February 26, 2012: The First Sunday in Lent

Feb 26 2012

Gathering Song/Response: I Want Jesus to Walk With Me

LindaJo McKim writes, “The words of this African-American spiritual indicate that slaves viewed life as a pilgrimage from bondage into the Promised Land. They identified strongly with Jesus, who, born on the fringe of society, became the burden bearer of the downtrodden and oppressed. The spiritual demonstrates that Jesus is the only one able to walk with the pilgrim through all the trials and troubles of life.”

Hymn: O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Charles Wesley titled this hymn “For the Anniversary Day of One’s Conversion,” written on the first anniversary of his own conversion. Methodist hymnologist Carlton Young believes it to be “the most characteristic, widely known, and sung hymn of the Wesleyan movement.” The original poem had eighteen stanzas; Wesley was inspired to write the text after a conversation with a Moravian, Peter Böhler during which he asked about praising Christ. Böhler replied, “Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise him with them all.”

Hymn: What Wondrous Love Is This?

“This is an anonymous nineteenth-century American hymn that basks in God’s grace and sings on and on about it,” writes Paul Westermeyer. The song seems to have been borne out of the camp meetings of the 1800s, and was soon linked to the WONDROUS LOVE tune after being published in The Southern Harmony song book of 1834.

Hymn: Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days

This text by Claudia Frances Ibotson Hernaman was part of Child’s Book of Praise (1873), where it is designated a Lenten hymn. The hymn draws from the Gospels of Matthew (4:1-11), Mark (1:12-13) and Luke (4:1-13), where Jesus is tempted.

Anthem: Be Thou My Vision

The text for this hymn comes from an ancient Irish poem, “Rob tu mo bhoile, a Comdie cride.” It was translated by Mary E. Byrne in 1905 and later versified by Eleanor Hull in 1912.

Anthem: When You Pass Through the Waters

Paul Weber set this text from Isaiah 43 for the 2009 Montreat Worship and Music Conferences, and in memory of his “compassionate teacher, Herbert Nuechterlein.” Weber is Professor of Church Music and Director of Choral Activities at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, North Carolina.