Our
Christian faith begs to be sung. From “Glory
to God in the Highest,” to “Hallelujah,” we have a canticle of praise or a
lamentation for every moment. We have
hymns that instruct and hymns that compel us to live lives grounded in the gospel.
So
many times someone has mentioned a hymn and I’ve exclaimed, “That’s my
favorite!” Most of my choirs have simply
laughed when they hear me make that claim because they know I’ll probably claim
another as a favorite in just a few minutes.
Usually, if someone asks me what my favorite hymn is, I’ll answer, “The
one that I’m singing right now, of course!”
But
this post is not about MY favorite hymns.
I’ve invited some guest bloggers to talk about their favorite hymns
today. People of St. Mark’s, you will
know some of them, perhaps all of them.
In the comment section at the end of this blog post, I invite all
readers to respond with stories of your own favorite hymns.
“Guide Me, Oh
Thou Great Redeemer” is
my daily prayer for living God’s will – not my will. I pray to follow God in my thoughts and
actions. I ask “Thy will be done” even
though I want my way instead of God’s way.
My
mother, Margaret Jeneva Yost Johnson, taught me when I pray to ask for God’s
will to be done, not what I want.
Margaret
Walker
“Amazing Grace”
I find the lyrics so very uplifting and the
history behind the composition very moving. The only questionable phrase would
be "saved a wretch like me," which I believe is often misunderstood.
It isn't referring to a miserable individual, but rather the challenges we all
face - and He is there to save us, redeem us.
This was my father's favorite hymn. When he
died unexpectedly it was the first music that came to mind - a day when the
earth stood still for me. And I was comforted. At his memorial service I wanted
to sing this hymn - it was feared that I wouldn't be able to do it...that I
would break down in tears. I not only sang all verses, but did so with a smile
on my face and gladness in my heart! Every time we sing this hymn I think of my
dad and I am joyful!
Jane,
a member of the Festival Choir, St. Mark’s Ringers, and Alleluia Ringers
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus”
When my mother was 20 years old (1922) her
father sent her to a lumber camp with her husband and newborn baby, to be the
cook for 40 men! Upper Peninsula of Michigan during the winter- snowed in
for months- she said that singing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is
all that kept her going! Whenever I hear it, I have memories of her and
tears in my eyes. Can't even imagine that kind of work- no electric stove and 3
full meals a day to prepare! Thank goodness times have changed and women
can say, "No thank you- I'll pass on that opportunity!"
Jill, a member of the Festival Choir
Franz
Josef Haydn composed THE CREATION in 1798.
At the end of the first of three parts of the composition is “The
Heavens Are Telling”…the Glory of God.
This is a harmonious anthem that I learned while singing in the Touring
Choir at Grove City College, where I met my future husband. Whenever we went to his home, his mother
would sit down to the piano and start the introduction. Instantly the entire family would gather
around her to sing the parts. I was welcomed
so warmly by all of them, but especially when they learned that I could sing
the alto part of this song. Even after
we were married, this ritual continued for years. Every time I hear or sing this song, my
thoughts return to these moments uplifted by the spiritually triumphant harmonies
of the family’s blended voices. And
someday I pray to hear the heavenly choruses lifting their voices in joyful
praise, singing “The Heavens Are Telling.”
Lynette
Weber
Among
dozens of favorite hymns, one has always stood out as particularly meaningful
to me—“Beautiful Savior”. I remember
singing this wonderful text from an early age in church and also listening to
the iconic choral arrangement by F. Melius Christiansen. I was privileged to have a choir director in
high school in the early 1960’s who had been a soloist at St. Olaf College
under F. Melius many decades earlier.
Dr. Dryden always ended each of our concerts with Beautiful Savior, just
as all of the choirs at St. Olaf have continued to do for over a century. What a special tradition! I have been able to attend six St. Olaf
concerts over the years and each time, hearing this incredible hymn tune has
been a highlight of my life. This
heavenly music will continue to inspire me and cause grand goosebumps whenever
I hear it!
Mark
Weber
“Living for
Jesus”
This
is a favorite of Rev. Dr. Donald R. Pederson who grew up in the 40s and 50s “amongst
farmers and laborers.”
Most
of us were relatively on the poor scale, making just enough to live on and get
by.
For
leisure time, since we did not have much money at all. We did a lot of
singing. Bible camps were especially
helpful, and we learned a lot of new songs.
In fact, that is where I learned this hymn “Living for Jesus.”
The
chorus, that is, the refrain, summarizes all the other verses. It focuses on Jesus as Lord and Savior. It focuses on the atonement. It focuses on
the exclusive nature of one’s relationship with God in the person of Jesus
Christ. It focuses on the fact that we
live for Christ alone.
It
stresses themes of the environment in which I grew up, which was the Scandinavian
pietistic environment: living a life that is true, striving to please him,
yielding allegiance. . .
Verse
four is a grand verse:
Living for Jesus through earth’s
little while,
my dearest treasure – the light of
his smile;
seeking the lost ones he died to
redeem,
bringing the weary to find rest in
him.*
Now,
what are some of your favorites and why?
Photos top to bottom:
Margaret Walker
Jane
Jill's Mom (left) and Jill (right)
Mark and Lynette Weber
Rev. Dr. Donald R. Pederson
My apologies for the white background. This is a known blogger issue that hasn't been fixed. Since I get to use this service for free, I won't complain!
