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: Blest Be the Tie That Binds
This hymn, whose original title was “Brotherly Love,” was
written by Baptist minister John Fawcett to be used after a sermon. The text
was comprised of six stanzas, four of which we’ll sing today. The fifth stanza,
unpublished in The Presbyterian Hymnal
(1990), reads: This glorious hope revives / Our courage by the way; / While
each in expectation lives, / And longs to see the day.
Hymn: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Henry van Dyke wrote this hymn in 1907, and from the outset
intended that it be sung to the famous tune from the final movement of
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Dr. van Dyke wrote of his hymn writing, “These
verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this
present time, hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the
thought of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy
religion, or any revolution on earth overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore
these are hymns of trust and joy and hope.” Indeed, an appropriate way for us to
begin the New Year, singing of trust, and joy, and hope.
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