Hymn-sing suggestions?

Subject: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 12:13 AM

Next weekend our new American Baptist Region, the Evergreen Baptist Association, will be installing its first Executive Minister. As part of the lead-up to the installation, University Baptist is putting on what is billed as an "old-fashioned hymn sing" for the Euro-Caucus churches (EBA is organized into Euro-, African- and Asian-American caucuses).

So I'm soliciting suggestions for hymns to sing. If you were going to an "old-fashioned hymn sing", what are the two or three hymns you'd most like to sing there?

BTW "old-fashioned" means, among other things, that the usual inclusive and modern language is shelved for the evening. We can sing "Faith of our Fathers" and "I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord" and no one will slap our wrists. (University Baptist's hymnal is the ultra-PC New Century Hymnal, so for some there this is a major concession).

So far I have suggested "Blessed Redeemer", "The Love of God", "Hear us, O people, hear our plea", "The Church of Christ, in every age", "Motherhood, sublime, eternal", "As Jacob with travel was weary", "Though the angry surges roll", "On Pentecost they gathered", "When Jesus came to Golgotha", "Many gifts, one Spirit", "Said Judas to Mary", "A poor wayfaring man of grief", "Now praise we great and famous men", "Come, Christians, join in song", "Hail to the Lord's Anointed" (to SHEFFIELD, i.e. "British Grenadiers"), "Praise the Lord: Ye Heavens, adore Him" (to FABEN), "This is my song, O God of all the nations", "God of love and God of our salvation", and "Holy Wisdom". As well as And can it be that I should gain", to SAGINA; "Come away to the skies", to MIDDLEBURY; "His voice as the sound of the dulcimer sweet", to SAMANTHRA; and "When I can read my title clear", to PISGAH.

My own suggestions are rather eclectic and in many cases not really suitable for a group of musically untutored, unrehearsed church folk, so I started a thread on this at ThinkingBaptists.com asking for suggestions. So far, others have proposed "All hail the power of Jesus' name" (to DIADEM), "The King of Love my Shepherd is", "Holy, Holy, Holy", "It Is Well With My Soul", "Jesus Savior Pilot Me", and
"Blessed Assurance".

What would hymnically inclined Mudcatters propose (bearing in mind, if possible, what I said about the lack of professional training and preparation to be expected in the group)?

Haruo

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 07:17 AM

At my little country church (UCC) the "hymn sing" hymns run along these lines:
Abide with me
I come to the garden alone
I serve a risen savior (he lives!)
Rock of ages
Leaning on the everlasting arms

These are some of the old-fashioned classics of US Protestantism!
Some of them have great harmonies, too!


Allison

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: GUEST,Mary V.
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 05:53 PM

I would love to hear
Oh when the saints go marching in.
I saw the light , no more darkness , no more nite.
Softly and Tenderly Jesus is calling.

Mary V.

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 11 Apr 04 - 06:59 PM

Hauro, You might find a lot of good ideas in an old thread called “Help: YOUR Favorite Hymns”.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 12:14 AM

Thanks, Mark, I am certainly using that and other Favorite Hymn type threads, but this is a little more specialized query, asking for a much more "gotta have it", "sine qua non", "top three max" kind of sifting. Perhaps I should have placed it in the context of one of the big threads, but I decided to go the "small, specialized" route.

Coming up with enough hymns to sing is never my problem. ;-)

Haruo

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 06:38 AM

I suggest "O Lord my God When I In awesome wonder"

always a great favourite over here (UK)
Hope all goes well for you
Singing is a great way to praise the Lord

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: GUEST,Lindswidder
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 08:04 AM

I would include "Will Your Anchor Hold", "Onward Christian Soldiers", "The Old Rugged Cross" "Tell Me The Old, Old Story", "All Things Bright and Beautiful", "God Is Working His Purpose Out", "For All The Saints Who From Their Labours Rest" - I could go on....if you need "dots" for any of these, please email me and I will be please to supply!!! Good luck with the event, I wish I could be there! There is nothing like a hearty hymn-singing to lift the spirits...

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Burke
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 10:16 AM

Most suggestions are long on Gospel songs, but kind of short on just plain good hymns. Here are my 3.

All Hail the Power of Jesus Name
Jesus Lover of my Soul
It is well with my soul

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Compton
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 03:24 PM

I enquired recently about "Only Remembered"...which is pretty good!!

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 10:03 PM

Well, here are the songs I provided copies of for the hymn-sing (the primary criterion being that they not appear in any the church's three hymnals, The New Century Hymnal (1995), Hymns for the Living Church (1980), and/or Christian Worship: A Hymnal (1941); boldface indicates we actually sang it:

The Shield-and-sword stanza of "Be Thou My Vision"
The stanzas of "How Firm a Foundation" that begin "In every condition", "When through the deep waters", and "Even down to old age"
"Stewards of Earth" (from this thread)
"O Day of Peace" (to JERUSALEM)
"Who Is She?" (She is God)
"The Church of Christ in Every Age"
"The Evergreen Mountains of Life" (from source supplied by Masato)
"We, Your People, God, Confessing" (Disciples of Christ)
"It Is God Who Holds the Nations in the Hollow of His Hand"
"Come, Celebrate the Call of God"
"Lord Eternal, God of Ages" (by yours truly, to RHUDDLAN)
"As Jacob with Travel Was Weary One Day"
"Come Away to the Skies" (Charles Wesley's birthday poem to his wife)
"Long Night a-Sea" (from the Collegeville Hymnal [Benedictine])
"The Love of God"
"When Jesus Came to Golgotha"
"A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief"
"We Are the Church Alive"
"When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder"
"There's a Land That Is Fairer Than Day"
"The Lord Is My Shepherd, in Nocht Am I Wantin'" (to BLACKLANDS)
"Chorus of Fire"
"Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Holy Anthem Rise"
"Up Calvary's Mountain, One Dreadful Morn" ("Blessed Redeemer")
"I Heard an Old, Old Story" ("Victory in Jesus")
"I Was Sinking Deep in Sin" ("Love Lifted Me")

The pastor threw together his own much more professional-looking collection, which contained:

"God of Every Spire and Steeple"
"God of Love and God of Our Salvation" ("Journey to Commitment")
"Let There Be Peace on Earth"
"Come, Christians, Join in Song" (to DARWALL'S 148^TH)
"We Bring Our Hearts" ("Create Us New", to O WALY WALY)
"The Church's Strong Foundation"
"Glorify Thy Name"
"And Can It Be That I Should Gain?"
"The Love of God" (the only point of duplication)
"When Peace Like a River" ("It Is Well with My Soul")
"Just As I Am"
"He Leadeth Me"
"I Need Thee Every Hour"
"Sowing in the Morning" ("Bringing in the Sheaves")
"God Be with You Till We Meet Again"
"Wonderful Grace of Jesus"
"The Lord Bless You and Keep You"
"God Sent His Son" ("Because He Lives")
"My Faith Has Found a Resting Place"
"Once to Every Man and Nation"
"It Only Takes a Spark" ("Pass It On")
"Seek Ye First"
"O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus"

We also sang, from the church's hymnals, "Morning Has Broken", "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee", the NCH's annoyingly revamped version of "Be Now [sic!] My Vision", CWM RHONDDA (consisting of one verse of "Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer" [sic] in Welsh, three in English, and the first verse of "God of Grace and God of Glory"), "Amazing Grace", and probably three or four that I'm not recalling off the top of my head.

It was a wonderful evening of food (including sushi!) and song, and the church is planning to repeat it quarterly.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 10:10 PM

Two others that came to me after I wrote up the list were "I'll Fly Away" and "There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in This Place". Both from the NCH.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 12:59 AM

Oh, and we also sang "I Come to the Garden Alone", in fact U Baptist has a little garden installed on its platform, replete with bucolic statuary (an alabaster mermaid or maiden or something, which one of the singers referred to at one point as "that skinny little Buddha" ;-) ...)

Haruo

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Gurney
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 06:31 AM

Non-denominational for folkies, 'Lord of the Dance.'

The hymns that I most enjoy are Anglican, 'Bread of Heaven,' and 'Jerusalem.'

Subject: Lyr Add: Pues si vivimos / In all our living
From: GUEST,Haruo
Date: 04 May 04 - 10:02 PM

One last one that I forgot to list that we sang (one stanza in Spanish, then two in English) was Pues si vivimos:

Pues si vivimos
Anonymous Mexican folk hymn
English: st. 1 anonymous; st. 2 Elise S. Eslinger, 1983

Pues si vivimos, para Dios vivimos
y si morimos, para Dios morimos.
Sea que vivamos, o que muramos,
somos del buen Dios, somos del buen Dios.

In all our living, we belong to God;
and in our dying, we are still with God;
So, whether living, or whether dying,
we belong to God; we belong to God.

God sent Christ Jesus to be our shalom,
to show us mercy and healing love;
So in our living, and in our dying,
Christ is our shalom; Christ is our shalom.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 05 May 04 - 09:28 PM

By the way, I just received the following testimonial concerning "Pues si vivimos"; Peggy is a Wycliffe Bible Translator working in Mazatec de San Jerónimo Tecoatl in Oaxaca and Puebla states, Mexico:

That song is very special to us. The guy who has worked the longest time with us - Leonardo - was in a workshop with me studying 1 John about 4 years ago. Everyone was taking a turn giving their testimony or sharing some verse that meant a lot to them - one each morning. His turn came and he shared his testimony and then sang that song in Spanish and in Mazatec. He was already feeling kind of yucky when he spoke but he got to feeling worse and worse through the morning. About two hours later he had a massive stroke and had to be rushed to the hospital. He was paralized and unable to speak for about a month and had to learn to walk again. Now he is doing great and walks and talks very well. He is 74 years old. He is working with Dan on the gospel of John in the room here with me as I write this. That song made me cry of a long time.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Pues si vivimos
From: GUEST,Haruo
Date: 07 May 04 - 08:44 PM

The 1989 United Methodist Hymnal has four Spanish verses, all with English translations.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 10 Nov 11 - 01:17 AM

The latest iteration of the Evergreen Hymn-Sing series, #5, will take place Sunday, Nov 20, at Fremont Baptist. More.

Haruo

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 06:44 PM

PDFs of the five hymn-sings I've run to date are accessible here.

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Padre
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 09:13 PM

Blessed Quietness
Stabat Mater
Come, thou Holy Spirit, come (THe Golden Sequence)
O sons and daughters, let us sing
Jersusalem, my happy home
Awake, awake to love and work, the lark is in the sky
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning
For all the saints, who from their labors rest
All praise to thee, my God this night

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 10:18 PM

Thanks, Padre! Can you contextualize, and maybe specify some tunes? I'll assume unless you say otherwise that you mean these as suggestions in response to the opening post in the thread. But for a number of them I am not sure what tunes you have in mind, or if you are only recommending texts.

Blessed Quietness
Stabat Mater - Pergolesi? Palestrina? Vivaldi? Or a folk tune?
Come, thou Holy Spirit, come?
O sons and daughters, let us sing?
etc.

Especially, what version of "Brightest and Best"? (I'd be inclined to go with "Hail the blest morn" to one of the "Star in the East" tunes.)

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 12:31 AM

Star in the East

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 12:40 AM

A more traditional, a cappella, fasola-style rendition

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 12:55 AM

And a less trad rendition (though the usual text).

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 01:04 AM

I really should start a separate thread, ¿no?

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Padre
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 01:46 AM

Haru, Here are the tunes I was thinking of - they are all found in the Hymnal 1940, used by the Anglican Catholic Church and other traditional Anglicans. Many of the tunes had previously been published in 'Hymns Ancient and Modern' or 'The English Hymnal'

Stabat Mater - Either the Mechlin Plainsong (Mode IV) or the tune 'Mainz' taken from the Mainz Gesangbuch of 1661 (Hymn 76)

Come thou Holy Spirit, come - The Plainsong Sequence from the XI century (Hymn 109)

O sons and daughters, let us sing - The French melody, O Filii et Filiae (a XV Century tune (Hymn 99)

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning - The tune entitled Morning Star, by James Harding, organist and choirmaster of St. Andrew's, Islington, London (Hymn 46)

For Blessed Quitness, I was thinking of the tune sung by Lucy Simpson, Peter and Mary Alice Amidon, and Rock Creek on the Folk Legacy album, 'Sharon Mountain Harmony'

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 05 Jul 12 - 04:27 AM

Thanks, I've got Hymnal 1940 and can look those up. For "For all the saints" I'm guessing you intend Sine Nomine? Or Sarum? Engelberg? And what tunes for "Jerusalem, my happy home" and "Awake! Awake to love and work! The lark is in the sky"?

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Padre
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 12:11 AM

Yes, Sine Nomine for 'For all the Saints' (Hymn 126)

For 'Jerusalem my happy Home' the tune I use is Land of Rest - Traditonal American melody (Hymn 585 in the Hymnal 1940)

For 'Awake, awake to love and work' - the tune is Morning Song (also known as Consolation) from Union Harmony, 1848 (Hymn 156)

Subject: RE: Hymn-sing suggestions?
From: Haruo
Date: 07 Jul 12 - 05:27 PM

Thanks, Padre...