November 5, 2023
Jesus Loves Me
One of the best-known children’s hymns is Anna Warner’s “Jesus Loves Me.” Written by an American woman who was known for her kindness and ministry to military cadets, the song’s tune and lyrics have gone through many transformations over the years. Originally the lyrics were set to a pentatonic melody (based on five notes and often associated with Asian, Indigenous, and Celtic musical cultures), but William Bradbury composed the tune that is used today. Bradbury is the composer of other classic hymns such as Sweet Hour of Prayer, Just as I Am, He Leadeth Me, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, and Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (which I played in last week’s prelude).
The lyrics were originally focused on teaching a simple version of the gospel and God’s care for us:
Jesus loves me—this I know, for the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to him belong—they are weak, but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me,—he who died, heaven’s gates to open wide;
He will wash away my sin, let his little child come in.
Jesus loves me—loves me still, though I’m very weak and ill;
From his shining throne on high comes to watch me where I lie.
Jesus loves me,—he will stay close beside me all the way.
Then his little child will take up to heav’n for his dear sake.
These original lyrics have sometimes been changed to include other thoughts, such as assurance of God’s enduring love:
Jesus loves me when I'm good, when I do the things I should,
Jesus loves me when I'm bad, though it makes Him very sad.
and recommitment on the singers’ part to walking in faith:
Jesus, take this heart of mine, make it pure and wholly Thine;
On the cross You died for me, I will try to live for Thee.
Voices United uses a Canadian Anglican version by David R McGuire about the friendship of Jesus:
Jesus loves me, this I know, as he loved so long ago,
taking children on his knee, saying, “Let them come to me.”
Jesus loves me still today, walking with me on my way,
waiting as a friend to give light and love to all who live.
Regardless of text, the hymn remains a favourite, For more details, including a Buddhist version, see
C. Michael Hawn's article. I’ll see you on Sunday for a different kind of service through the wonders of tech!
October 29, 2023
Sing to the Lord of Harvest
The
Canadian Encyclopedia tells us that although Indigenous peoples celebrated the fall harvest before European settlers arrived in Canada, the first official annual Thanksgiving in Canada was celebrated on November 6 1879. Unsurprisingly, the explorers of Canada were known to celebrate thanksgiving, including Martin Frobisher and crew in 1578 and Sameul de Champlain in 1606 (in what was then New France). It was the people of Nova Scotia who introduced the turkey, squash and pumpkin meal that is so common today, beginning in 1750 and spreading across Canada by the 1870s. The federal government proclaimed the second Monday of October as Thanksgiving day In 1957, and most provinces and territories have made it a statutory holiday.
Of course, Christians sing their thanksgiving to God regularly, but the focus of harvest makes a wonderful focus for our October hymnody. The last hymn to share with you on this theme is Sing to the Lord of Harvest. This is a new hymn to me, but it is not a new hymn, having been written by an Irish clergyman, who published it in 1866. John Monsell enjoyed writing thanksgiving hymns, and this one is rich with biblical imagery that extends our thankfulness beyond the harvest to our salvation:
Sing to the Lord of harvest, sing songs of love and praise;
With joyful hearts and voices your alleluias raise!
By him the rolling seasons In fruitful order move;
Sing to the Lord of harvest a song of happy love.
By him the clouds drop fatness, the deserts bloom and spring,
The hills leap up in gladness, the valleys laugh and sing.
He filleth with his fullness all things with large increase;
He crowns the year with goodness, with plenty, and with peace.
Heap on his sacred altar the gifts his goodness gave,
The golden sheaves of harvest, the souls Christ died to save.
Your hearts lay down before him when at his feet you fall,
And with your lives adore him Who gave his life for all.
To God the gracious Father, Who made us "very good,"
To Christ, who, when we wandered, restored us with his blood,
And to the Holy Spirit, Who doth upon us pour
His blessed dews and sunshine, be praise forevermore.
This is a Trinitarian hymn, as you can see in the final verse all three members of the Godhead receive praise. I look forward to seeing and hearing you sing this on Sunday!
October 22, 2023
Pflügening and Streuening
I am tempted to say that I love Thanksgiving hymns the best of all, but that is actually not true, because I love Christmas and Easter hymns just as much. However, because October songs of the faith usually only get “aired out” on one Sunday a year, they continue to hold their appeal! Two weeks ago, I wrote about the thanksgiving themes in “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” then about the spiritual harvest table in “All Things are Ready.” I plan to continue using and writing about thanksgiving hymns all month.
October 15, 2023
Singing About a Heavenly Banquet
Ridley Gillmore, our guest speaker on Sunday, contacted me several weeks ago to say that the next service will be based around the parable of the wedding banquet for the King’s son (in Matthew 22). It is a serious story that reminds us that God invites us into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. The invitation is open to all, but not all will choose to accept it. Consequently, I selected music with the theme of invitation: Come in, Come in and Sit Down and Come to the Table. The second hymn is my adaptation of an old gospel hymn by Charles Gabriel, All Things Are Ready. My adaption is:
1. All things are ready, come to the table,
come, for the Father's feast now is spread.
Come all who hunger, come all who linger,
come and you shall all be richly fed.
2. All things are ready, come to the table,
come, for the door is now open wide.
A place of honour and invitation
has been reserved at Jesus' side.
3. All things are ready, come to the table,
come without worry, come without strife.
Do not delay for Jesus is calling;
come, feast on love and eternal life.
I think that it is a lovely image of God’s invitation and welcome, and the lilting Irish tune BUNESSAN (also used with Morning Has Broken) is a perfect setting for it.
Another piece we will try out together in A Time for All Ages is His Banner Over Me is Love. Wesley’s Wuppets sing this song, but they skip the banquet verse, so we will sing it together. You might remember this fun one from Sunday School. It is a definite lively contrast to Come to the Table. I’m hoping that Ridley will help us out with some jazzy trombone! Ridley is also bringing his trombone friend, Barry Cook, along to play some new trombone duos that I put together, so that will be a special treat.
Don’t forget that Sunday at 4pm at the church will be the Hymn Festival with the Royal Canadian College of Organists (I am a member) and the Owen Sound Salvation Army Band. There are about 16 or more musicians coming, the sound will be glorious, and you will be invited to sing, sing, sing! The event is in support of OShare and will be a wonderful time of music. All are welcome, so please invite your friends and come prepared to give a thanksgiving offering in support of our community.
October 8, 2023
Summer, Winter, Springtime and Harvest
The seasons listed in the title are not in chronological order, but they are in musical order for a great American hymn of praise, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” This hymn text was written in the 1920s by amateur poet Thomas Obediah Chisholm (1866-1960), and it was set to music by a musician from the renowned school, Moody Bible College, William H. Runyan (1870-1957).
George Beverly Shea’s performance of the hymn at Billy Graham crusades led to the hymn becoming well-known and much loved. I have always loved it, and had it sung at my wedding to Evan. The words are a musical paraphrase of Lamentations 3:22-23: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."
Musically, the hymn begins with thoughtful verses about creation, then moving on to the peace from salvation that Christians can experience. The verses contrast with the triumphant chorus:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
The way that the music builds to the last phrase of the chorus creates great emotional impact and reminds us of God’s promises to His people: Everything that we need, God has provided. It is a wonderful message, not just at Thanksgiving, but any time of the year.