This Sunday is the final Sunday of the liturgical year. It is commonly referred to as “Reign of Christ” or “Christ the King” Sunday. The music for worship will be: “You Servants of God” (VU #342) – This hymn, from Charles Wesley’s Hymns for times of Trouble and Persecution (1744), was written amid the political turmoil […]
“Magic Penny” – This song, sung by the children of the Sunday School, draws us into worship by reminding us that “Love is something if you give it away…you end up having more.” The song was written and sung by folk singer and political activitst Malvina Reynolds. Malvina Reynolds (August 23, 1900 – March 17, […]
“Praise to God, Your Praises Show” (VU # 875) – This paraphrase of Psalm 150 was published by Henry Francis Lyte in his “Spirit of the Psalms” (1834). The music is credited to Robert Williams, a blind musician, reputed to have an exceptional memory for tunes, who made his living as a basket maker in […]
“This is God’s Wondrous World” – (VU 296) – Yes, this is the well-loved CGIT hymn, slightly altered for inclusiveness. The original words for “This is My Father’s World” were by Rev. Maltbie D. Babcock. Babcock was a pastor in upstate New York. The story is told that he loved to go hiking in an […]
“How Can I Keep From Singing” – Chris Tomlin says the song “How Can I Keep From Singing?” that he and two friends wrote in 2006 was discovered and adapted by Matt Redman from a 19th Century hymn by the same name. The song’s theme has remained the same since it was first penned — […]
“We Praise You, O God” – VU #218 – The title for Voices United comes from the third stanza of this hymn. The words were written by Julia Cory in 1902 at the request of the organist, for a Thanksgiving service at Brick Presbyterian Church in New York. The original 16th century text, known as the […]
“Siyahamba” (VU 646) originated in South Africa and is said to have been composed c. 1950 by Andries van Tonder, an elder of the Judith Church. The original composition was in Afrikaans (with the title “Ons marsjeer nou in die lig van God”) and was later translated into Zulu by Thabo Mkhize. The form of […]
Great Shepherd of Your People (VU 398) – The words for this hymn were written by John Newton in 1769. Newton was born in July, 1725. His mother, a devotedly pious woman, died when he was only seven years of age. He was only formally “schooled” from the ages of 8 to 10. Newton was […]
VU #371 – Open My Eyes, That I May See – This hymn was written by Clara H. Scott in 1895 and is her most well-know hymn. In 1882, she published the Royal Anthem Book, the first volume of anthems published by a woman. She was born in 1841 in Elk Grove, Illinois and died […]
