Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
This hymn is based on the first six verses of Psalm 103, and
Psalm 150. Each stanza contains particular descriptions of God’s character or
actions: “King of creation,” “health and salvation,” a shelter, and many other
things.
Hymn: Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult
From The Psalter
Hymnal Handbook: Cecil Alexander wrote this text for St. Andrew’s Day. The
appointed gospel reading for that day in the church year concerned Jesus’
calling of Simon Peter and Andrew. The thread that binds the stanzas together
is the call of Christ. Just as Jesus called the fishermen to be his disciples,
he still calls us today to be his followers and obedient servants. His call is
for total commitment, a “follow me” that overrides all our earthly “cares and
pleasures.”
Hymn: Lord of Light, Your Name Outshining
The Congregational (English) minister Howell Elvet Lewis
wrote this hymn in 1916. Lindajo McKim notes, “It was written to declare that
‘in doing God’s will, active co-operation is as much needed as humble
resignation.’” As we recall Saul/Paul’s conversion, let the refrain of this
hymn speak to your hearts and minds: “Abba, as in highest heaven, so on earth
your will be done.”
Anthem: Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me
The tune for this anthem, ADORO TE DEVOTE, is a beautiful
melody that comes from seventeenth-century French songbook. It has changed
little over the centuries, and its chant-like quality makes it very singable.
The American composer K. Lee Scott set the tune with a text from Thomas Lynch,
an English minister who published a nineteenth-century songbook (The Rivulet),
which almost caused a split in the Congregational Church. The “Rivulet
Controversy,” as it was called, centered on Lynch’s frequent references to
nature in his hymn texts, but the controversy was probably exacerbated by his
fresh poetic style. “Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me” doesn’t contain examples
of his controversial imagery, but does demonstrate Lynch’s creative poetic
style.
