October 14, 2012: Children's Sabbath

Children's Sabbath 2012

Introit: Take My Life

We take our information on the origin of this “consecration hymn” from the author’s manuscripts. She wrote: “I went for a little visit of five days. There were ten persons in the house, some unconverted and long-prayed-for, some converted but not rejoicing Christians. He gave me the prayer, ‘Lord, give me all in this house!’ And [God] just did. The last night of my visit… I was too happy to sleep, and passed most of the night in renewal of my own consecration, and these little couplets formed themselves and chimed in my heart one after another till they finished with ‘Ever, only, all for Thee.’”

Hymn: Come, Christians, Join to Sing

"Come, Christians, Join to Sing" was written by Christian Henry Bateman and was published in several children's songbooks. In fact, the first line of the hymn originally read, "Come, children, join to sing." The line was changed in The Hymnal (1933), an early Presbyterian (USA) hymnal, to make the hymn available to all age groups. The tune MADRID is also called SPANISH HYMN or CHANT, as its origins are found in a popular Spanish folk melody. The tune is easily sung, with the first, second, and fourth lines all being identical, and the third line having two repeated phrases. The language is clear and simple, making it easy for children and adults alike to sing it with understanding. It is easy to see why this hymn and tune were matched together to be included in children's hymnals.

Hymn: God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending

Written in 1961, this text by Robert Lansing Edwards has a clear focus on our responsibility to be good stewards of all God has shared with us. The text outlines these gifts: the wonder of creation, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, and our talents for preaching the gospel are foremost. The tune comes from The Sacred Harp, a tune book published in 1844 that helped to pave the way for shape-note singing in America, a tradition that continues to this day.

Hymn: Go With Us, Lord

Mary Jackson Cathey wrote this text in 1986 for the children’s choir of National Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C., where she was director of children’s ministry. Cathey is a graduate of Winthrop and served churches and schools in South Carolina for a time. The tune TALLIS CANON was written by English composer Thomas Tallis to be used as one of nine tunes and several anthems in a Psalter, published in 1561.