I miss the old hymns that I remember from my childhood - there were no drums, no electric guitar and no mind numbing beat. It was just voices and maybe a piano or an organ. The choir led the congregation in singing - and the words of these hymns are poetic. I realize that there is a need for the modern "seeker oriented" worship music - but it is also necessary to have deeper songs (no offense intended to anyone who prefers the newer church songs).
I decided to have an "Old Fashion Sunday Hymn Sing" once a month on this blog.
I personally do NOT have a great singing voice - I used to play the guitar & piano but my voice is NOT an instrument. That's the great thing about this digital hymn sing, you can warble along without being embarrassed or without offending anyone else.
The hymns that we will be studying are taken from an old hymnal from a Baptist church that is no longer in existence - "The North American Hymnal" published in 1956 by "THE ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS"
I will also try to find a version of the featured hymn on "YouTube" to share with you each month.
Today's feature song is "Nearer, My God, To Thee" by hymnist Sarah F. Adams (1805-1848) and composed by Lowell Mason (1792-1872). This hymn is loosely based on "Jacob's Dream" in Genesis 28:11-19. Sarah was the daughter of a political activist and married an inventor/civil engineer. Sarah wanted to become an actress but she became ill and changed her focus to writing. Reverend Fox asked Sarah to write this hymn to accompany a sermon on Jacob's Dream. The original version of this hymn was composed by Sarah's sister Eliza but the tune that we know today was composed by Lowell Mason.
Please listen to the "YouTube" videos below the typed lyrics - ENJOY!.
Turn with me to number 291 in your hymnals and let's sing:
Nearer, My God, To Thee
by Sarah F. Adams (1805-1848) composed by Lowell Mason (1792-1872)
1. Nearer my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee! E'en though it be a cross That raiseth me; Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
2. Though like the wanderer, The sun gone down, Darkness be over me, My rest a stone; Yet in my dreams I'd be Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
3. There let the way appear, Steps unto heaven; All that Thou sendest me, In mercy given; Angels to beckon me Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
4. Then, with my waking thoughts Bright with Thy praise, Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise; So by my woes to be Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
5. Or if, on joyful wing Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and starts forgot, Upward I fly, Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
5. Or if, on joyful wing Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and starts forgot, Upward I fly, Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!
A special thanks to: "Christian Praise & Worship in Song" for sharing this with us on YouTube
I'm half German, however I am not fluent - somehow, even though this song is an English song, it sounds better in German - so I have included this version of the feature hymn:
A special thanks to "DonGiovanni89" for posting this on YouTube
Other Hymns on this blog:
I love the old hymns too! That's what we sing at our church.
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