratt Green in 1968 and set to the tune Christe Sanctorum which dates from about 1681. Fred Pratt Green was the greatest Methodist hymn writer since Charles Wesley. His hymns are both contemporary and theologically sound, something one can't say about many contemporary hymns.

Christ is the world's Light, Christ and no other;
Born in our darkness, he became our Brother.
If we have seen Christ, we have seen the Father:
Glory to God on high.

Christ is the world's Peace, Christ and no other;
No man can serve Christ and despise his brother
Who else unites us, one in God the Father?
Glory to God on high.

Christ is the world's Life, Christ and no other;
Sold one for silver, murdered here, our Brother -
Christ who redeems us, reigns with God the Father:
Glory to God on high.

Give God the glory, God and no other;
Give God the glory, Spirit, Son and Father;
Give God the glory, God in Man my brother:
Glory to God on high.

Our first hymn was Amazing Grace
"I was blind but now I see!” John 9:25
This is probably the most popular hymn in the English language. The words were written by John Newton (1725-1807), a slave trader who came to Christ and turned his life around. The tune is called New Britain and is by James Carrell and David S. Clayton, published in 1831. It is undoubtedly a based on a much older folk melody.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

The second hymn was the hymn that’s my second favorite hymn ever.
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light, text and music by Kathleen Thomerson. I could find no midi file for this hymn, but the text is the important thing. In my Google search for midi files I found several testimonials about this hymn. Several people wrote that this is the one hymn that they felt MUST be sung at their memorial services. I feel the same way. It is a wonderful hymn.

I want to walk as a child of the Light.
I want to follow Jesus
God sent the stars to give light to the world,
The Star of my life is Jesus.

In Him there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The love is the Light of the city of God
Shine in my heart Lord Jesus.

I want to see the Brightness of God
I want to look at Jesus
Clear Son of righteousness shine on my path
And show me the way to the Father.

In Him there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The love is the Light of the city of God
Shine in my heart Lord Jesus.

I'm looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
We shall know the joy of Jesus.

In Him there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The love is the Light of the city of God
Shine in my heart Lord Jesus.

Our anthem was God So Loved the World by John Stainer. This old favorite is from Stainer's cantataThe Crucifixion It's one of those old romantic pieces that most choir directors turn up their noses at, but which congregations adore. It is not easy to sing wel. It takes better breath control than my old body has these days.

Our final hymn was O God Beyond All Praising The text is Michael Perry, based on Hebrews 13:15. The tune is called Thaxted by Gustav Holst. It is the theme from “Jupiter” in Holst’s The Planets.I have read that this is the second most popular hymn in the United Kingdom, the most popular being Jerusalem.

O God beyond all praising,
we worship you today
and sing the love amazing
that songs cannot repay;
for we can only wonder
at every gift you send,
at blessings without number
and mercies without end:
we lift our hearts before you
and wait upon your word,
we honor and adore you,
our great and mighty Lord.

Then hear, O gracious Savior,
accept the love we bring,
that we who know your favor
may serve you as our king;
and whether our tomorrows
be filled with good or ill,
we'II triumph through our sorrows
and rise to bless you still:
to marvel at your beauty
and glory in your ways,
and make a joyful duty
our sacrifice of praise.

New Hymnals in My Collection

I bought a bunch of new hymnals at the library book sale today. Most of them are what I call “Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting” hymnbooks, but they’re interesting. Many of the hymns in these old books can be found in today’s hymnals, many more I remember from my childhood when churches still had Wednesday night prayer meeting, but a lot of these hymns are completely unfamiliar to me.

The Pilgrim Hymnal, copyright 1935. This is the hymnal for the Congregational Church. The hymns are mostly familiar hymns, still included in contemporary hymnals, but there were three hymns for Labor Day and two hymns for Armistice Day. Isn’t it a shame that Congress changed that holiday’s name? We should honor our veterans, but we shouldn’t forget what Armistice Day meant. I love the way that al of the old British Commonwealth countries call it Remembrance Day. We should remember

Hymns of Praise Number Two, copyright 1925.

Tabernacle Hymns Number Three, copyright 1939

Old Fashioned Revival Hour Songs, copyright 1950.These are hymns from the old radio show.

Hymns of Praise There was no copyright date, but it’s pretty old collection.

Triumphant Service Songs. This copy is in poor condition and missing its title page, but I believe it dates from 1930.

Songs That Touch the Heart, volumes one and two. Copyright 1948 and 1954.
Favorites: Gospel Songs for Solos, Duets, Trios, Quartets and Group Singing, Volumes 2, 3 and 4.copyright 1951.There were no songs that I knew in these three books with the noteable exception of His Eye Is on the Sparrow, and don’t we all love that one?

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me

I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.

Third Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent

The readings for March 19, 2006 were:
Exodus 20:1-17
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
John 2:13-22

Our introit hymn was If Thou but Suffer God to Guide Thee

This seventeenth century hymn and hymn tune was written by Georg Neumark and translated by Catherine Winkworth in the late nineteenth century. The tune is called “Wer Nur Den Lieben Gott”

1. If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
and hope in God through all thy ways,
God will give strength, whate'er betide thee,
and bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God's unchanging love
builds on the rock that naught can move.

2. Only be still, and wait God's leisure
in cheerful hope, with heart content
to take whate'er thy Maker's pleasure
and all-discerning love hath sent;
we know our inmost wants are known,
for we are called to be God's own.

3. Sing, pray, and keep God's ways unswerving;
so do thine own part faithfully,
and trust God's word; though undeserving,
thou yet shalt find it true for thee.
God never yet forsook at need
the soul that trusted God indeed.

Our first hymn was How Great Thou Art. This is not one of favorite hymns, but I’ve never found a congregation that didn’t just love singing this. I think they mostly love the fermata at the end.

How Great Thou

Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hands have made
I see the stars I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul my Savior, God, to Thee
How great thou art, how great thou art
Then sings my soul my Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art. How great Thou art

When Christ shall come with shouts of adulation
And take me home what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim My God, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul my Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul my Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art. How great Thou art

The second hymn was In the Cross of Christ I Glory
The text was written by John Bowring (1792-1872). The hymn tune is “Rathbun”, written by Ithamar Conkey (1815-1867)


1. In the cross of Christ I glory,
towering o'er the wrecks of time;
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.

2. When the woes of life o'ertake me,
hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
never shall the cross forsake me.
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

3. When the sun of bliss is beaming
light and love upon my way,
from the cross the radiance streaming
adds more luster to the day.

4. Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
by the cross are sanctified;
peace is there that knows no measure,
joys that through all time abide.

5. In the cross of Christ I glory,
towering o'er the wrecks of time;
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.

Our anthem was “Keep Me Faithfully in Thy Paths, O Lord” by George Frederick Handel, arranged by Richard Proulx © 1980 by GIA Publications, Inc.

Keep me faithfully in thy paths, O Lord,
And cleanse me, cleanse me from my sin…
In thy goodness, Lord, be thou merciful,,
And cleanse me from my sin.

The final hymn was
Beneath the Cross of Jesus by Elizabeth C. Clephane, (1830-1869). The hymn tune is “St. Christopher” by Frederick C. Maker, (1844-1927)

1. Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land;
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat,
and the burden of the day.

2. Upon that cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me;
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess:
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness.

3. I take, O cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all the cross.

Get behind Me, Satan!

The readings for the second Sunday of Lent were:

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Psalm 22:22-30
Romans 4:13-25
Mark 8:31-38
Then Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
The readings from Genesis and Romans both told the story of God’s covenant with Abraham.

It was a mediocre day for hymns. These were the kind of hymns best sung at Wednesday night prayer meetings. The bright spot was that we had a guest organist, and he played the wrong tune for the Gloria Patri at all the services. That kind of made the congregation pay attention. We usually sing this to the tune Meineke, but he played Greatorex, which I think is much nicer.

While most of us in the choir didn’t like the hymns that much, I must admit that the congregation loved these old tunes, and they sang very loudly.
The opening hymn was Standing on the Promises by R. Kelso Carter who also wrote the hymn tune Promises.


1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
through eternal ages let his praises ring;
glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
standing on the promises of God.
Refrain:
Standing, standing,
standing on the promises of Christ my Savior;
standing, standing,
I'm standing on the promises of God.

2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
by the living Word of God I shall prevail,
standing on the promises of God.
(Refrain)

3. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
bound to him eternally by love's strong cord,
overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,
standing on the promises of God.
(Refrain)

4. Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
listening every moment to the Spirit's call,
resting in my Savior as my all in all,
standing on the promises of God.
(Refrain)

I enjoyed the second hymn a lot more.This Is My Father’s World by Maltbie D. Babcock. The hymn tune is Terra Beata, a traditional English melody, adapted by Franklin L. Sheppard.

1. This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

2. This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

3. This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Our anthem was Be Thou My Vision.

The final hymn was another old-fashioned sentimental favorite, Take the Name of Jesus with You by Lydia O. Baxter. The tune Precious Name was written by Howard Doane.

Take the Name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe,
It will joy and comfort give you;
Take it then, where’er you go.

Refrain

Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.

Take the Name of Jesus ever,
As a shield from every snare;
If temptations round you gather,
Breathe that holy Name in prayer.

Refrain

O the precious Name of Jesus!
How it thrills our souls with joy,
When His loving arms receive us,
And His songs our tongues employ!

Refrain

At the Name of Jesus bowing,
Falling prostrate at His feet,
King of kings in Heav’n we’ll crown Him,
When our journey is complete.

Refrain

First Sunday of Lent

The readings for March 5, the first Sunday of Lent were:

Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-9
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15

Our first hymn was Lord, Who throughout These Forty Days by Claudia F. Hernaman. It is usually sung to the tune St. Flavian, but the United Methodist Hymnal sets the hymn to the tune to the folk melody Land of Rest.

Lord, who throughout these forty days
for us didst fast and pray,
teach us with thee to mourn our sins,
and close by thee to stay.

As thou with Satan didst contend
and didst the victory win,
O give us strength in thee to fight,
in thee to conquer sin.

As thou didst hunger bear and thirst,
so teach us, gracious Lord,
to die to self, and chiefly live
by thy most holy word.

And through these days of penitence,
and through thy Passiontide,
yea, evermore, in life and death,
Jesus! with us abide.

Abide with us, that so, this life
of suffering over-past,
an Easter of unending joy
we may attain at last!

Our second hymn was When Jesus Came to Jordan by Fred Pratt Green. In our hymnal this hymn is set to the tune Complainer by William Walker.

When Jesus came to Jordan
to be baptized by John,
he did not come for pardon.
but as his Father's Son.
He came to share repentance
with all who mourn their sins,
to speak the vital sentence
with which good news begins.

He came to share temptation,
our utmost woe and loss,
for us and our salvation
to die upon the cross.
So when the Dove descended
on him, the Son of Man,
the hidden years had ended,
the age of grace began.

Come, Holy Spirit, aid us
to keep the vows we make,
this very day invade us,
and every bondage break.
Come, give our lives direction,
the gift we covet most:
to share the resurrection
that leads to Pentecost.

Our anthem was a setting of Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley arranged by Hal Hopson.

Jesus walked this lonesome valley;
he had to walk it by himself.
Oh, nobody else could walk it for him;
he had to walk it by himself.

We must walk this lonesome valley;
we have to walk it by ourselves.
Oh, nobody else can walk it for us;
we have to walk it by ourselves.

You must go and stand your trial;
you have to stand it by yourself.
Oh, nobody else can stand it for you;
you have to stand it by yourself.

The first Communion hymn was Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence from the fifth century Liturgy of Saint James translated by Gerald Moultrie in 1864. The hymn tune is Picardy, a French carol.

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
in the Body and the Blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of Light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

The second Communion hymn was Let Us Break Bread Together, the old spiritual. I've read several articles that discussed whether or not this was an appropriate hymn for Holy Communion.


Let us break bread together on our knees,
let us break bread together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us drink wine together on our knees,
let us drink wine together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.

Let us praise God together on our knees,
let us praise God together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me.

The final Communion hymn was Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast by Charles Wesley, set to the tune Hursley. This hymn is in our hymnal twice, once with a set of verses that serve as an altar call, and these verse for Holy Communion. Charles Wesley wrote many, many verse for most of his hundreds of hymns. The hymnal only has four or five verses of a hymn, but for a few of them the editors included a text only page of all the many verses.

Come, sinners, to the gospel feast;
let every soul be Jesus' guest.
Ye need not one be left behind,
for God hath bid all humankind.

Come, and partake the Gospel feast;
Be saved from sin; in Jesus rest;
O taste the goodness of your God,
And eat His flesh, and drink His blood!

See Him set forth before your eyes,
That precious, bleeding Sacrifice!
His offered benefits embrace,
And freely now be saved by grace.

Our final hymn was O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High, a 15th century Latin poem translated by Benjamin Webb. The tune is Deo Gracias.

O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
it fills the heart with ecstasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake!

For us baptized, for us he bore
his holy fast and hungered sore,
for us temptation sharp he knew;
for us the tempter overthrew.

For us he prayed; for us he taught;
for us his daily works he wrought;
by words and signs and actions thus
still seeking not himself, but us.

For us to evil power betrayed,
scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
he bore the shameful cross and death,
for us gave up his dying breath.

For us he rose from death again;
for us he went on high to reign;
for us he sent his Spirit here,
to guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.

All glory to our Lord and God
for love so deep, so high, so broad:
the Trinity whom we adore,
forever and forevermore.