Hymn: Lead On, O King Eternal
Ernest W. Shurtleff wrote this hymn for his class’
graduation from Andover Theological Seminary. Its ties to a graduating class of
seminarians are apparent; Paul Westermeyer points out that “‘through days of
preparation’ after our study, ‘your grace has made us strong.’ Now we enter the
battle. The battle is not defined in the empire’s terms, however. The cross is
lifted over this enterprise, the journey is in its light, and the kingdom comes
not with ‘swords loud clashing nor roll of stirring drums’ but ‘with deeds of
love and mercy.’”
Hymn: Fight the Good Fight
This hymn is based on 1 Timothy 6:12, “Fight the good fight
of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you
made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” There is little
other information regarding the inspiration for this hymn or the circumstances
through which it came about.
Hymn: Lord, You Give the Great Commission
LindaJo McKim writes, “The text was written by Jeffery W.
Rowthorn at the request of the gradating class of Yale Divinity School in 1978.
It was sung at the baccalaureate service. In stanza 3 the original phrase ‘Let
your priests, for earth’s true glory,’ which Rowthorn intended to indicate the
‘priesthood of all believers,’ was thought by many to speak of the ordained
office so he accepted the variant reading ‘Let us all, for earth’s true glory.’
No comments:
Post a Comment