Friday, February 26, 2021

Music for Anywhere Worship: Sunday, February 28, 2021




As long as we live, as long as we have breath, while we "have being"...we will sing to the Lord! 

Thank you for joining in today as we share a simple song service together once again. We delight in the ability we have to lift our voices in praise wherever we are, even if we are still physically distanced from one another. May the music, stories, scripture verses and images shared here encourage you in your faith and equip you to magnify the name of Jesus Christ at the start of 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 some tips for listening to music using the SoundCloud windows).  Turn up the volume on your device, feel free to click on the sheet music images to enlarge them, warm up your voice, and prepare to sing with joy!

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!


PRELUDE
(to help you prepare to worship)

O Could I Speak the Matchless Worth



Words by Samuel Medley, Music attributed to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ("Ariel" hymn tune), arranged by Lowell Mason.  Solo piano arrangement by Larry Shackley

Psalm 89:6
For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord?

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Revelation 5:11-12
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
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For our prelude today, bask in the lyrics penned by English Baptist minister and hymn writer Samuel Medley (1738-1799) that reflect a heart full of praise, seeking ever new ways to glorify God.  In "O Could I Sing the Matchless Worth," the hymnwriter exalts God's power and glory that cannot be measured or matched, speaks of God's holy righteousness and also the love shown in paying our debt at the cross  "for the dreadful guilt of sin."  The hymn concludes by looking forward to a beautiful future in heaven, anticipating the "delightful day" when "my dear Lord will bring (me) home."  

Samuel Medley, the son of a schoolmaster, entered the Royal Navy and was severely wounded during his time of service. After recovering from his injuries, Medley ran his own school in London in the early 1760s: it was during this period that he heard a sermon by Isaac Watts which led to his conversion. Medley was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1768 and went on to serve as pastor at a church in Liverpool, England for 27 years. He had a special ministry to sailors in that area and understood them well because of his own naval service. Medley wrote many hymns which were published in several collections, including Hymns: The Public Worship and Private Devotions of True Christians, Assisted in some Thoughts and Verse; Principally Drawn from Select Passages of the Word of God. (1800).  (What a title!)  

Many modern hymnals eliminate Medley's original first verse for "O Could I Sing the Matchless Worth."  It's so beautifully crafted that I wanted to include it here:

Not of terrestrial mortal themes,
Not of the world’s delusive dreams
My soul attempts to sing:
But of that theme divinely true,
Ever delightful, ever new,
My Jesus and my King.

Some hymnals attribute the tune for "O Could I Sing the Matchless Worth" to composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) due to a resemblance of its first phrase to the opening of the duet "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen" from Mozart's opera The Magic Flute. However, the rest of the melody was composed by Lowell Mason (1792-1872), often described as the "Father of American Church Music" who composed over 1600 hymn tunes.  Today's piano arrangement by Larry Shackley of this hymn definitely has a "Mozartean" feel, with its lyrical quality, crisp articulation, and accompaniment patterns characteristic of the Classical period in music history. 

O could I speak the matchless worth,
O could I sound the glories forth
Which in my Savior shine,
I'd soar, and touch the heav'nly strings,
and vie with Gabriel while he sings
in notes almost divine,
in notes almost divine.

I'd sing the precious blood he spilt,
my ransom from the dreadful guilt
of sin, and wrath divine:
I'd sing his glorious righteousness,
in which all perfect, heav'nly dress
my soul shall ever shine,
my soul shall ever shine.

I'd sing the characters he bears,
and all the forms of love he wears,
exalted on his throne:
in loftiest songs of sweetest praise,
I would to everlasting days
make all his glories known,
make all his glories known.

Well, the delightful day will come
when my dear Lord will bring me home,
and I shall see his face;
then with my Savior, Brother, Friend,
a blest eternity I'll spend,
triumphant in his grace,
triumphant in his grace.

HYMNS TO SING WHEREVER YOU ARE
(transposed to easily singable keys)

I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath



Words by Isaac Watts, Music by Matthäus Greiter ("Old 113th" hymn tune)

Psalm 146
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.

Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!
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Our opening hymn, abounding in praises to God our Creator, Savior, and Helper, displays the giftedness of hymn writer Isaac Watts as a poetic paraphraser. The hymns of Isaac Watts are regularly featured here on Notes of Glory (last week we included two of them!), and this week is no exception. Psalm 146, listed above, was the direct inspiration for "I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath," a hymn which is thematically similar to "O Could I Sing the Matchless Worth," our prelude for today. Both speak of a fervent desire to praise God now and in the future, and both elaborate the reasons why He is worthy of praise. The list of all those helped by the Lord in Psalm 146 is artfully and vividly paraphrased here by Watts: God "pours eyesight on the blind," he "supports the fainting mind," and "sends the laboring conscience peace." 

The melody for this hymn, titled "Old 113th" (also called "Genevan 68" due to its inclusion in the Genevan Psalter) is generally believed to have been composed by Matthäus Greiter (c. 1495-1550), who was a German priest, cantor, and composer.  Originally a monk, Greiter joined the reformation movement in 1524 and taught at the University of Strasbourg. This tune begins exactly like "Lasst Uns Erfreuen," the melody associated with  the well-known hymn "All Creatures of our God and King."  In fact, because Greiter's tune came first historically, "Lasst Uns Erfreuen" actually "borrowed" from it, rather than the other way around! 

If this wonderful praise and worship song is new to you, here's a recording featuring organ and singing from the Westminster Choir College that will help you become better acquainted with the words and melody.  Listen, and then come back here to sing along with the piano accompaniment below, using the sheet music provided, praising your Maker while you've breath!  



I'll praise my Maker while I've breath;
and when my voice is lost in death,
praise shall employ my nobler powers.
My days of praise shall ne'er be past
while life and thought and being last,
or immortality endures.

How happy they whose hopes rely
on Israel's God, who made the sky
and earth and seas with all their train;
whose truth forever stands secure,
who saves the oppressed and feeds the poor,
and none shall find God's promise vain.

The Lord pours eyesight on the blind;
the Lord supports the fainting mind
and sends the laboring conscience peace.
God helps the stranger in distress,
the widowed and the parentless,
and grants the prisoner sweet release.

I'll praise my Maker while I've breath;
and when my voice is lost in death,
praise shall employ my nobler powers.
My days of praise shall ne'er be past
while life and thought and being last,
or immortality endures.

Give Me Jesus



African-American Spiritual

Psalm 5:3
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Galatians 6:14
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Philippians 3:7-11
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
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Our next song, "Give Me Jesus," usually listed in hymnals as a traditional African-American spiritual, has a fascinating and rich history. The origins of this wonderful song have already been detailed so thoroughly in an excellent post by Thomas L Baynham, Jr. and C. Michael Hawn that I'm going to simply share that link here.  I hope you enjoy reading this article and learning more about "Give Me Jesus" and other spirituals. 


This spiritual is deeply meaningful to many because of its simple but powerful lyrics and its gorgeous melody which starts gently, at a lower pitch level, then builds in pitch and intensity as it approaches the climactic phrase, "You can have all this world, but give me Jesus."  If this is a new song to you, you might enjoy hearing a version with singing before trying it out yourself.  Here's an arrangement by singer Lynda Randle, and one by Fernando Ortega.



In the morning, when I rise,
in the morning, when I rise,
in the morning, when I rise,
give me Jesus.

Refrain:
Give me Jesus.
give me Jesus,
you may have all this world,
give me Jesus.

Dark midnight was my cry,
dark midnight was my cry,
dark midnight was my cry,
give me Jesus. [Refrain]

Oh, when I come to die,
oh, when I come to die,
oh, when I come to die,
give me Jesus. [Refrain]

Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me



Words by Edward Hopper, Music by John Edgar Gould

Psalm 89:8-9
O Lord God of hosts,
who is mighty as you are, O Lord,
with your faithfulness all around you?
You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you still them.

Psalm 107:29-30
He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.

Luke 8:22-25
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
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As you may recall, the lyrics for today's prelude, "O Could I Sing the Matchless Worth" were written by former sailor Samuel Medley, who, in his later career as a pastor in Liverpool, England, had a special ministry to seamen and those who worked on merchant vessels. Our final hymn, "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me," has a similar ministry backstory: both lyric writers felt called to evangelize those who sailed around the world. American poet, author and pastor Edward Hopper (1816-1888) was born in New York City and studied at New York University and Union Theological Seminary. (Just in case you're wondering: this is a different Edward Hopper than the celebrated American artist). Hopper was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in 1843 and served at the Sag Harbor Presbyterian Church at Long Island before becoming pastor of The Church of  Sea and Land, located on the Lower East Side in New York City, in lower Manhattan. (This structure, the second oldest church building in NYC and a historic landmark, now houses the First Chinese Presbyterian Church).  

Edward Hopper was a perfect fit for this church located in the busy harbor section of New York City, and he cared deeply for the spiritual needs of the many sailors and sea merchants who overwhelmingly comprised the congregation. He composed a number of hymns specifically for these seamen, including "All The Fullness of the Sea," and "Wrecked and Struggling in Mid-Ocean."  In 1871 Hopper wrote "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me," rife with maritime imagery, and submitted it for publication in The Sailor's Magazine.  It was published anonymously and became a great favorite of many who titled it "The Sailor's Hymn," including parishioners in Hopper's church who had no idea their pastor had authored this hymn with such relevance to their lives.  Hopper's authorship of this hymn was revealed in 1880 when he presented it as an anniversary celebration gift for the New York Seamen's Friend Society.

The music for "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" was composed by John Edgar Gould (1821-1875), a composer and hymn publisher who also managed music stores in New York and Philadelphia. Gould came across Hopper's hymn and was so moved by the lyrics that he composed music to match these words just before sailing to Africa in an effort to improve his ailing health.  

We are reminded in "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" that our Savior is with us during the tempestuous storms of life.  When we are tossed about by the waves of our circumstances, the Lord calms the sea (and our souls) by saying "Peace! Be still!" (Mark 4:39). He is in control and we can trust him to be our "chart and compass."

Whether you're familiar with this hymn or not, you'll want to listen to the great Mahalia Jackson singing "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me." Here's another version from the King's Heralds quartet that you might also enjoy.  This hymn is not difficult to sing and is enormously comforting...after listening to one or both recordings of it, I hope you come back here and give "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" a try!  




Jesus, Savior, pilot me,
Over life's tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rocks and treach'rous shoal;
Chart and compass come from Thee–
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!

As a mother stills her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boist'rous waves obey Thy will
When Thou say'st to them, "Be still!"
Wondrous Sov'reign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!

When at last I near the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar
'Twixt me and the peaceful rest–
Then, while leaning on Thy breast,
May I hear Thee say to me,
"Fear not– I will pilot thee!"

POSTLUDE
(to send you forth with joy!)

O Zion, Haste!



Words by Mary Ann Thompson, Tune by James Walch, arranged for solo piano by Cindy Berry

Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Romans 10:14-15
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Hebrews 12:22
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,  and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,  and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
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The mission field may not be the first thing on the mind of a mother nursing a very ill child, but to one such mother in post-Civil War Philadelphia, it was a subject of great importance.  British-born American poet and hymn writer Mary Ann Fulkner Thompson (1824-1923) related the story of creating "O Zion, Haste" some years after its composition. 

I wrote the greater part of the hymn, "O Zion, haste," in the year 1868. I had written many hymns before, and one night, while I was sitting up with one of my children who was ill of typhoid fever, I thought I should like to write a missionary hymn to the tune of the hymn beginning "Hark, hark, my soul, angelic songs are swelling," as I was fond of that tune; but as I could not then get a refrain I liked, I left the hymn unfinished, and about three years later I finished it by writing the refrain which now forms part of it. (from Hymn Writers of the Church by Wilber F. Tillett and Charles S. Nutter, 1915, as cited on Hymnary.org)

Unlike many missionary hymns of that era, Thompson's poem "O Zion Haste" has a winsome quality to it because of its tone of compassion for those who have not yet found saving faith in Christ.  There is such tenderness present in every line of this text which speaks of Christ's sacrificial love, emphasizing "that he who made all nations is not willing one soul should perish, lost in shades of night." (In the first line of this hymn Thompson alludes to the church on earth, rather than Jerusalem/Israel, as "Zion." Some modern hymnals use "O Christians, Haste" instead). 

The tune commonly sung with "O Zion, Haste"  was composed by British music instrument dealer and organist James Walch (1837-1901) in 1875. The piano solo arrangement of "O Zion, Haste" by Cindy Berry captures the noble and straightforward quality of Walch's "Tidings" hymn tune. My prayer is that listening to this recording and meditating on the scriptures listed above along with Thompson's stirring text (her only hymn still sung today) may stir all our hearts in compassion for those who do not know Christ, whether around the globe or around the corner. 


O Zion, haste, your mission high fulfilling,
to tell to all the world that God is light;
that he who made all nations is not willing
one soul should perish, lost in shades of night.

Refrain:
Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace;
tidings of Jesus, redemption, and release.

Behold how many thousands still are lying,
bound in the darksome prison-house of sin,
with none to tell them of the Savior's dying,
or of the life he died for them to win. [Refrain]

Proclaim to ev'ry people, tongue, and nation
that God, in whom they live and move, is love:
tell how he stooped to save his lost creation,
and died on earth that we might live above. [Refrain]

Give of your own to bear the message glorious;
give of your wealth to speed them on their way;
pour out your soul for them in pray'r victorious;
and all your spending Jesus will repay. [Refrain]

Here is a playlist of all the music featured in today's post
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Thursday, February 18, 2021

Music for Anywhere Worship: Sunday, February 21, 2021



Welcome!

As we begin our time of musical worship together today, I wanted to share a few hymn verses by Mary Bowly Peters, one of the hymnwriters featured in today's post. This excerpt comes from her 1847 collection titled Hymns Intended to Help the Communion of the Saints. 

"Praise ye the Lord," again, again,
The Spirit strikes the chord;
Nor toucheth He our hearts in vain--
We praise, we praise the Lord.

"Rejoice in Him," again, again,
The Spirit speaks the Word
And faith takes up the happy strain
Our hope is in the Lord.

"Stand Fast in Christ," ah, yet again
He teacheth all the band,
Our single efforts are all in vain
In Christ alone we stand.

We are the "band," and in Christ alone we do stand!  Let us take up that happy strain and join together to sing hymns of praise, worship and adoration this weekend, even though we may be separated from one another by time and space. 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!


PRELUDE
(to help you prepare to worship)

Jesus Is All the World to Me



Words and Music by Will L. Thompson, arranged for solo piano by Kim Williams.

John 15:13-15
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
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We begin today with a prelude that explores how Christ is our truest, most faithful friend, a theme which has been explored in previous posts.  On September 6 we sang the following lyrics by J. Wilbur Chapman:

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! lover of my soul;
friends may fail me, foes assail me,
he, my Savior, makes me whole.

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah, what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
he is with me to the end.

And on May 10 last year we sang Joseph Scriven's beautiful verses, written to comfort and encourage his mother, ill and far away in Ireland:

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!

Will Lamartine Thompson (1847-1909) expresses similar observations in "Jesus Is All the World to Me," for which he wrote both the words and music (a rare occurrence in hymnody!). Thompson also wrote both the words and music for "Softly and Tenderly" (featured here on Notes of Glory on Sunday, October 4, 2020), another hymn that focuses on a personal, saving relationship with Jesus. Will Thompson studied music at Mt. Union College and the New England Conservatory of Music as well as in Leipzig, Germany. He began composing in his teens and had early success with secular songs like "My Home on the Old Ohio" and "Gathering up the Shells from the Seashore." However, around age 40 he felt led to write hymns and other sacred compositions, and established his own (very successful) music publishing company with offices both in his hometown of East Liverpool, Ohio, and also Chicago, IL.

Jesus is our only perfect friend: a Savior who is loving and also holy and righteous. He graciously redeems all those who believe in him, confess their sins, and ask for forgiveness.  Here's a serene arrangement for solo piano by Kim Williams of Thompson's "Jesus is All the World to Me."  The lyrics are listed below so that you can read the encouraging words as you listen to Williams' beautiful version of this classic hymn.


Jesus is all the world to me,
My life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day,
Without him I would fall:
When I am sad, to him I go,
No other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, he makes me glad,
He's my friend.

Jesus is all the world to me,
My friend in trials sore;
I go to him for blessings, and
He gives them o'er and o'er:
He sends the sunshine and the rain,
He sends the harvest's golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain,
He's my friend.

Jesus is all the world to me,
And true to him I'll be;
Oh, how could I this friend deny,
When he's so true to me?
Following him I know I'm right,
He watches o'er me day and night;
Following him by day and night,
He's my friend.

Jesus is all the world to me,
I want no better friend;
I trust him now, I'll trust him when
Life's fleeting days shall end:
Beautiful life with such a friend,
Beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy,
He's my friend.

HYMNS FOR YOU TO SING WHEREVER YOU ARE
(transposed to easily singable keys!)

Join all the Glorious Names



Words by Isaac Watts, Music by John Darwall

Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called,
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Psalm 72:17-19
May his name endure forever,
his fame continue as long as the sun!
May people be blessed in him,
all nations call him blessed!
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may the whole earth be filled with his glory!
Amen and Amen!

Hebrews 4:14-16
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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Originally written in 12 stanzas and featuring 17 different biblical names for Christ, "Join all the Glorious Names" is another wonderful hymn by Isaac Watts (1674-1748) who has made many appearances here on Notes and Glory.  He is the author of "Come We Who Love the Lord," Almighty Love" ("Now Let Inward Joys Arise," " I Sing the Mighty Power of God," "Joy to the World," and "Jesus Shall Reign,," among some 600 other hymns. Watts was a British minister, theologian and hymnwriter and is frequently described as the "Father of English Hymnody." He was also a logician and wrote a textbook on logic in 1724 which was highly popular and was considered a standard text on the subject. Watts also wrote essays on philosophy, astronomy, and psychology.   

"Join all the Glorious Names" was first published in Watt's 1709 collection titled Hymns and Sacred Songs with a title of "The Offices of Christ, from Several Scriptures." As noted with other hymns by Watts featured previously here on Notes of Glory, Watts sought to revitalize singing in England, which in many churches at that time was strictly limited to the Psalms. Watts wrote poetic paraphrases of nearly all the psalms and also wove in New Testament truths, something that seems entirely rational (i.e. singing about Christ in Christian churches!) but was controversial at the time due to the prevailing musical traditions. 

In "Join All the Glorious Names," Watts begins with a spirit of adoration and wonder.  He makes the point that there is no no single word, no name, or even all the titles in the Bible joined together that can fully convey the power and glory of God. He is that holy.  But because we do communicate and sing using words, Watts then turns to the Bible, joyfully listing various names and titles from both the Old and New Testaments, and matches certain names/titles with God's attributes and actions for which we give thanks and rejoice.  

The tune matched with "Join all the Glorious Names" here is "Darwall" written by none other than British vicar, poet, and amateur musician John Darwall (1731-1789): you'll recognize this as the tune sung with "Rejoice the Lord is King" which was featured here on Notes of Glory as a hymn on October 18, 2020, and as a piano postlude on April 5, 2020. "Darwall" was originally composed in 1770 as a setting for Psalm 148. 

You can listen to either of the Notes of Glory recordings listed above to get a feel for the tune if it's new to you, or listen to this recording of the hymn with singing by the Coventry Singers.  Then warm up your vocal cords and sing these glorious names of our Lord and Savior!  (Remember to click the arrow in the SoundCloud box below for a freshly-recorded piano accompaniment to help you sing with confidence: you can also click on the sheet music to enlarge it if you're a music-reader!).




Join all the glorious names
of wisdom, love, and pow'r,
that ever mortals knew,
that angels ever bore:
all are too poor to speak his worth,
too poor to set my Savior forth.

Great Prophet of my God,
my tongue would bless thy name:
by thee the joyful news
of our salvation came,
the joyful news of sins forgiv'n,
of hell subdued and peace with heav'n.

Jesus, my great High Priest,
offered his blood and died;
my guilty conscience seeks
no sacrifice beside:
his pow'rful blood did once atone
and now it pleads before the throne.

My Savior and my Lord,
my Conqu'ror and my King,
thy scepter and thy sword,
thy reigning grace, I sing:
thine is the pow'r; behold I sit
in willing bonds beneath thy feet.

I Cannot Tell



Words by William Young Fullerton, "Londonderry Air" Irish folk melody arranged by John Barnard


John 10:11-16
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

1 John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
____________________________________

We often use the word "awesome" in casual conversation, but how often are we truly in awe of something? In the hymn we just sang, "Join all the Glorious Names," Isaac Watts notes with awe that even the biblical names for the Lord fail to completely convey His glory.  He is so very wonderful that we find ourselves full of wonder as we contemplate Him. 

In our next hymn, each verse begins with the words "I cannot tell," acknowledging our human limits in fully comprehending God's love for us, appreciating His sacrifice on our behalf, and understanding His glorious plans for our future. Just as in "Join All the Glorious Names," we are in awe of God's lovingkindness, and have a deep sense of wonder about his everlasting power. However, the second half of each verse begins, assuredly, with the words "but, this I know."  We can trust in God right now, today, and rely on all the promises in the Bible. And we are assured in 1 Corinthians 13:12 that in heaven, our knowledge and understanding will be greatly expanded. 

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

"I Cannot Tell" was written around 1920 by Irish evangelist and author William Young Fullerton (1857-1932) who came to a saving relationship with Christ at the age of 13 and became a student, friend and biographer of famed preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon in London. Fullerton served as pastor of Melbourne Hall Baptist Church in Leicester, England and wrote a number of books including The Christly life: a study of the Christian graces and how to attain them, and The practice of Christ's presence.   "I Cannot Tell" is the only hymn by Fullerton still sung today, and is set to the very well-known tune "Londonderry Air," a traditional Irish melody. (You may recognize this tune as the musical setting for the folk song "Danny Boy.") This melody first appeared in print in the 1855 collection The Ancient Music of Ireland. 

If you'd like to hear "I Cannot Tell" with singing before you try it out yourself, here's a recording by the Choir of Salisbury Cathedral.  And then, do give it a try.  You'll find that Fullerton's powerful lyrics artfully and sensitively match the old Irish tune: this affirmation of our faith is a delight to sing! 






CCLI Song # 110119

John Barnard | William Young Fullerton
© Words: Public Domain
Music: 1982 John Barnard - The Jubilate Group (Admin. by Jubilate Hymns Ltd, sub to Hope Publishing for various regions) (Admin. by Hope Publishing Company)

For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com

CCLI License # 419384




I cannot tell why He whom angels worship
Should set His love upon the sons of men
Or why as Shepherd He should seek the wanderers
To bring them back they know not how or when
But this I know that He was born of Mary
When Bethlehem's manger was His only home
And that He lived at Nazareth and labored
And so the Savior, Savior of the world is come.

I cannot tell how silently He suffered
As with His peace He graced this place of tears
Or how His heart upon the cross was broken
The crown of pain to three and thirty years
But this I know He heals the broken-hearted
And stays our sin and calms our lurking fear
And lifts the burden from the heavy-laden
For yet the Savior, Savior of the world is here.

I cannot tell how He will win the nations
How He will claim His earthly heritage
How satisfy the needs and aspirations
Of east and west of sinner and of sage
But this I know all flesh shall see His glory
And He shall reap the harvest He has sown
And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendor
When He the Savior, Savior of the world is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship
When at His bidding every storm is stilled
Or who can say how great the jubilation
When all the hearts of men with love are filled
But this I know the skies will thrill with rapture
And myriad myriad human voices sing
And earth to heaven and heaven to earth will answer
At last the Savior, Savior of the world is King.

Through the Love of God Our Savior



Words by Mary Bowly Peters, "Ar Hyd y Nos" Welsh Tune

John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
 
Ephesians 1:13-14
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
______________________________________

Many Christians cite Horatio Spafford's "It is Well With My Soul" (featured here on Notes of Glory back on March 29, 2020) as one of their favorite hymns because it contrasts the very real challenges we often face with the peace we can find by trusting God even in the midst of trials and tribulations. "Through the Love of God Our Savior" is another hymn with the same theme: God can provide healing, peace, and calm even when circumstances are difficult. It was penned by British hymnwriter Mary Bowly Peters (1813-1856) and included in her 1847 published collection Hymns Intended to Help the Communion of Saints.  Peters was also a historian and compiled a seven-volume work titled The World's History from the Creation to the Ascension of Queen Victoria.

The melody matched with "Through the Love of God Our Savior" may sound familiar to you. It is a well-known Welsh folk song, "Ar Hyd Y Nos" which translates to "All Through The Night." The tune first appeared in print in Musical and Poetical Relics of the Welsh Bards published in 1784. It has been paired with a number of other hymn texts including "Go Children, With My Blessing," "God, That Madest Earth and Heaven," and "For the Fruits of All Creation." 

"Through the Love of God our Savior" may be new to you: here's a recording with singing by the St. Michael's Singers. to help you get a feel for the beautiful melody and lyrics.  (You can also listen to the first verse of the piano accompaniment in the SoundCloud window first before singing). Feel free to click on the sheet music below to expand it for easier viewing, and enjoy singing this testimony to God who has the power to calm us in the midst of life's storms. 


Public domain. Courtesy of PDhymns.com






Through the love of God our Savior,
all will be well.
Free and changeless is his favor,
all, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us,
perfect is the grace that sealed us,
strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
all must be well.

Though we pass through tribulation,
all will be well.
Ours is such a full salvation,
all, all is well.
Happy, still in God confiding,
fruitful, if in Christ abiding,
holy, through the Spirit’s guiding,
all must be well.

We expect a bright tomorrow,
all will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
'All, all is well.'
On our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
in our living, in our dying,
all must be well.


POSTLUDE
(to send you forth with joy!)

Come, Sound His Praise Abroad



Words by Isaac Watts, Music attributed to Isaac Smith ("Silver Street" hymn tune), arrangement for solo piano by Anthony Giamanco

Psalm 95:1-5
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 100:1-3
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Isaiah 64:8
But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
______________________________

Isaac Watts (1674-1748), author of "Join All The Glorious Names" which we sang earlier (and many other beloved hymns) makes a return appearance in our postlude today.  In "Come, Sound His Praise Abroad," Watts calls us to speak boldly of God's majesty, describes his creative power, and invites all to praise him. It was published in his 1719 collection The Psalms of David: Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and Applied to the Christian State and Worship.  

The melody matched with this hymn, titled "Silver Street," was included in A Collection of Psalm Tunes (ca. 1770) published by Isaac Smith (1734-1805).  Although the tune is often attributed to Smith, he did not claim to be the composer. Isaac Smith did write other tunes and also worked as a song leader at his church, and was in favor of weekly rehearsals not just for the choir and organist but also for the congregation!  According to Smith, "it is much to be wished that every congregation would appoint an hour or two some evening every week to practice such tunes as may be thought to be proper. By that means the mistakes of those who sing out of tune or out of time will easily be corrected." (One wonders if Smith's congregation followed his "wishes?")

May this jubilant piano postlude version of "Come, Sound His Praise Abroad" (arranged by Anthony Giamanco) encourage you, as you go forth into a new week, to lift your voice in praise of our Creator! 


Come, sound His praise abroad,
And hymns of glory sing;
Jehovah is the sov’reign God,
The universal King.

He formed the deeps unknown;
He gave the seas their bound;
The wat’ry worlds are all His own,
And all the solid ground.

Come, worship at His throne,
Come bow before the Lord;
We are His works, and not our own,
He formed us by His word.

Here is a playlist featuring all the music from today's post.  Enjoy!

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Thursday, February 11, 2021

Music for Anywhere Worship: Sunday, February 14, 2021




Welcome!  

Today our prayer is that our hearts would be fully directed toward, attentive to, and focused on the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ. May the Holy Spirit help us to truly appreciate and celebrate this glorious, generous, sacrificial love today and every day. 

In Zephaniah 3:17, we read the following powerful declaration:

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Our God is a God of love!  He is in our midst, he is mighty, he saves, he rejoices over us, and exults over us with loud singing!  He also quiets us with his love. This is our Father's comforting love that calms our fears and "bids our sorrows cease," as the hymnist Charles Wesley once wrote. God's salvation plan for us completely demonstrates this great love, vast as the ocean: "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).   

Today we will exult over God's love for us, and exalt and praise our loving Father with our own loud singing!  Even if we can't worship together at our churches just yet (although some of you now are able to do so safely, and we rejoice with you!), this is a space where we can commune in spirit with one another and the Lord by singing beautiful songs of praise and adoration. 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!


PRELUDE
(to help you prepare to worship)

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Words by Charles Wesley, Music by John Zundel. Arranged for piano solo by Victor Labenske

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Revelation 21:6
And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.
_____________________________

We sang "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" together as a featured hymn back on May 10, 2020. (My, that seems like a very long time ago!)  Today's post features an encore appearance of this marvelous hymn on the theme of God's love, this time in a fresh arrangement for piano solo by Victor Labenske.  Below is some of the information I shared in the original "Love Divine" post. Since last May we've sung many other hymns by Charles Wesley, but I thought you might enjoy a bit of a re-introduction to this amazingly prolific writer. 

One of our most beloved Christian hymns is a sung prayer for sanctification and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, addressed to the God whose love is holy, undefiled, and more excellent than anything we could ever imagine. It was created by Charles Wesley (1707-1788)  who wrote over 6,000 hymns (plus an additional 3,000 poems with spiritual themes). Wesley was the youngest of 19 children (10 of whom survived to adulthood) born to Samuel and Susannah Wesley in Epworth, England. His early years were filled with Susannah's dynamic home-schooling: she taught her children for six hours each day, educating them in diverse subjects including Latin and Greek. After receiving his master's degree from Oxford University, Charles spent many years traveling on horseback and preaching with his brother John, often in open air settings. Although already a professing Christian he experienced a deep spiritual renewal in 1738: it was immediately following this period that he began to prolifically write hymns, including "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," "Christ the Lord is Risen Today," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," and "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing." Scholars calculate that Wesley produced, on average, 10 lines of poetic verse a day for 50 years.

"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" was included in Wesley's 1747 collection, Hymns for Those that Seek, and Those that Have, Redemption in the Blood of Christ. The tune that is now commonly matched with Wesley's text in American hymnals was composed in 1870 by John Zundel (1815-1882), a German organist and composer who emigrated to America and was hired by famed preacher Henry Ward Beecher to be organist and music director at Brooklyn's Plymouth Church.  In fact, the tune for "Love Divine" is often called "Beecher" (although sometimes it is simply titled "Zundel").  Zundel wrote the tune specifically for Wesley's text, and the two were published together in Zundel's 1870 collection Christian Heart Songs. 


Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heav’n, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art.
Visit us with thy salvation;
enter ev'ry trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into ev’ry troubled breast.
Let us all in thee inherit,
let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be.
End of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty, to deliver,
let us all thy life receive.
Suddenly return, and never,
nevermore they temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish, then, thy new creation;
true and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
till in heav’n we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love and praise.

HYMNS FOR YOU TO SING ANYWHERE
(transposed to easily singable keys!)

The Love of God



Words by Frederick M. Lehman and Music by Frederick Lehman. 

Romans 8:35-39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:14-19
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
________________________________


One of the most beautiful hymns extolling the love of God was written by Frederick Lehman (1868-1953), who emigrated with his family to America from Germany when he was about four years old. They settled in Iowa, and Lehman became a Christian at age 11. He studied at Northwestern College in Naperville, Illinois and then became a pastor, serving various congregations in Illinois and Iowa before settling in Kansas City, Missouri where he helped to found the Nazarene Publishing House in 1911. Song writing was Lehman's passion and he wrote hundreds of gospel songs and hymns during his lifetime. 

In 1917, Lehman ran into financial problems and ended up in Pasadena, California where he worked in a citrus fruit packing factory. His 1948 pamphlet "History of the Song, The Love of God" describes the circumstances in which this song was created. (Note Lehman's use of "we" and "us" in referring to himself).
 
While at camp meeting in a mid-western state, some fifty years ago in our early ministry, an evangelist climaxed his message by quoting the last stanza of this song. The profound depths of the lines moved us to preserve the words for future generations.

Not until we had come to California did this urge find fulfillment, and that at a time when circumstances forced us to hard manual labor. One day, during short intervals of inattention to our work, we picked up a scrap of paper and, seated upon an empty lemon box pushed against the wall, with a stub pencil, added the (first) two stanzas and chorus of the song.

The full authorship of the third and final stanza of the song was unknown to Lehman, although he stated the following in his pamphlet, based on what he had been able to learn about the origin of these words at that time:

These words were found written on a cell wall in a prison some 200 years ago. It is not known why the prisoner was incarcerated; neither is it known if the words were original or if he had heard them somewhere and had decided to put them in a place where he could be reminded of the greatness of God’s love – whatever the circumstances, he wrote them on the wall of his prison cell. In due time, he died and the men who had the job of repainting his cell were impressed by the words. Before their paint brushes had obliterated them, one of the men jotted them down and thus they were preserved.

Although that may well be part of the story of the final verse of this hymn, later research revealed that these words were actually written in 1096 by a Jewish cantor, Rabbi Meir Ben Isaac Nehorai who lived in Worms, Germany and wrote a lengthy 90-verse sacred poem in Aramaic called "Hadamut," or "Akdamut." The translated, extracted portion of this poem that Lehman came across nearly one thousand years later was what he adapted as the third verse of "The Love of God," adding the first and second verses and refrain.  Lehman's daughter, Claudia Lehman Mays (1892-1973) provided the harmonization for "The Love of God" which first appeared in print in 1919 in the second volume of Frederick Lehman's 5 volume series, Songs that Are Different. 

God's love is so deep that no human can fully understand or describe it, but throughout "The Love of God" Lehman (and Nehorai) use beautiful metaphoric imagery to try to convey its enormity and vastness. In the first verse Lehman presents the gospel message that "God gave His Son to win; His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin." He further alludes to salvation through Christ by reminding us of his "redeeming grace to Adam's race."  God's love is also endless and "it shall forevermore endure." 

If "The Love of God" is new to you and you'd like to hear a recording with singing, here is a video rendition featuring the Gaither Vocal Band,  here's a contemporary version by the group MercyMe., and here's a video of George Beverly Shea singing this at a Billy Graham crusade in Boston in 1982. Enjoy listening to any or all of these interpretations, then come back here and enjoy singing your own version with the lyrics and piano accompaniment provided. Just a reminder: don't fear the repeated high notes: I transposed the whole song down a minor third so you'll be fine!





The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

Refrain:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
the saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of time shall pass away
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God's love so sure shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race —
The saints' and angels' song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
and were the skies of parchment made;
were ev’ry stalk on earth a quill,
and ev’ryone a scribe by trade;
to write the love of God above
would drain the ocean dry;
nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky. [Refrain]


Here is Love, Vast as the Ocean


Words by William Rees, Translated by William Edwards.  "Dim Ond Iesu" hymn tune by Robert Lowry

John 1:16-18
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God,who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
1 John 4:10-16
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
_____________________________________

Our next hymn celebrating God's wondrous love was composed by William Rees (1802-1883), also known by his Welsh name, Gwilym Hiraethog. Rees was a poet and author who became a major literary figure in 19th century Wales: he was also a Nonconformist minister and was considered a polymath with interests in astronomy and political science. His poem "Dyma gariad fel y moroedd," ("Here is Love, Vast as the Ocean") was first published in 1847. The poem was translated from Welsh into English in 1900 by William Edwards (1848-1829), a New Testament scholar and Baptist college principal. In 1951, two more verses (stanzas 3 and 4) of unknown authorship were added to this hymn which was included in a collection of 800 evangelical hymns published in London and titled The Redemption Hymnal.
"Here is Love, Vast as the Ocean" played a significant role in the 1904-5 "Welsh Revival," in which dynamic preachers like Joseph Jenkins (1859-1929) and Evan Roberts (1878-1951) traveled from town to town, speaking to large, enthusiastic gatherings that included singing and prayer. Hymnology Archive's Chris Fenner cites a description of "Here is Love, Vast as the Ocean" in the context of one particular revival meeting, as found in H. Elvet Lewis's book, With Christ Among the Miners: Incidents and Impressions of the Welsh Revival (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1907).

It was on Friday evening, at the closing service of the mission here, that the voice of a young girl of eighteen, Miss Annie Davies of Maesteg, came into the history of the revival. Professing Christ from childhood, trained in her home to serve Him with her vocal gifts, it was as the coming of Sister Clara to Francis. She sang, with tears on her face and victory in her voice, the mighty love-song of the revival—the hymn of Dr. William Rees (Hiraethog): “Dyma gariad fel y moroedd.” The song is of the marvel of Divine Love, flowing as vast oceans of tender mercies in never-ebbing floodtide; of the very Prince of Life dying, dying to redeem our forfeit life.
 
"Here is Love, Vast as the Ocean," which came to be known in Wales as "The Love Song of the Revival," has been set to many tunes, and is now commonly sung with a melody by American composer Robert Lowry (1826-1899) titled "Jesus Only," which was originally written for the hymn "What tho’ clouds are hov’ring o’er me” by Hattie M. Conrey. In Welsh hymnals the tune is titled ""DIM OND IESU" which translates to "Jesus Only."

If this beautiful Welsh hymn is new to you and you'd like to hear a recording with singing, here is a moving performance by singer Huw Priday (whose voice is also featured in the video linked below).  Here's a lovely version by the Scottish Festival Singers.  As you'll notice, Lowry's tune is very beautiful and is also easy to sing, so do come back here after you've enjoyed these recorded versions, and give this meaningful hymn a go with your own voice!

You might enjoy this short (less than five minutes) video that explores the overwhelmingly positive impact of these Welsh revival meetings on the local communities in which they occurred.
 






Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Lovingkindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.

Let me all Thy love accepting,
Love Thee, ever all my days;
Let me seek Thy kingdom only
And my life be to Thy praise;
Thou alone shalt be my glory,
Nothing in the world I see.
Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me,
Thou Thyself hast set me free.

In Thy truth Thou dost direct me
By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;
And Thy grace my need is meeting,
As I trust in Thee, my Lord.
Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring
Thy great love and power on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.
 
In Heavenly Love Abiding

Words by Anna Letitcia Waring, Music by Felix Mendelssohn

Psalm 23:1-4
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
 
John 15:7-11
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
______________________________________

Our third hymn on the topic of God's love expresses the profound peace and comfort that his love provides, using imagery drawn from Psalm 23. It was composed by another Welsh hymn writer, Anna Letitia Waring (1823-1910), whose father was also a writer: in fact, Waring had several other relatives who were involved in various literary pursuits. Anna Waring's family were Quakers, but she joined the Church of England, becoming an Anglican. She was a talented poet who published her first book, Hymns and Meditations, in 1850, and also learned Hebrew so that she could study the Old Testament in more depth. Anna Waring was also deeply involved in promoting the welfare and rehabilitation of prisoners, and supported the Discharged Prisoner's Aid Society for many years.

"In Heavenly Love Abiding" was included in Waring's 1850 hymn collection and was originally titled "Safety in God." Waring wrote many other hymns during her long lifetime, and "In Heavenly Love Abiding" was not her only poem that extolled the love of God. Here are two verses from another hymn published in the same 1850 collection as "In Heavenly Love Abiding," which was listed as "Love of God in Christ." Notice the similarity in tone and subject matter with "In Heavenly Love Abiding." It's very easy to see the themes of resting and abiding in God's love echoed in both hymns.

Though some good things of lower worth
My heart is called on to resign,
Of all the gifts in heaven and earth,
The greatest and the best is mine
The love of God in Christ made known —
The love that is enough alone,
My Father's love is all my own.

My soul's Restorer, let me learn
In that deep love to live and rest —
Let me the precious thing discern
Of which I am indeed possessed.
My treasure let me feel and see,
And let my moments, as they flee,
Unfold my endless life in Thee.

The tune matched here with Waring's text, "In Heavenly Love Abiding," is titled "Seasons" and was written between 1837-1843 by German Romantic-era composer Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847). It is the main melody from the third song in his set of 6 songs, Op. 59, which was titled "Abschied von Walde" ("Farewell to the Forest").

If "In Heavenly Love Abiding" is new to you, here is a recording of the Dallas Christian Adult Concert Choir singing it that you might enjoy listening to. As with so many hymns that speak of the comfort that only God can give, you may find this hymn especially timely during this ongoing season of challenge and change.






In heavenly love abiding,
no change my heart shall fear;
and safe is such confiding,
for nothing changes here:
the storm may roar without me,
my heart may low be laid;
but God is round about me,
and can I be dismayed?

Wherever he may guide me,
no want shall turn me back;
my Shepherd is beside me,
and nothing can I lack:
his wisdom ever waketh,
his sight is never dim,
he knows the way he taketh,
and I will walk with him.

Green pastures are before me,
which yet I have not seen;
bright skies will soon be o'er me,
where darkest clouds have been;
my hope I cannot measure,
my path to life is free;
my Savior has my treasure,
and he will walk with me.


POSTLUDE
(to send you forth with joy!)

Jesus Loves Me



Words by Anna B. Warner, Music by William B. Bradbury. Piano solo arrangement by Vicki Tucker Courtney

Jeremiah 31:3
the Lord appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
___________________________

On May 3, 2020, "Jesus Loves Me" was featured on Notes of Glory in the form of a solo piano arrangement by Shirley Brendlinger. Today we'll enjoy one more "take" on this classic song, via a different solo piano arrangement by Vicki Tucker Courtney that has an exuberant flair and is full of colorful dynamic contrasts. As was the case with our prelude today, I'll re-post this special song's background story which may be new to you, even if you have the words and melody of "Jesus Loves Me" well established in your permanent memory bank!

Along with "Amazing Grace," "Jesus Loves Me" may be one of the best-known Christian songs/hymns, at least here in America. Its history, however, is little known to many today who are familiar with this simple, deeply reassuring tune. American hymn writer and novelist Anna Bartlett Warner (1827-1915) wrote these short verses in 1859, and they were included in her sister Susan Warner's 1860 novel, Say and Seal. As part of the novel's storyline, a dying boy is comforted by his Sunday school teacher who sings him the stanzas listed below (most of us are only familiar with the first stanza and refrain). Two years later, musician and composer William Batchelder Bradbury (1816-1868) added the tune as well as the now-familiar refrain, "Yes, Jesus Loves Me." Bradbury also wrote the tunes for "Just As I Am," "He Leadeth Me," "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less," and "Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Me," all featured in the past year on Notes of Glory. Bradbury was also a conductor, organist, and music editor, and also established the Bradbury Piano Company in 1854, which successfully manufactured and sold a variety of high-quality pianos for many years.

Anna and Susan Warner were both successful writers (sometimes described as ''the Brönte Sisters of America") and lived in their family home on Constitution Island in the Hudson River. They taught Bible classes to nearby West Point cadets for 50 years: they would boat across to the academy until they were too frail to make the trip, then the cadets would come to them for both Biblical training and warm hospitality that included lemonade and ginger cookies. Anna and Susan Warner are the only two civilian women buried at the U.S. Military Academy Cemetary, recognized for their service to generations of these young soldiers.

"Jesus Loves Me" is typically considered to be a song for children, written in simple and comforting language. Yet it is deeply meaningful to many adults as well. Famed German theologian Karl Barth was asked in 1962 how he would summarize his numerous writings on faith and religion, and simply stated, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."



Jesus loves me! this I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain:
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. [Refrain]

Jesus loves me! loves me still,
Tho' I'm very weak and ill;
From His shining throne on high,
Comes to watch me where I lie. [Refrain]

Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
If I love Him when I die,
He will take me home on high. [Refrain]


Here is a playlist featuring all the music from today's post





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