I know I’m not alone in my love for hymns.

14Aug
Your love, O Lord, forever will I sing; from age to age my mouth will proclaim your faithfulness.
- Psalm 89:1

Today, in the Episcopal Calendar, we celebrate two great contributors to our hymnal: Catherine Winkworth who translated many Germanic hymns into English and author/composer John Mason Neale. Any regularly attending Episcopalian could hum along to Neale’s works. We sing “All Glory Laud and Honor” each Palm Sunday and many an advent service beings with “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”

As I read through their long list of works, I was shamefully reminded that I don’t know many hymns by their first stanza. Even when I do, my music knowledge is so limited that I can’t remember the tune. If I’m honest, even when I know the tune you can bet I sing off key. However, this doesn’t mean that I don’t like to sing. Quite the opposite!

I grew up Methodist and singing was a huge part of our Sunday. At the 8:30 service, there was a “sing along” where the rector would take shout outs from the sanctuary and we would sing the first and last stanzas of three requests. It was hard to get your recommendation heard - you had to time it just right, speak the hymn number loud and clear. It helped if you were an adorably dressed seven-year-old sitting in the front pew. Or maybe it was that my requests were favorites that the organist readily knew. “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing!” “Joyful Joyful we Adore Thee!” The elderly ladies in the second pew preferred “Blessed Assurance” and “There is a Balm in Gilead.” One Sunday, a peer yelled out the number for “Silent Night” in March. It was the first time I literally saw someone’s ears boxed by their mother, but our pastor took it in stride and I remember there being something deeply moving about singing the hymn off season.

My favorite hymn and the one I hum whenever I need soothing is one I didn’t learn at church. The girls’ school I attended is well known for its tradition-laden graduation ceremony and “O God our Help In Ages Past” is one of three songs all students were forced to memorize and perform. It has seen me through many rough spots. 

Another hymn that is genetically embedded in my bones is “Blessed Be the Ties.” It is a family tradition to shame new in-laws until they can keep up when we hold hands and sing the first stanza as a blessing before every holiday meal. 

I know I’m not alone in my love for hymns. This spring’s Parish Survey dramatically reinforced that Trinity is a singing parish. A major theme of the survey results was how much we love to sing together and that “Trinity loves traditional, old school hymns!” I doubt any two of us could agree on exactly what those hymns are: one person’s favorite is another’s irksome dirge. But it was clear: we love singing. 

So today as we celebrate Catherine and John, let’s give thanks to the hymn-writers and those who sing their works. If for a few verses, they keep us together in one, more or less harmonious voice, praising God. Which is as it should be. 

I’m curious to hear what your favorite hymn is! Would you mind sharing? I promise to share the list with the parish. 

Musical Reflection - O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing - Altar of Praise Chorale

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praise offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. 
PsalmsMusic
Tags
#hymn

Previous Page

Date
Category
Author
Latest Posts
Tags
#absalomjones, #abundance, #advent, #advent #preparation #waiting, #anger, #antiracist, #archive #crisis #strength, #archive #treasure #heaven, #art, #ashwednesday, #ashwednesday #preservation #labor, #awe #reverence #fear, #bannedbooks, #baptism #discernment #support #covenant, #bathroomfloor #damascus #women, #beatitudes #allsaints, #belonging #america, #beloved, #bible #authority #religious #thinplace, #bible #forgiveness #prodigalson, #blessing #loveyourneighbor, #breathe #silence #love, #brothers #jesus #father #faith, #burden #rest #peace, #camp #loss #death #humble #humility, #change, #change #renewal #growth, #children #education #faith #formation, #children #parenthood #graduation #bittersweet, #christmas #stnicholas, #commandments, #communication #words #voice, #community #welcome #unity, #confession #paul #imperfection #failings, #courage #parable, #creation, #creation #love #space, #crucifix #cross, #david #goliath, #death #allsaints #winter, #death #loss #grief #memory, #discernment #presence, #disciples #evangelism, #division, #divorce, #enemy, #enneagram #grace, #faith #jesus, #fear, #forever, #formation, #friendship, #good, #good #evil, #gratitude #mercy, #gratitude #sing #nature, #halloween, #halloween #allsouls, #healing #leper #miracles, #help, #help #thanks #wow, #history #love #women #justice #friendship, #humanity, #humility, #hymn, #inclusivity #diversity #allarewelcome, #individualism #wealth #camel #excess #humility, #injustice #racism #unconditionallove, #jesus #joy #suffering, #johnthebaptist, #joseph #jesus #prison #forgiveness #family, #journey #pilgrims #companions, #joy #example #light, #joy #faith #perserverance #psalm, #joy #fun #mission #medicalmission, #joy #trials #overcome #faith #endurance, #justinmartyr #civildiscourse #jesus, #keepcalm, #king #judgement #government, #kingdom, #kingdom #disciples, #kingdom #god #life #story, #light, #light #darkness #holyspirit, #light #gratitude #joy #awe #miracles, #listening, #love, #love #gratitude #peace, #love #imperfection #mother #flowers, #love #light #loveyourneighbor, #loveyourneighbor, #lyric #music #harmony #emotions #paul, #mardigras, #martinluther, #mary #joseph #jesus, #mary #martha #jesus, #marymagdalene #resurrection, #matthew #jesus #compassion #labor #suffering, #medicalmission #joy #prayer #healing, #medicalmission #youth #joy #laughter #connection, #memorialday #sacrifice #gratitude, #methodist #episcopal #eucharist, #ministry #work #labor, #miracle #friendship, #mission #medicalmission #healing #pentecost, #mission #medicalmission #serve #perserverance #loveyourneighbor, #missionstatement #inspired #strives #loveyourneighbor #dojustice #walkhumbly #archives, #money #fishing, #muppets #sabbath, #nativeamerican #land #blackfriday, #nature #retreat #moses, #neighbor #love #selflove #greatestcommandment, #painter #sailing, #parent #father #wisdom #family, #paul, #paul #jesus #authenticity #genuine, #paul #voice, #payphone #love, #peace #worry #martha #mary #vietnam #college, #perseverance, #peter #jesus #light #dark, #poetry #thanksgiving, #prayer, #prayer #grief #loss #pets, #prayer #peace, #prepare #crisis #faith #storm #jesus #archives, #psalms #mother #grandmother #gratitude, #psalms #rejoice #blessing, #quiet #retreat, #rage #unfairness #forgiveness #prayer, #rebirth #redemption #reconciliation #psalm #valley, #refuge, #remember #open #cryout #keep, #remembrance #september11, #rest, #retirement, #reward #loss #service #alcoholicsanonymous, #rock #support #foundation, #roshhashanah #judaism, #salvation #trust, #school #love #parents, #seeingjesus #hearinggod #vessel #handsandfeet, #selfrighteous #reconciliation, #serenityprayer #mary #martha, #serve #churchfamily, #solomon #failure, #standrew, #stars, #storms #peace #stainedglass, #story, #taize #prayer #listen, #teep #david #goliath #tlf, #tencommandments #sundayschool, #time #value #patience, #time #value #space, #todo #christmas, #tolerance, #transfiguration #mountaintop, #trees, #truth, #turntheothercheek, #waiting, #walkinlove, #weather #hurricane, #weddings #love #corinthians #patience, #williamtemple #singing, #witness #patience #presence #waiting, #women #mothers, #worry #trust, #worship #manygods #onegod, #wrangling #language, 12 steps, conviction, death, depression, doubt, easter, enemies, envy, eternal, eucharist, faith, female, grace, grief, holy spirit, hope, hypocrisy, jesus, judgement, love, make a difference, martyrs, medical mission, meditation, mental health, mission, mother, path, paul, pause, peace, peter, plan, power, powerless, presence, psalms, radiant, refuge, service, wisdom, youth

Stay Connected

Sign up to receive news and announcements from Trinity Church.

Sign Up