Welcome! This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). We rejoice in the wonder of a new day, full of opportunities to lift our voices in praise wherever we are! Even if we can't worship together at our churches, this is a space where we can commune in spirit with one another and the Lord 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!
Will You Come and Follow Me?
Words by John Bell. "Kelvingrove" traditional Scottish tune. Arranged by C. E. Walz for solo piano
Isaiah 6:8
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me."
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me."
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
John 12:25-26
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
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This lyrical piano arrangement is based on a traditional Scottish tune, "Kelvingrove," which first appeared in print in The Harp of Kenfrewshire in 1820. The text that originally accompanied this tune was a love song, and the setting was near the river Kelvin in northern Glasgow. Several contemporary hymn composers have used this beautiful melody as a setting for their hymn texts, including Brian Wren in "Will You Come and See the Light from the Stable Door?" and Christopher Idle in "When You Prayed Beneath the Trees." Scottish composer John Bell (b. 1949) also used "Kelvingrove" as the basis for his 1987 hymn, "Will You Come and Follow Me" (sometimes titled "The Summons"). The first stanza of the text is shown below: the hymn invites singers to commit fully to following Christ and serving the needy in His name. C. E. Walz's piano solo arrangement of Kelvingrove has a simple, warm, and inviting quality: may this serene music prepare your heart for worship today.
Will you come and follow Me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know
And never be the same?
Will you let My love be shown,
Will you let My name be known,
Will you let My life be grown
In you and you in Me?
CCLI Song # 1040329
Graham Maule | John L. Bell
© 1987 WGRG, c/o Iona Community, Glasgow, Scotland (Admin. by Wild Goose Resource Group)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 419384
HYMNS TO SING ANYWHERE
(transposed to easily singable keys!)
I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
Words by Francis H. Rowley, Music by Rowland Hugh Prichard, "Hyfrydol" hymn tune
Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
Psalm 89:1
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
Revelation 4:1-5
After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
John 10:14-15
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.After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.
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Over the last few months we've twice sung the wonderful tune "Hyfrydol," written by Welsh musician Roland Prichard (1811-1887): once with the Advent carol "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" and also with the text "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus." Today we'll have an opportunity to enjoy this majestic melody one more time, sung with "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story," a hymn text composed by American Baptist minister Francis H. Rowley (1854-1952) who served churches in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, and was also actively involved in the growing animal welfare movement of that era. Rowley later recounted the creation of this song, a collaborative effort with a friend and gifted musician.
I was minister of the First Baptist Church of North Adams, Massachusetts, in 1886. The church and community were experiencing a period of unusual interest in religious matters, and I was assisted by a remarkable young singer by the name of Peter Bilhorn. One night after the close of the service he said, ‘Why don’t you write a hymn for me to set to music?’ During the night these verses came to me. The original poem began, ‘Can’t you sing the wondrous story?’ but when the song was first published by Sankey in 1887 the phrase was changed to “I will sing..." (Kenneth Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories, p. 114).
First published in Ira Sankey's collection Sacred Songs and Solos, Rowley's text was matched with Peter Bilhorn's original tune, which was full of lively dotted rhythms and had a march-like quality. However, in more recent hymnals "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story" is often paired with "Hyfrydol," perhaps because it this tune is better-known today and is also slightly easier to sing. The entire hymn is focused on proclaiming Christ's story and describes how we are redeemed because of his sacrificial death on our behalf. The soaring third verse paints a picture of our future as believers, together with Christ and reunited with loved ones in heaven, singing "with the saints in glory."
If this hymn is new to you and you'd like to hear a recording with singing, here is a congregational version from St. Mark's Church in Maida Vale (West London, England), and here's a recording from the Epworth Singers and another from the Scottish Festival Singers. Feel free to listen to any of these recordings, then come on back here to sing the wondrous story!
I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me.
How He left His home in glory
For the cross of Calvary.
I was lost, but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Threw His loving arms around me,
Drew me back into His way.
I was bruised, but Jesus healed me;
Faint was I from many a fall;
Sight was gone, and fears possessed me,
But He freed me from them all.
Days of darkness still come o'er me,
Sorrow's paths I often tread,
But the Savior still is with me;
By His hand I'm safely led.
He will keep me till the river
Rolls its waters at my feet;
Then He'll bear me safely over,
Where the loved ones I shall meet.
Yes, I'll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
Come, Ye Disconsolate
Words by Thomas Moore and Thomas Hastings, Music by Samuel Webbe
Exodus 25:22
There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.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.
I will turn their mourning into joy;
I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
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Just as there is a place in hymnody for hymns with lyrics like "now I am happy all the day," there is also a place for hymns that reflect a spirit in pain or a time of struggle...lyrics that "get real" about the ups and downs of daily life, just as the Psalms portray a vast range of human emotions. "Come, Ye Disconsolate" is one of those hymns that "gets real" about our need for deep comfort and assurance. Disconsolate is a word that means "cheerless, dejected, downcast"...seemingly beyond consolation. Rather than gloss over the fact that Christians can and sometimes do feel disconsolate, this hymn validates that emotion and then provides hope for the hurting, just as Jesus did when he said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28).
Irish lawyer and poet Thomas Moore (1779-1852) was considered to be the "voice of Ireland" in the same way that Robert Burns is the beloved literary representative of Scotland. Moore was a friend of English Romantic poets Lord George Gordon Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, and was extremely active in both literary and political circles during his lifetime. His best known work was a collection of secular verses titled Irish Melodies, which contained "The Last Rose of Summer" and was published in ten volumes between 1808 and 1834. But Moore also wrote a hymn collection titled Sacred Songs, and "Come, Ye Disconsolate" is the only song from this collection still frequently sung today. This comforting text was paired with a simple but powerfully consoling tune written in 1792 by British organist and composer Samuel Webbe (1740-1816). In an 1831 publication of this hymn in Spiritual Songs for Social Worship, the American educator, choral conductor and musician Thomas Hastings (1784-1872) revised the third stanza and it is this version that we will be singing today.
This beautiful hymn has resonated with so many people over nearly three centuries because it acknowledges that pain and suffering are real, but also provides hope and an invitation to draw near to the Comforter, our Redeemer, who offers healing and new life to all. If this hymn is new to you, here is a beautiful recording from the Harding University Choir that you may enjoy, and here's a performance from the Baylor University Men's A Capella Choir singing a lovely choral arrangement of this hymn by Terre Johnson.
Come, you disconsolate, where'er you languish;
come to the *mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;
earth has no sorrows that heaven cannot heal.
Joy of the desolate, light of the straying,
hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!
Here speaks the Comforter, in mercy saying,
"Earth has no sorrows that heaven cannot cure."
Here see the bread of life; see waters flowing
forth from the throne of God, pure from above.
Come to the feast prepared; come, ever knowing
earth has no sorrows but heaven can remove.
*According to C. Michael Hawn, the mercy seat is "a term drawn originally from Old Testament sources related to the Ark of the Covenant. Early in nineteenth century revivalism, the 'mercy seat' was associated with the 'mourner’s bench,' or that place where those making a profession of faith would gather at the end of the service for prayer and instruction."
Psalm 71:15-16
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
Forth In Thy Name, O Lord, I Go
Music by Charles Wesley, Music by John Hatton, "Duke Street" tune
Psalm 71:15-16
My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
1 Timothy 6:11-12
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Colossians 1:9-10
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God
Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
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It seems that every few weeks or so another compelling hymn written by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) makes an appearance here on Notes of Glory. With a compositional output of some 6,500 hymns covering countless aspects of the Christian faith and life, it's no wonder that Wesley has a stalwart presence in most hymnals. Today's hymn, "Forth in thy name, O Lord, I Go" not only functions as a wonderful benediction but also is a strong hymn of commitment to faithfulness in all areas of life, especially one's vocation. In addition, it is a prayer for cheerfulness in daily work and for a focus on God "in all (I) think or speak or do." Wesley's hymn also speaks to a personal relationship with the Lord, ending with a desire to "closely walk with thee to heaven." What a wonderful hymn to sing at the beginning of a fresh new week!
The music matched with Wesley's text is "Duke Street" written by British composer John Hatton (1710-1793). A few weeks ago we sang "Duke Street" as the melody for the great hymn "Jesus Shall Reign" on the January 17 edition of Notes of Glory, so this tune should still be lightly ringing in your ears! If you'd like to hear a recording of this hymn with singing, here's one from the Choral Arts Society of Washington Chamber Singers.
Forth in thy name, O Lord, I go,
my daily labour to pursue;
thee, only thee, resolved to know
in all I think or speak or do.
The task thy wisdom hath assigned,
oh, let me cheerfully fulfil;
in all my works thy presence find,
and prove thy good and perfect will.
Thee may I set at my right hand,
whose eyes mine in-most substance see,
and labor on at thy command,
and offer all my works to thee.
For thee delightfully employ
whate'er thy bounteous grace has given;
and run my course with even joy,
and closely walk with thee to heaven.
POSTLUDE
(to send you forth with joy!)
Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power
Words by Horatio Bonar, Music by Matthias Keller, "American Hymn" tune. Solo piano arrangement by Terry Osman
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:25
To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
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 mightand honor and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lambbe blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
Revelation 7:9-12
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
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Using praise language drawn directly from the book of Revelation, "Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power" leads us to worship the risen and victorious Christ. It was originally subtitled "The Song of the Lamb" and was printed with the heading "addressed to all the saints and angels" when first published in 1866 by Scottish hymnwriter and minister Horatio Bonar (1808-1889). This is the second appearance by Horatio Bonar on "Notes of Glory:" his hymn "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" was featured in our July 26, 2020 post.
As part of a family that had served the Church of Scotland for over 350 years, Horatio Bonar followed his ancestors into the ministry. He was a prolific author and composed over 600 hymns (poems) as well as a number of books, including Truth and Error and The Night of Weeping, or Words for the Suffering Family of God. Bonar was well acquainted with suffering, having lost five young children in a short period of time. However, according to writer Dan Graves, in Bonar's later years, his widowed daughter and her five children moved in with him. "Many grandparents would groan at the added burden, but Bonar rejoiced. To him it was as if God had given him five children to replace those he had lost."
The noble melody matched here with "Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power" is titled "American Hymn" and was composed by Matthias Keller (1813-1875). Keller was born in Germany and studied music in Stuttgart and Vienna, where he also worked as an army bandmaster and played violin in the Viennese Royal Chapel. In 1846 he emigrated to America and worked as a violin maker and performer. In 1866, Keller entered a competition for composition of an original national hymn. His "American Hymn" did not win (in fact, there were no prize winners), but several years later, the tune was combined with a poem by Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, resulting in the song "Hymn of Peace." This song was premiered on the first day of the 1869 "Great National Peace Jubilee" in Boston, held to commemorate the end of the Civil War. As a result of its successful reception at the Peace Jubilee, "Hymn of Peace" became very popular and Keller's "national hymn" tune was soon successfully adapted for use with other hymn texts, including Bonar's "Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power."
May the words of Bonar's Scripture-inspired hymn encourage you as you go forth in Christ's name this week, renewed for the journey, and with praise in your heart!
Give we the glory and praise to the Lamb;take we the robe and the harp and the palm;sing we the song of the Lamb that was slain,dying in weakness, but rising to reign.
Blessing and honor and glory and pow'r,
wisdom and riches and strength evermore
give ye to him who our battle hath won,
whose are the kingdom, the crown, and the throne.
Soundeth the heav'n of the heav'ns with his name;
ringeth the earth with his glory and fame;
ocean and mountain, stream, forest, and flow'r
echo his praises and tell of his pow'r.
Ever ascendeth the song and the joy;
ever descendeth the love from on high;
blessing and honor and glory and praise-—
this is the theme of the hymns that we raise.
Give we the glory and praise to the Lamb;
take we the robe and the harp and the palm;
sing we the song of the Lamb that was slain,
dying in weakness, but rising to reign.
Here's a playlist with all the music featured in today's post:
