Welcome! You may be in a location where gathering for worship and singing together with other believers is once again part of your weekly routine. Or you may be unable to gather together at your place of worship due to local health regulations. Regardless of where your faith community is during this pandemic, this is a space where we can all worship together, even while apart, by singing beautiful songs of praise and adoration "with heart and soul and voice." May the music, stories, Scripture and images shared here encourage you in your faith and help you to lift high the name of Christ as you start a new week.
If you are a first-time visitor, click here to find out the story of "Notes of Glory." (You will also find instructions here for listening to music using the SoundCloud windows).
Here's an alphabetical list of all "Notes of Glory" music with links so that you can revisit your favorite hymns/songs and sing them once again!
I'll Live for Him
Words by Ralph E. Hudson, Music by Charles R. Dunbar, arranged for solo piano by Pamela M. Robertson
Romans 14:8
For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.
Philippians 1:19-21
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
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My life, my love I give to Thee,
This simple hymn of consecration and dedication was written by Ralph E. Hudson (1843-1901), a minister who served in the Civil War as a nurse in the Union Army, and later taught music at Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio. Hudson also established his own music publishing company and produced song collections including Salvation Echoes (1882), Songs of Peace, Love and Joy (1885), and The Temperance Songster (1886). Little is known of Charles Dunbar (1830-1895) who wrote the tune, other than the fact that he was a minister and was born in Pulaski, NY.
Each verse of "I'll Live for Thee" points to Christ: he is the Lamb of God, the Savior, the one worthy of our trust because of his love for us, and the source of our freedom because of his sacrificial death on Calvary and resurrection. The word "happy" in the refrain refers to something deeper than just a momentary feeling: we find lasting peace, joy, and contentment in knowing Christ and enthroning him at the center of our lives. This piano arrangement by Pamela M. Robertson treats the tune of "I'll Live for Him" with tenderness and a sense of spaciousness.
My life, my love I give to Thee,
Thou Lamb of God Who died for me;
O may I ever faithful be,
My Savior and my God!
Chorus:
I'll live for Him Who died for me,
How happy then My life shall be!
I'll live for Him Who died for me,
My Savior and my God!
I now believe Thou dost receive,
For Thou hast died That I might live;
And now henceforth I'll trust in Thee,
My Savior and my God! [Chorus]
O Thou who died on Calvary,
To save my soul And make me free,
I'll consecrate My life to Thee,
My Savior and my God! [Chorus]
Words: 7th century Latin hymn, translated by John Mason Neale. Music: "Westminster Abbey" by Henry Purcell, adapted by Ernest Hawkings
Acts 4:11
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone
1 Peter 4:2-7
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
Lord, here grant to all Your servants
what they ask of You to gain,
what they gain from You, forever
with the blessed to retain,
and hereafter in Your glory
evermore with You to reign.
Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
Chosen of the Lord and precious,
Binding all the Church in one;
Holy Zion's help forever,
And her confidence alone.
To this temple where we call Thee,
Come, O Lord of hosts, today!
With Thy wonted loving kindness
Hear Thy people as they pray;
And Thy fullest benediction
Shed within its walls alway.
Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants
What they ask of Thee to gain:
What they gain from Thee forever
With the blessed to retain,
And hereafter in Thy glory
Evermore with Thee to reign.
Laud and honor to the Father,
Laud and honor to the Son,
Laud and honor to the Spirit,
Ever Three and ever One;
One in might, and One in glory,
While unending ages run.
Words by Washington Gladden, Music by H. Percy Smith ("Maryton" hymn tune)
O Master, let me walk with thee
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me thy secret, help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me thy patience; still with thee
In closer, dearer company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.
In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future's broad'ning way,
In peace that only thou canst give,
With thee, O Master, let me live.
Words and Music by Haldor Lillenas
Ephesians 2:1-10
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
O may I ever faithful be,
My Savior and my God!
Chorus:
I'll live for Him Who died for me,
How happy then My life shall be!
I'll live for Him Who died for me,
My Savior and my God!
I now believe Thou dost receive,
For Thou hast died That I might live;
And now henceforth I'll trust in Thee,
My Savior and my God! [Chorus]
O Thou who died on Calvary,
To save my soul And make me free,
I'll consecrate My life to Thee,
My Savior and my God! [Chorus]
HYMNS FOR YOU TO SING ANYWHERE
(transposed to easily singable keys!)
Christ is Made the Sure Foundation
Words: 7th century Latin hymn, translated by John Mason Neale. Music: "Westminster Abbey" by Henry Purcell, adapted by Ernest Hawkings
Acts 4:11
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone
1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1:15-20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Ephesians 2:19-22
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
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A number of well-known hymns (and Christmas carols) that we frequently sing today date from the early or medieval Christian era: these include "All Glory, Laud and Honor," "Of the Father's Love Begotten," "and "The Day of Resurrection," among others. Our opening hymn today, "Christ is Made the Sure Foundation" also fits in this category, having originated sometime during the 6th or 7th century as the second part of a Latin church dedication hymn, "Urbs beata Jerusalem." It's easy to confuse the title of this hymn with the similarly themed and titled "The Church's One Foundation," a 19th century British hymn we featured last October here on Notes of Glory, but "Christ is Made the Sure Foundation" is over 1,000 years older! John Mason Neale (1818-1886), a gifted British scholar and clergyman with a passion for Medieval hymnody, brought "Urbs beata Jerusalem" into the modern era by creating an English translation in 1851, much as he did for "Good Christian Men Rejoice" and many other ancient hymns.
The music to which "Urbs Beata Jerusalem" would have originally been sung was unmeasured, unnotated plainsong chant. In its modern iteration as "Christ is Made the Sure Foundation," this text is sung to many different tunes. (I own four hymnals which all include this hymn: in each hymnal it is set to a different tune!) This hymn can be sung to "Regent Square" (the tune sung with the Christmas carol "Angels from the Realms of Glory") and you are welcome to match that tune with this text today if you'd like. However, the lovely tune shown in the sheet music below is called "Westminster Abbey," and is so unique and appealing that this seems like a perfect opportunity to introduce it if you've not heard it before. This tune was written by the great British composer and organist Henry Purcell (1659-1695) who became organist at Westminster Abbey at the age of 20. The "Westminster Abbey" tune was originally part of Purcell's 1680 choral anthem "O God, Thou Art My God." It has such a beautiful rising and falling contour, and features a very unusual minor to major chord change in the third line that adds depth and interest.
The lyrics of this hymn affirm the fundamental centrality of Christ in our churches and faith (verse 1), ask for hearing and answering the prayers of believers (verse 2), pray for Christ's presence to be with us now and always as promised in Scripture (verse 3) and conclude with robust praise to the Trinity ("ever three and ever one, one in might and one in glory"). If the language of the third verse seems a bit antiquated or confusing to you, try singing these lines instead:
Lord, here grant to all Your servants
what they ask of You to gain,
what they gain from You, forever
with the blessed to retain,
and hereafter in Your glory
evermore with You to reign.
If "Christ is Made the Sure Foundation" is new to you and you'd like to hear a recording first before singing this hymn yourself (and you'll definitely want to sing this powerful affirmation of faith), here's a wonderful video showing a congregation (from St. Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen Scotland) joyfully singing this hymn. You might also enjoy this very majestic recording by the Southwestern Seminary Oratorio Chorus and Festival Brass. Listen to either or both of these recordings and learn the tune, then come back here to sing it yourself with the piano accompaniment (sensitively lowered just a bit for your singing comfort!). This is yet another theologically rich hymn that is worth learning and singing often as a reminder of the solid foundation we have in Christ.
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| Public domain. Courtesy of Hymnary.org |
Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
Chosen of the Lord and precious,
Binding all the Church in one;
Holy Zion's help forever,
And her confidence alone.
To this temple where we call Thee,
Come, O Lord of hosts, today!
With Thy wonted loving kindness
Hear Thy people as they pray;
And Thy fullest benediction
Shed within its walls alway.
Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants
What they ask of Thee to gain:
What they gain from Thee forever
With the blessed to retain,
And hereafter in Thy glory
Evermore with Thee to reign.
Laud and honor to the Father,
Laud and honor to the Son,
Laud and honor to the Spirit,
Ever Three and ever One;
One in might, and One in glory,
While unending ages run.
O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee
Words by Washington Gladden, Music by H. Percy Smith ("Maryton" hymn tune)
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?Colossians 2:6
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.1 John 2:5-6
But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
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Often the Christian life is referred to as "walking in faith," and the Bible tells us that we do not walk alone (see verses listed above). American minister, journalist, social justice activist and hymn writer Washington Gladden (1836-1918) published a poem in 1879 titled "Walking with God" which appeared in a magazine called Sunday Afternoon. The following year, the hymn was included in Charles Richard's published hymnal Songs of Christian praise with music: a manual of worship for public, social and private devotion. "O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee" was matched with many tunes over the years, but Gladden insisted on use of the tune "Maryton" which was composed by H. Percy Smith (1825-1898) and was originally paired with the hymn "Sun of My Soul" in Arthur S. Sullivan's Church Hymns with Tunes (1874).
Gladden's text is an intimate prayer. We ask our Savior for help bearing "the strain of toil, the fret of care," and pray for a heart to reach the lost in verse two. In verse three, our prayer is for patience, trust, and for edifying work to do. In the final verse, we ask for peace, and circle back to the opening theme of walking with Christ being the deepest desire of our heart.
If "O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee" is new to you, here's a recording of the 16 Singing Men singing this hymn. Here's a solo version from Amy Grant that you might also enjoy. Even if you've never sung this hymn before, give it a try: the soothing, slow melody moves mostly by step and is easy to follow along with and learn.
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| Public domain. Courtesy of Hymnary.org |
O Master, let me walk with thee
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me thy secret, help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me thy patience; still with thee
In closer, dearer company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.
In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future's broad'ning way,
In peace that only thou canst give,
With thee, O Master, let me live.
Wonderful Grace of Jesus
Words and Music by Haldor Lillenas
Ephesians 2:1-10
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
___________________________
"Wonderful Grace of Jesus" is the best-known song of nearly 4,000 composed by Norwegian-American pastor, composer, and music publisher Haldor Lillenas (1885-1959). Lillenas and his family emigrated to the United States from Norway when he was just two years old: the family first settled in South Dakota, then moved to Oregon, and later Minnesota, where Lillenas attended high school and worked as a farm laborer. He also studied chemistry via correspondence course and worked at a chemical factory. (In later years, Lillenas also studied music theory and composition through correspondence courses). After his mother's death in 1906, Lillenas returned to Oregon, where he became involved in mission work and eventually became a Nazarene pastor, serving churches in California, Illinois and Indiana. However, Lillenas also loved composing songs and hymns, and felt called to commit his energy toward a career in music ministry. He began working as a traveling song evangelist, then founded the Lillenas Music Publishing Company in 1924 and spent the rest of his life as a musical ambassador for Christ, composing and publishing his own songs and promoting the music of many others through his company.
Lillenas described the period in his life when he wrote "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" and other songs.
In 1917, Mrs. Lillenas and I built our first little home in the town of Olivet, Illinois. Upon its completion, we had scarcely any money left to furnish the little home. Having no piano at the time, and needing an instrument of some kind, I managed to find, at one of the neighbor's home, a little wheezy organ which I purchased for $5.00. With the aid of this instrument, a number of my songs, were written which are now popular, including 'Wonderful Grace of Jesus.'
"Wonderful Grace of Jesus" was copyrighted in 1918, but not published until 1922 in the Tabernacle Choir Book. Lillenas was paid $5.00 for this song, which celebrates the very wonderful and matchless grace of Jesus. In this upbeat, joyous song, Lillenas describes not just the effects of the grace of Christ on believers (taking away our burdens, setting our spirits free, giving us peace and liberty, providing a home in heaven for us), but also speaks of its expansiveness (deep, high, sparkling, all-sufficient, broad, great). The refrain ends with the exhortation to "magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise his name!"
Yes, there are a lot of words in this song, and yes, sometimes it is sung at a tempo that, ahem, "moves along"...apparently during this era there was a belief that "to keep the Spirit in the church, it seemed necessary to keep up the tempo." Here in the piano recording for today I've modified both the tempo as well as the vocal range: I've mellowed the pace somewhat and also transposed the song down pretty dramatically so that EVERYONE can (hopefully) reach the triumphant top note on "praise his name." When this song is sung slightly slower, it's easier to fit in all the words, and their meaning sinks in more deeply. Why not give "Wonderful Grace" a try today? I can pretty much guarantee you'll be wearing a smile and your heart and soul will be blessed and encouraged by the time you sing those last few notes!
If "Wonderful Grace" is new to you, there are many great recordings you can listen to in order to get to know this song before actually singing it. Here is a video performance by the Cathedrals, here's a video performance by Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, and here's a recording from the crusade choirs of Billy Graham. Listen, and then dust off those vocal cords and come on back here so that you can "magnify the precious name of Jesus" in song!
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| Public domain. Courtesy of Hymnary.org |
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
greater than all my sin;
how shall my tongue describe it,
where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
setting my spirit free,
for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Refrain:
Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
deeper than the mighty rolling sea,
higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
all sufficient grace for even me;
broader than the scope of my transgressions, sing it!
greater far than all my sin and shame.
O magnify the precious name of Jesus, praise his name!
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
reaching to all the lost,
by it I have been pardoned,
saved to the uttermost.
Chains have been torn asunder,
giving me liberty,
for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me. [Refrain]
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
reaching the most reviled,
by its transforming power
making me God’s dear child,
purchasing peace and heaven
for all eternity,
for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me. [Refrain]
POSTLUDE
(to send you forth with joy!)
Sing Your Praise to the Lord
Words and Music by Rich Mullins, arranged for solo piano by Mark Hayes
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
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Labels are a big thing in Christian music: we feel a need to identify a musical composition as either "traditional" or "contemporary." These words have very broad interpretations and also cover a lot of historical ground. It can be confusing in any given era to know when the first label "officially" ends and the second begins. Today's postlude, "Sing Your Praise to the Lord" is a good example of a song that was as contemporary as contemporary could be (fresh! new! bold! groundbreaking!) when it was written and recorded forty years ago, in 1981. Where does that place this song now: is still considered "contemporary" or is it now "old" enough to be "traditional" or...is it something else entirely (i.e. just well-crafted, timeless Christian music)? All of this interesting to ponder in light of the fact that the entirety of Christian music spans the entire history of the church and consists of many eras that featured blends of what was considered then as both "traditional" and "contemporary" music.
Innovative American songwriter Rich Mullins (1955-1997) became well-known in the Christian music world when singer Amy Grant recorded his song, "Sing Your Praise to the Lord" and included it on her breakthrough album, "Age to Age" which was the first Christian album to be certified gold, and later platinum. "Sing Your Praise to the Lord" begins with an unusual extended introduction that first directly quotes and then expands on the Fugue No. 2 in C minor by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), from his first volume of the Well-Tempered Clavier. This Baroque opening in a minor key gradually leads into a dramatic chromatic transition into the major key, and the praise begins! Mullins' lyrics urge a whole-hearted response to God as we remember His love for us, and compel us to share the good news of Christ to a hurting world.
Mark Hayes' piano arrangement of "Sing Your Praise to the Lord" is a skillful reduction of the original sung melody plus instrumental accompaniment. Most importantly, it captures the infectious spirit of the first recorded version, a musical collaboration between two gifted young musicians (Mullins and Grant) in the early days of what was just beginning to be called "Contemporary Christian Music." No matter how you label this song of praise from the early 1980s, it's sure to lift your spirits as it beckons you to "sing one more hallelujah!"
(Chorus 1)
Sing your praise to the Lord
Come on ev'rybody
Stand up and sing one more hallelujah
Give your praise to the Lord
I can never tell you
Just how much good that it's
Gonna do you just to
Sing anew the song your heart learned to sing
When He first gave His life to you
The life goes on and so must the song
You got to sing again
The song born in your soul
When you first gave your heart to Him
Sing His praises once more
Sing aloud the song that someone is dying to hear
Down in the madd'ning crowd
As you once were before you heard the song
You got to let them know
The truth is alive to shine upon the way
So maybe they can go
Sing His praises once more
Interlude
Let the name of the Lord be praised both for now
And evermore praise Him all ye servants
(Chorus 2)
Give your praise to the Lord
Come on ev'rybody
Stand up and sing one more hallelujah
Give your praise to the Lord
I can never tell you
Just how much good that it's gonna do you
Just to sing sing sing
Come on sing sing sing let me hear you now
Sing sing sing
CCLI Song # 81389
Rich Mullins
© 1982 Meadowgreen Music Company (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 419384
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