Oh, how I have missed seeing you on Sunday morning and hearing your voices singing! We will have more weeks of social distancing to come where we cannot gather together in person to praise the King of Heaven. However, we can enjoy music "together" in our homes and sing, either by ourselves or with our families, with hearts full of praise to God.
By sharing at-home worship music with you today and in coming weeks, I pray that your spirits will be lifted, your souls will be encouraged, and you will be edified knowing that others will be singing the same songs. We will be in harmony even though we are in our individual homes, looking forward to the day when we can once again be united as a family in our place of worship.
Each week I have the privilege to be able to play prelude music on Sunday mornings at our 8:00 service to help everyone prepare their hearts for worship. We also enjoy congregational hymns/songs together, and I share a piano postlude at the conclusion of the service so that everyone can "go out in joy." Here are some musical offerings I've selected for this week that reflect that exact routine, complete with lyrics as well as links for further enrichment.
Disclaimer: these were all recorded in one take today, complete with the occasional note (or two) that doesn't "speak," etc. They are not perfect or professionally rendered recordings nor did I try to do anything particularly fancy with the hymn accompaniments so that the focus can be on your own singing.
If you have any requests please let me know in the comments section (or feel free to email me!)
TIPS
SOUND QUALITY: If you have external speakers that you can connect to your computer, laptop, tablet or phone you will be able to get a fuller sound to support your singing. Otherwise just turn up the volume on your device.
AUDIO PLAYER WINDOWS: In the music player windows, if given a choice (other than just the little "play" arrow) you'll want to click "listen in browser" so that you stay on this page and can follow along with the lyrics.
To God Alone Be the Glory!
1. PRELUDE
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| Jebulon / CC0 |
Crown Him with Many Crowns
It's stating the obvious to affirm that our news is full of one subject: coronavirus.
Corona = Crown
A wonderful blog post I read today, Corona As a Reminder of My King (by Melissa Edgington on Your Mom Has a Blog) spoke of this connection and reminded me of this majestic hymn.
I usually include this each year as part of my Easter morning prelude, but wanted to share it now. This is a powerful arrangement for solo piano by Mark Hayes, one of my favorite arrangers of all time!
Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.
Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o'er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save;
his glories now we sing
who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring,
and lives that death may die.
Crown him the Lord of love;
behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above,
in beauty glorified;
no angels in the sky
can fully bear that sight,
but downward bends their burning eye
at mysteries so bright.
Crown him the Lord of years,
the potentate of time,
creator of the rolling spheres,
ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
for thou hast died for me;
thy praise shall never, never fail
throughout eternity.
Sheet music and background information on the hymn available here.
2. HYMNS FOR YOU TO SING
How Can I Keep From Singing?
Scripture Reference: Psalm 30:12, Psalm 149:1-5
The refrain of this beautiful hymn by Robert Lowry is so timely and comforting right now.
My life flows on in endless song;
above earth’s lamentation,
I catch the sweet, though far off hymn
that hails a new creation.
Refrain:
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?
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing? [Refrain]
What though my joys and comforts die?
I know my Savior liveth.
What though the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth. [Refrain]
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
a fountain ever springing!
All things are mine since I am his!
How can I keep from singing? [Refrain]
Sheet music and background information on this hymn available here.
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Here is a calming, soothing hymn for you with such a beautiful tune. Yes, it uses some old-timey language here and there. And yes, I believe that we can all sing the old words and still make sense of them!
Scripture reference: Psalm 23
The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever.
Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth;
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
but yet in love he sought me;
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death's dark vale I fear no ill,
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spreadst a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and oh, what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days,
thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house forever.
Sheet music and background information for this hymn can be found here
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
Scripture reference: Psalm 18:2-3
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
Scripture reference: Psalm 18:2-3
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus at a time when everything else seems to be sinking sand. He alone is our strength and shield, a mighty fortress, our hiding place, "when all around (our) souls give way."
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in ev'ry high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]
His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]
When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found,
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]
Sheet music and background information for this hymn can be found here
POSTLUDE
He's Got the Whole World In His Hands
Scripture Reference: Job 12:10
On Sunday, May 8, I shared this arrangement by Larry Shackley of the beloved African-American spiritual as our postlude at the early service. I decided to record it today and re-share it here as an encouragement to all!
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in ev'ry high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]
His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]
When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found,
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]
Sheet music and background information for this hymn can be found here
POSTLUDE
He's Got the Whole World In His Hands
Scripture Reference: Job 12:10
On Sunday, May 8, I shared this arrangement by Larry Shackley of the beloved African-American spiritual as our postlude at the early service. I decided to record it today and re-share it here as an encouragement to all!
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the wind and the rain in his hands.
(Sing three times)
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got the little tiny baby in his hands. . . .
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got you and me, brother, in his hands. . . .
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got you and me, sister, in his hands. . . .
He's got the whole world in his hands.
He's got everybody here in his hands. . . .
He's got the whole world in his hands.
1 comment:
Thank you thank you thank you Jana. We worship together through this beautiful gift of music. Lorell
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