Music for at-home worship: Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020

Here is more music to encourage you to lift your voice in song as you worship at home this weekend. Today I've included simple piano accompaniments to two traditional Palm Sunday hymns, as well as two hymns of comfort and assurance. In addition, you can listen to a prelude to help you focus and prepare your heart for worship, and a postlude to send you into your day with joy!

For the best sound, turn up the volume on your device or use headphones OR external speakers.

For family worship, each person can sing along looking at the lyrics on their device while one device plays the music. OR if you have hymnals at home . . . now is the time to dust them off and use them!

IF YOU ARE LISTENING/VIEWING ON A MOBILE DEVICE/TABLET:

If given an option on your mobile device, click "LISTEN IN BROWSER" (rather than "Play on SoundCloud") on the audio player windows so that you stay on this page and can sing along using the printed lyrics.

PRELUDE

O come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our maker (Psalm 95:6)

I Need Thee Every Hour

Words by Annie Hawks and Robert Lowry, music by Robert Lowry, arranged for solo piano by Cindy Berry

I need thee every hour,
most gracious Lord;
no tender voice like thine
can peace afford.

Refrain:
I need thee, O I need thee;
every hour I need thee!
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to thee.

I need thee every hour,
stay thou near by;
temptations lose their power
when thou art nigh. (Refrain)

I need thee every hour,
in joy or pain;
come quickly, and abide,
or life is vain. (Refrain)

I need thee every hour;
teach me thy will,
and thy rich promises
in me fulfill.(Refrain)

A lovely article about this hymn can be found here.

HYMNS FOR YOU TO SING AT HOME

Scripture reference for both Palm Sunday Hymns: Matthew 21:1-17

All Glory, Laud and Honor

Words by Theodulf of Orléans (c. 820), Music by Melchior Teschner (1613)

This text of this glorious hymn of praise was written by Theodulf, Bishop of Orléans, who was a writer, poet, and prominent theologian in the court of Charlemagne. Theodulf was also a reformer who encouraged the building of many public schools, but fell out of favor with Charlemagne's son Louis, was accused of treason, and was imprisoned in Angers, France. The bright, joyful hymn "All Glory, Laud and Honor" was written by Theodulf during this dark period. 

For more on the history of this hymn, see this post.  For sheet music, click here. For a recording of this hymn that includes vocals, click here.

All glory, laud, and honor
to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the King of Israel
and David's royal Son,
now in the Lord's name coming,
the King and Blessed One.

The company of angels
is praising you on high;
and we with all creation
in chorus make reply.
The people of the Hebrews
with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before you we present.

To you before your passion
they sang their hymns of praise;
to you, now high exalted,
our melody we raise.
As you received their praises,
accept the prayers we bring,
for you delight in goodness,
O good and gracious King!

Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

Words by Jennette Threlfall (1873), ELLACOMBE hymn tune (Gesangbuch der Herzogl, Hofkapelle, Würtemberg, 1784)

Jennette Threlfall, English writer and poet, suffered mightily during her lifetime: she was orphaned at a young age, and became an invalid after two traumatic accidents. However, her faith was strong and she found joy in writing poems/hymns, especially for young children.

Here's a wonderfully detailed article from the Hymnology Archive that tells the story behind this hymn, first published as a poem in a collection called Sunshine and Shadow in 1873.  (Many famous hymns first appeared in print as poems and later were matched with melodies that matched them well).  Sheet music is here.


Hosanna, loud hosanna
the little children sang;
through pillared court and temple
the lovely anthem rang.
To Jesus, who had blessed them,
close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises,
the simplest and the best.

From Olivet they followed
mid an exultant crowd,
the victory palm branch waving,
and chanting clear and loud.
The Lord of earth and heaven
rode on in lowly state,
nor scorned that little children
should on his bidding wait.

Hosanna in the highest!"
That ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer,
the Lord of heaven, our King.
O may we ever praise him
with heart and life and voice,
and in his blissful presence
eternally rejoice.

God Will Take Care of You

Words by Civilla D. Martin, Music by Walter S. Martin 

Scripture reference: 1 Peter 5:7, Isaiah 46:4

The moving story behind this hymn (written by a husband and wife song-writing team) is here. Sheet music is here. If this hymn is new to you, here's a recording that includes singing.

This is a comforting hymn for everyone, and is especially easy for children to learn and sing because of the frequent repetition of the title phrase, "God will take care of you"

Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

Refrain:
God will take care of you,
Through ev'ry day,
O’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart does fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you. [Refrain]

All you may need he will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you. [Refrain]

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon his breast,
God will take care of you. [Refrain].

He Will Hold Me Fast

Original words verses 1-2 by Ada Habershon, new words and music by Matt Merker

This is a contemporary musical setting of a traditional hymn that our (early service) congregation has learned over the past six months.  We immediately embraced it as a hymn of comfort and assurance, and it has taken on new meaning as we find ourselves leaning on Christ every moment during this challenging season. The original hymn by Ada Habershon and Robert Harkness was written in 1906: the story of its origins, rediscovery, and transformation is here.

This beautiful hymn may be new to you (or perhaps you know the 1906 version!).  Sheet music is available here, as is a link to a recording with vocals that you might enjoy listening to as well.

When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast

Chorus:
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast

Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast

CHORUS

For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight
When he comes at last

CHORUS

POSTLUDE

(For you shall) Go out with joy, and be led forth with peace! (Isaiah 55:12)

Rejoice the Lord is King

Words by Charles Wesley, Music by John Darwall, arranged for solo piano by Jan Sanborn

Scripture reference: Psalm 97:1

Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He has purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o'er earth and heav'n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv'n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord and judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice