Write Now!
This blog started as a 'Lenten Writing Project', where we wrote each day in Lent. Now that Summer is here, let's keep up the discipline of writing with a weekly writing challenge! A prompt will be posted each week and anyone is welcome to join in and post their writing here or participate just by reading it.
Every writer has their own special light to add to this blog and all of your writing offerings are appreciated, whether poetry, prose, essay, thoughts, lists or comments and encouragement.
How Great Thou Art. It helps me see the true majesty and holiness of our Lord - something that I forget so often. It also helps me see that He will be there in the end, is here now and ever was. I feel small and childlike and just believe. I also hear my father’s voice singing this hymn boldly and it makes me feel safe in many ways. “Then sings my soul..” and I do feel like my soul is singing.
ReplyDeleteHilary Wirkkala
I always can't help singing the chorus overly-operatically loud. GREAT song and great comment! : )
DeleteThanks Hilary!
DeleteMy ongoing list of favorite hymns keeps growing! I love many of our wonderful church hymns, and I often read through several as part of my daily meditation.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy browsing my collection of hymnals. My favorite hymn this week is called “The Summons” or “Will You Come and Follow Me” written by John Bell and Graham Maule. It is #178 in the newest cranberry ELCA hymnal. Right now verse 4 is talking to me.
You can listen on YouTube at http://youtu.be/P8lOfMjtxdE (Faster tempo http://youtu.be/kiQ27VswGAA ).
The Summons
1. Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?
2. Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
3. Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?
4. Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?
5. Lord your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where Your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
Words: John L. Bell & Graham Maule, copyright © 1987 Wild Goose Resource Group/ WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow G2 3DH, Scotland. Melody: 'Kelvingrove', Scots traditional. Reproduced by permission. Websites: wgrg.co.uk & holycity-glasgow.co.uk
Never heard of this song and so glad you wrote out the words! What a GREAT song! There may be hope for the non-greenbook after all ; ) ; ) Thank you for posting this!
DeleteHappy to know many of you are attached to your "colored" hymnals. I've never seen "The Cranberry" hymnal. I guess because we don't have them at HSLC.
DeleteI do however, have a collection of all I've worshipped from. I guess I can buy my own "Cranberry" hymnal. Won't guite have the deeper meaning without the worship experience. DyAnn Dennie
Lenten Prompt #21 Tuesday Mar 13 2012
ReplyDeleteBeing raised as a Choir Director's daughter, church music and its hymns are like breathing, to me. I have so many favorites, for so many different reasons. Some are like comfort food; some are just for listening pleasure or nostalgia; and some are like a power food that helps me get through a crisis.
I am very lucky my parents brought me to Church and taught me so many hymns (and even wrote them); and made sure that I got the good religious musical input I needed. They knew that it would shore me up later; and I suspected this, too, because I watched, as it had helped them.
Of all the hymns I learned, however, there are two that continue to stand out for me, in a very real and concrete way. They give me courage and strength when I most need it.
The first one is, "Just As I Am"
After some significant childhood and young adult traumas, I was left feeling worthless and lesser than others. No one else knew this, as I was cheerful on the outside. As my negative feelings grew, this hymn let me know that I was OK, as I was. Jesus had taken care of everything; all I had to do was believe,and be there. The urgency of this hymn is not as strong now, but it still gives me comfort.
Read the words and see:
"Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
cranberry hymnal#592
The other hymn that resonates loudly within me is,
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God".
In fact, it is so personal, that it usually brings me to tears. It seems to speak about Evil fighting the World, which, at first, sounds Medieval, simplistic, and very general; unless you've personally experienced it.
Here are some excerpts, ending with the parts
that are quite specific to me.
"...The old satanic foe
Has sworn to work us woe!
....On earth he has no equal.
...They cannot overpow'r us.
...God's judgement must prevail!
One little word subdues him.
For God himself fights by our side
With weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house(done)
Goods(already done), honor(tried),
child(ren)(tried,still trying),or spouse(done),
Though life be wrenched away(tried, still trying),
They cannot win the day,
THE KINGDOM'S OURS FOREVER!
green hymnal#229 cranberry#503-505
Music is a powerful medium;
especially when inspired by God.
These particular hymns give me courage and strength,
when I need most them.
s.h.
Oh, two more of my favorites, too. Thank you, s.h.
ReplyDeleteby Pat Mason
ReplyDeleteI especially enjoy the time of year when we include international music. I find it inspiring to think that we are singing songs that were written for worshiping Christians from places all over the world.
When we sing these as a congregation I wonder about the origins of the songs. I wonder what the people who wrote and use these songs in their worship services would think if they knew that their songs were being sung and enjoyed by a congregation such as ours.
There is a book that tells the story of some of the hymns in the green hymnal. I don't know what the title of the book is but Pastor Mike or Pastor Katy might have it...? For instance "Earth and All Stars was written by Herb Brokering (a Red Skeleton type of fellow who taught creative ministry class at the the seminary when I was there - he wrote it for the dedication of a science building at St Olaf college! - sometimes the story is fun to know!)
DeleteThere is a song called "Here I am Lord". The first few lines go like this "Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord, where you lead me, I will hold your people in my heart."
ReplyDeleteSuzanne (my wife) and Paul Anderson (my cousin) sang this at my Ordination a long time ago. It's not a song that gets a lot of play but we seem to sing it about once a year at HSLC and it always seems to surprise me. These days I even get a bit teary eyed. It reminds me of the relationships that I have had with many people over many years. And it reminds me that God is still calling us to hold others in our hearts.
I love the tune and the words and somehow it calls me to recommit myself to this work each time we sing it. It's quite personal.
Favorite Hymns
ReplyDeleteby Marlene Obie
I have five or six favorites. How Great Thou Art is one for me for me also.
One that takes me up and stays with me for days is My Life Flows On in Endless Song.
"V1: My life flows on in endless song: above earth's lamentation. I catch the sweet, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation."
The last verse and refrain particularly evoke a lump in my throat while singing.
"The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, a fountain every springing! All things are mine since I am his! How can I keep from singing."
"No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I'm clinging. Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing.? (Text and Music by Robery Lowry)
Another song that draws me into singing emotionally is Josh Corbon's "You Lift Me Up" I just have to bolt it out, sometimes amid tears, "I am strong when I am on your shoulders. You lift me up to more than I can be." Which isn't easy in the car to see and drive. It gives me immense confidence to be reminded of the strength of support I have from God, holding me up over the blocking fears and doubts on parade so I can see more clearly.
One of the songs that gets me every time is ‘Breath of Heaven’ by Amy Grant. I know…how can such a militant Green LBW’er like myself fall for something so contemporary? Here’s the story:
ReplyDeleteWhen my oldest daughter was a toddler and I was in the choir we were performing ‘Breath of Heaven’ for the Christmas concert. It’s all about Mary’s perspective of the Christmas story, before Jesus was born – the uncertainty being an unmarried woman carrying a baby and not sure what is going to happen in the future. “Breath of Heaven, hold me together.” Is part of the chorus. Well, driving back from Lake Stevens with my sick toddler that had just thrown up at her Tante’s house, all of a sudden, on the interchange of the 2 and the 5 freeways, she started really throwing up. And throwing up. And passing out. I was completely panicked. I was on the cell phone with the Evergreen Hospital helpline and trying to drive safely while panicking and also calling out my daughter’s name to bring her out of her faint. The nurse kept telling me to pull over, but there is NO place to do so for what seemed like, 5,ooo miles. Finally, I was able to get off the freeway and into a parking lot and call 911. By the time the ambulance came, my daughter was showing signs that she was much more responsive. The paramedic told me how to get to the nearest emergency drop-in clinic and I went there. My daughter had already…um…soiled several of the ‘back up’ clothes that I had brought to Tante’s house, so I brought her into the clinic – both of us soaked in, well, grossness. Being an emergency drop-in clinic, we had to wait about one or two thousand hours to be seen. I tried to keep her with me and occupied while fending off a few curious toddlers that wanted to play, against or unbeknownst to their parent’s wills. Finally, I was called in to wait longer in the doctor’s exam room on a crinkly paper-covered, padded table. As I held my daughter and sung lullabies to let her finally have a little nap in my arms, both of us crusted in hours-old grossness and rocking her, I realized: This is gametime. I am NEEDED to calm and help this child in a way that only I can. I am a MOM. The following lyrics never stopped playing in my head during this whole story:
(Excerpt of lyrics from “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant)
I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now, be with me now
Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy
Breath of Heaven
Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of Your plan
Help me be strong, help me be, help me
When the doctor finally saw my baby, everything checked out fine. And my husband finally made it through the rush hour traffic from work an hour away and brought us new clothes. And cleaned the car. It could have turned out differently, but it didn’t. Thanks be to God
Touche, Now I'm the one in tears. I always knew you could do it Love, Mama XO
ReplyDeleteSpecial Hymn
ReplyDeleteLike everyone, I have many special hymns. It is so hard to choose. However, the favorite hymn that always comes to mind first, is Beautiful Savior, King of Creation, #6 from the Navy hymnal, The Concordia Hymnal, A Hymnal for Church, School, and Home. It was published by Augsburg, 1932.
My home church was Central Lutheran in Spokane, Washington. Just a couple of fun facts for the church history buffs. We were “The Evangelical Lutheran Church (1917-1960) and prior to that The Norwegian Synod (1853-1917). We used the Red Service Book And Hymnal when it was published in 1958. However, my fondest hymn memories are from the Navy Concordia hymnal. I’m not sure, but I imagine the old Navy hymnals were “passed down” to the Sunday School children when the new green hymnals arrived.
Our church sponsored a group for elementary aged girls called, “Lutheran Children of the Reformation”, better known as LCR. The girls met once a month for a worship service, crafts, and dinner. Mothers took turns being in charge of crafts and two mothers and their daughters prepared and served dinner. Our dinner menus featured some of the best Jell-O salads, hot dishes, and desserts ever shared in a Lutheran basement!
Now, back to my favorite hymn. Our worship service opened the evening. We had devotions and then sang hymns. Our leaders often taught new hymns, and then we could request hymns. Our hands shot up and the first request called out was most always, NUMBER 6! Technically known as, Beautiful Savior, King of Creation. We sang from our hearts and the singing was indeed beautiful.
Beautiful Savior, King of Creation
Beautiful Savior! King of Creation!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’d love Thee, Truly I’d serve Thee,
Light of my soul, my joy, my crown!
Fair are the meadows, Fairer the woodlands,
Robed in flow’rs of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer;
He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.
Fair is the sunshine, Fairer the moonlight
And the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer;
Than all the angles in the sky.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, Praise, adoration,
Now and forever more be Thine!
Munster Gesangbuch, 1677 & Tr Joseph A Seiss, 1873
Tune: Hoffmann von Fallersleben’s Volkslieder, 1842
Favorite Hymn: Beautiful Savior
Deleteby DyAnn Dennie