June 17, 2012: The Third Sunday After Pentecost

Jun 17 2012

Hymn: Ye Servants of God

LindaJo McKim writes, “The text was written by Charles Wesley as part of a hymn tract series issued for the Wesleys’ class meetings. A caption to the hymn stated ‘To be sung in a tumult.’ The tract containing thirty-three hymns was titled Hymns for Times of Trouble and Persecution (1744).” Carlton Young notes that the hymn “was composed against the background of anti-Methodist persecution, when the followers of the Wesleys were slandered, plundered, and mobbed.”

Hymn: There Are Many Ways of Sharing

In her book Songs of Grace, Presbyterian minister Carolyn Winfrey Gillette explains the basis for her hymn: “This hymn, which is based on 1 Corinthians 12, celebrates the gifts of the Spirit for ministry. It was originally written for services of ordination and installation for Elders, Deacons, and Ministers of the Word and Sacrament. It could also be used in worship services recognizing volunteers in the church or in the community, or celebrating the gifts and daily vocations of church members.” In our worship service, we celebrate the work of VBS volunteers, and remember the story of the Ethiopian who went away rejoicing after being baptized.

Hymn: Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!

This hymn was first published in 1867 and was titled “Redemption by the Precious Blood.” LindaJo McKim draws attention to “the number of titles given to Jesus Christ in stanzas 3 and 4. The first ‘Bread of angels’ is a reference to Psalm 78:25 and an allusion to John 6:32.” Paul Westermeyer calls it “hearty,” because of its multiple images of communion, Easter, and Ascension from multiple scripture passages.

Anthem: Jesus Loves Me

"Jesus Loves Me!" is a hymn written specifically with the faith of children in mind. In The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion, author Lindajo McKim writes this:

"The text was written by Anna Bartlett Warner for her novel Say and Seal (c. 1859). The main characters of the novel were a dying child Johnny Fax, his Sunday school teacher John Linden, and Linden's fiancee, Faith Derrick. Toward the end of the book, Linden carries the child and sings to him what has now become the familiar children's hymn." William Bradbury, a pupil of Lowell Mason, and an organist who held annual children’s music festivals, provided the musical setting for the text.