It’s said that Luther himself took a great deal of comfort in his hymn. When times were tough, he would turn to his companion Melancthon and say, “Come, Philip, let us sing the 46th Psalm.”
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Albert Bailey once wrote, “This hymn is wholly about death.” While this is essentially true, thankfully, the hymn text lays it out a little less bluntly than Bailey does.
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This hymn does such a good job reminding us why Jesus suffered that J.S. Bach used it in both the "St. Matthew Passion" and the "St. John Passion." The reason for this is that the author of the German text wrote it while under severe suffering himself.
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In her autobiography, Fanny Crosby recounts how this hymn influenced her conversion at a revival meeting: “And when they reached the third line of the fourth stanza, 'Here Lord, I give myself away' my very soul was flooded with a celestial light. I sprang to my feet, shouting 'hallelujah' ….”
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It makes sense that St. Francis of Assisi would include a verse about death in this beloved poem, since he was very near his own; today, most hymnal editors seem to find it difficult to sing about “gentle death” praising God with an “Alleluia!”
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Deep in the dungeons of Angers, France, Theodulph of Orleans was imprisoned for conspiring against King Louis the Pious. Choosing not to remain idle while in prison, Theodulph, who later became a saint, wrote these words of praise, which have been used as a processional on Palm Sunday ever since.
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The jury is still out on exactly what verses of this powerful hymn ought to be sung, but though different traditions will probably never agree on this matter, everyone can say that this hymn of victory is a treasure to the church.
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This grand hymn, with its well-known tune, is one of the most popular of all English-language hymns, and was the basis of a choral anthem by Ralph Vaughan Williams for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
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As a reflection of the economical thought of the day, an original verse of this hymn described how God created the rich and poor man, and “ordered their estate.” Not surprisingly, this verse isn’t sung too often today.
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Lying bedridden with a near fatal illness in 1866, William C. Dix found the hope to pen the words to the joyful hymn of victory, “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!” Inspired by the words of Revelation to sing a new song, this hymn calls us to lift our voices and praise the ascended Christ, who yet remains with us and intercedes for us.
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John Julian describes this hymn as a poor representation of the rest of Newton’s work, and yet it is by far Newton’s best-known hymn, and has been described by some as “America’s national folk hymn.” This assurance of grace and pardon has brought comfort and hope to millions over the last two centuries, and continues to do so today.
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This famous patriotic hymn, with its vivid images of America's land and history, was inspired by a trip the author took from the East Coast to the Rocky Mountains.
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Bishop Thomas Ken is best known for writing "Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow." Before that doxology became famous standing alone, it was just the last stanza for this hymn.
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Though Charles Wesley was raised by Christian parents, it was not until he was an adult and a priest of the Church of England that he was converted to genuine faith in Christ. He wrote this hymn in response to this conversion experience in 1738.
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Newspaper editor James Montgomery wrote this text nearly two hundred years ago for his Christmas Eve edition. It has become one of our most beloved Christmas hymns.
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There are very few Latin phrases that the Protestant church still sings today, but “Gloria in excelsis Deo” is one we sing with joy and vigor!
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For those of us who have gone to church every Sunday for years, it is easy to forget the significance of the worship service. In this Communion hymn, Carl P. Daw relates our regular worship to all of our lives after Sunday morning and to our future eternal life.
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Any popular account of the story of the Magi is likely to focus on their meeting with the Christ-child, and the gifts they presented. But that part of the story is only one verse out of twelve in Matthew's gospel. This hymn puts the focus where Matthew does – on the journey of the Magi.
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Pirates, monks, a king, druids, and a devout priest...all are a part of the tale of this hymn. Some call this story myth…but the truth of “Be Thou My Vision” has blessed Christians since it first appeared in a hymnal more than 1400 years after the event that inspired it.
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Elizabeth Clephane wrote this hymn near the end of her life, when the reality that she would soon leave this world gave her a perspective on what truly matters.
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Fanny Crosby was walking with her friend, Phoebe Palmer Knapp, one day when Phoebe sang her the chorus of a tune she had written. She asked Fanny, “What does that tune say to you?” Fanny replied, “Blessed assurance.” In that moment, this musical gift to the church was born.
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This hymn is about recognizing the distance between the holy perfection of God and the insincerity of human hearts, and is a request that God reach out to close the gap and bring us into His presence.
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This hymn on Christian love and unity is a great reminder of the larger context in which each individual believer lives – the interdependence on each another and the hope to be reunited with our loved ones in heaven.
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It is a common practice to engrave the words “In remembrance of me” on a Communion table. In this brief hymn, Reginald Heber outlines what we remember in Communion through the bread and wine.
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This lovely hymn captures the power of God’s word, as well as the peace and freedom he offers.
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This gentle yet powerful hymn invokes the breath of God to enter in and transform the lives of those who sing it.
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This American hymn traditionally opens each session of the Southern Harmony Singing day every year in Benton, Kentucky.
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A hymn of comfort that encourages and reaffirms Christians in their faith, no matter what they are going through.
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The refrain of this Robert Lowry hymn is a vivid, joyful depiction of the event we celebrate every Easter morning – Christ arose!
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Can you believe that the tune for this joyful Easter hymn was once described as “rather florid?” Continue reading to find out how this hymn has changed over the years…
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Out of tragic circumstances comes an amazing classic Christmas hymn by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
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This prayer to the Holy Spirit comes from a collection of medieval poems by an Italian monk. It did not achieve much popularity until the great English composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, wrote what is considered one of his best tunes for it.
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It was once thought that Charles Wesley wrote this hymn as a parody of “God Save the King.” While we now know that Wesley is most likely not the author, it was originally sung to the tune of the British national anthem.
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Written by a mischief-maker turned pastor in the mid-eighteenth century, this beloved hymn speaks of the redemptive love of God for his wandering sheep. Using imagery taken from throughout the Bible, this powerful text acts as confession, assurance, and dedication, making it a versatile and beautiful hymn for worship at any time.
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C. S. Lewis once wrote, “Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise” (Lewis, Mere Christianity). This longing for something greater is expressed simply but profoundly in Wesley’s beautiful Advent hymn, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.”
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This hymn is the best-known religious poem from an Irish poet who is most remembered for secular works such as “The Minstrel Boy” and “The Last Rose of Summer.”
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A hymn text that gets the online blog and forum world afire with controversy, this song of invitation to the broken and the humbled to rise up and go to Jesus requires thoughtful attention, but can also be a powerful, formative reminder of Christ’s love and redeeming work.
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This hymn was written in a rural village dependent on agriculture. It used a common image for the villagers to illustrate the truth of the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, but has since been reduced to a carefree harvest song.
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Though we usually sing this hymn during Advent, it was originally written for a summer day – St. John the Baptist's Day on June 24.
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This classic hymn reminds all who sing it of the good things we have been given despite moments of discouragement or difficulty.
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It has to feel like a bit of a slap in the face to have someone completely rewrite your hymn because they didn’t like the original, but that’s exactly what happened with this hymn. This slightly awkward collaboration has since led to a beautiful and festive hymn of praise.
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Carolina Sandell was known as the “Fanny Crosby of Sweden” for the hundreds of hymns that she wrote.
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The Navy Hymn was a favorite of Franklin D. Roosevelt and was played at his funeral in 1945 and that of John F. Kennedy in 1963.
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One popular myth about this hymn is that it is from the time of the Crusades. The story is that, in the twelfth century, a group of German children were inspired to form a crusade to recapture the Holy Land, and that they sang this hymn as they marched. The truth is that it was likely written a few centuries later in more ordinary circumstances.
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Did you know that the popularity of this hymn did not take off until it was paired with a tune by the great English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams? In fact the original tune can scarcely be found in any hymnal today!
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The only one of Folliott Pierpoint’s hymns still sung today, he was inspired to write it while amid scenery beloved by many – the green rolling hills of England, and the banks of the winding River Avon.
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This text was at the center of a tune battle in the middle of the twentieth century between an old folk tune and a new hymn tune. The old tune won, and this thanksgiving hymn became popular because of it.
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This ecumenical hymn about issues of social justice was used at the 25th anniversary celebration of the United Nations in Geneva.
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In 1750, only thirty years after this hymn was published, it could be found in nearly 100% of all published hymnals! They don’t call Isaac Watts the father of hymnody for nothing!
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Have you ever wondered what significance the host of angels appearing to the shepherds at Christ's birth had beyond a mere announcement of his arrival? In this hymn, Joseph Cook gives us one answer.
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This hymn by John Newton, best known for “Amazing Grace,” is linked to a controversial tune by a famous classical composer, Franz Joseph Haydn.
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This African-American spiritual was the first of that genre to be published, appearing in 1861.
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This well-known and often used Christmas spiritual has been recorded on over forty gospel, pop, bluegrass, and country Christmas albums, and remains a treasured Christmas hymn. With a variety of styles and genres to choose from when arranging, this hymn is a versatile, yet classic choice for a Christmas Day service.
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James Montgomery's poetical retelling of the final days of Jesus' life puts us close to our Savior, watching and learning from His example as He fulfilled the mission for which He was born.
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This hymn is based off one of the best-known penitential Psalms and brings the out true repentance in King David’s confession for committing adultery.
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This hymn was written by a very depressed man, yet it continues to inspire hope in the hearts of believers.
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Written by a controversial preacher from the early twentieth century, this hymn emphasizes the need for God's presence with His people.
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Although this nationalist hymn was written specifically for a centennial celebration of the United States’ Declaration of Independence, it does not contain references that are uniquely American nor is it a martial hymn, but a prayer for divine blessing.
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Not all dreams are equal: the fourteenth century mystic Heinrich Suso claimed that in one of his ecstatic visions, he danced with the angels while they sang this hymn. That’s a bit more exciting than a daydream about getting out of class early.
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This is a hymn of praise to an unchanging God in a changing world: whether we are in circumstances of grief or joy, God’s presence in our life never changes.
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Joining “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Abide With Me” as hymns sung at British sporting events, “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” is a favorite to be sung at Welsh rugby matches.
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Charles Wesley wrote several well-known hymns for the major church feasts extolling the glory and power of God. This hymn was written for Ascension.
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This ancient processional hymn is derived from a sixth-century Latin poem that was handed down through the Middle Ages. Though it has been adapted for nearly every feast in the church calendar, modern versions are usually customized for Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost.
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Everyone loves a good buffet, and Montgomery’s text comes with a smorgasbord of possible accompanying tunes to choose from.
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Do you know what the “welkin” is? If not, chances are you would be fairly confused when singing, “Hark, how all the welkin rings.” Read the “Text” paragraph under “Worship Ideas” to find out what this word means, and why it was changed.
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This hymn places everything in God’s control, and begs the Lord to work in the lives of those who sing it.
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It must be a bit of a surprise to come across something you wrote years ago, now published and being sung by hundreds of people. But that’s exactly what happened to Joseph Gilmore when he walked into a church and opened a hymnal to see what they sang, and flipped straight to his own hymn!
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Sometimes the most beautiful things come out of the most troubled times, and the great hymn "Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty," inspired by the Nicene Creed as a response to the Arian heresy, is no exception.
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Can you remember the last time you heard a small child shriek with delight, or babble excitedly in a language we can’t understand? What if we all suddenly began to do the exact same, no matter what age we are? It would certainly seem strange, but that enthusiasm and carefree excitement is what author Jeannette Threlfall invites us to experience in the words of her beautiful Palm Sunday hymn.
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Though neither the text nor the tune are usually presented in their original form, this hymn, made popular by Robert Lowry, has survived as a reminder that circumstances cannot dampen the true joy that only Christ can give.
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This hymn is one of John Newton's best-known hymns, and ranks with “Amazing Grace” for popularity.
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This hymn of commitment was most likely created by a Christian convert in India facing persecution.
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When a grandparent is a good storyteller, grandchildren love to beg for a story, even if it is one they have heard before. In this hymn, we find an expression of the joy that can come from retelling “the old, old story,” even to those who have heard it before.
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This hymn is a great reminder that Jesus, and Jesus alone, can help us bear the burdens of the world.
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This hymn was written by a housewife who happened to be Robert Lowry's parishioner. It has become one of our most-loved hymns of devotion.
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In 1715, Isaac Watts published a book of songs written expressly for children in order that they might acquire a “relish for virtue and religion.” This hymn came from that collection.
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“Surrender” is a verb that means “to give up.” When soldiers surrender during a war, they give up their weapons and allow themselves to be imprisoned and led away by their former opponents. Judson Van De Venter wrote this hymn after he surrendered to God following a long struggle against a call to full time ministry.
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Though there is some debate whether the “I” in this spiritual is meant individually or communally, the central theme is the same either way: we need God's help, alone and together, to get through life's tough spots.
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This hymn broke new ground in the world of church music and technology. It was one of the very first songs ever recorded on the phonograph, newly invented by Thomas Edison in 1877, one year after this hymn was written.
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Francis Rowley was asked to write this hymn for a revival. He said that one night during the meeting, “the hymn came to me without any particular effort on my part.”
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The author of this hymn knew no end of economic trials: he lost all his possessions and job in one of the longest, hardest economic depressions in Germany’s history, and spent years searching for work, yet he still managed to write a hymn of gratitude and trust to the God who provides.
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Have you ever been suddenly startled by a light so bright it blinds you? This hymn uses such a metaphor for God in an overflowing expression of praise.
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While many Christmas hymns focus on the glorious visit of the angels or the sweet innocence of a baby, this hymn by Christina Rossetti concentrates on the reality of the Incarnation – God came from the glory of heaven to a cold-hearted world.
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One legend about this hymn is that the author, Sir John Bowring, was inspired by a visit to the ruined cathedral on Macao Island near Hong Kong, on top of which stood a blackened cross. While he did not visit China until twenty-four years after the hymn was written, his hymn remains a favorite in many churches.
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This widely popular gospel song has met with less than eager reception from hymnal editors due to its highly emotional language, yet it is based on an important moment in the Resurrection account of John 20.
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This Christmas hymn of peace was written during the buildup to the American Civil War.
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The childlike language of this spiritual connects some of the fruit of the Spirit to everyday images. This comparison illustrates how these qualities may be displayed in a Christian's life.
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This hymn text comes from a little-known German writer, but it is famous because of a musical setting by J. S. Bach, which is popular for weddings.
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Despite its intimate language about Jesus as a “lover of my soul,” which some have felt inappropriate for public worship, this hymn is perhaps Charles Wesley's best known poem.
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Karl Barth is reported to have said that the greatest thing he had learned in life was “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
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Elvina M. Hall probably did not think she would be remembered over a hundred years after her death when she started writing a hymn during church one Sunday morning in 1865, but her hymn has outlived her and continues to touch our lives.
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One of the best-known arrangements of this hymn is J. S. Bach's famous motet “Jesu, meine Freude,” which was written for a funeral in 1723. The hymn stanzas alternate with verses from Romans 8, contrasting devotion in the physical and spiritual worlds.
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Isaac Watts was quite the revolutionary. While his contemporaries stuck within the boundaries of hymnody and Scripture paraphrasing, Watts jumped outside of the box and used the Bible as a launching point for his hymn texts – the foundation upon which he placed his own thoughts. While we might think this to be fairly normal, it was a radical move back in Watts’ day.
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This simple, yet powerful hymn has exalted the Savior for almost a thousand years and has been published in nearly as many hymnals.
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Singing “Joy to the World” in the middle of the summer would most assuredly cause some confused looks among the congregation, but it would be perfectly appropriate, since this hymn was first a psalm paraphrase before a Christmas carol!
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One morning, casually sitting down to breakfast, hymn writer Henry Van Dyke handed a text to the president of Williams College and said, “Here is a hymn for you. The Berkshire Mountains were my inspiration. It must be sung to Beethoven’s ‘Hymn to Joy.’” That text is now the much loved hymn of praise, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.”
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The tune for this song is well-known as a jazz number, but its lyrics are clearly a Christian prayer for God's help in life's difficulties.
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High praise from a family member: Rev. H.V. Elliott said this of his sister’s hymn: “In all my preaching, I have not done so much good as my sister has been permitted to accomplish by writing her own hymn, ‘Just as I am’” (Sankey, My Life in Hymns).
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Far from being the simple campfire song that it appears to be, this spiritual has quite a history, from its disputed origins to the many recordings made by singers of different genres.
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In a world seemingly fraught with war and violence, it should both make us uncomfortable to sing anything with battle imagery, and also comfort us, knowing that we have the God of all power and might fighting for us against the powers of darkness. Ernest Shurtleff makes that beautifully evident in this hymn.
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Have you ever seen a small child react to a frightening situation? His first reaction is to run into his parent's arms. This hymn was written as an expression of the peace that a child of God can find in his heavenly Father's arms.
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This hymn might come from one of the oldest texts still in use by the church today – some claim it was written by James the Apostle, others that it originated in the 4th century AD – but it isn’t just the age of this hymn that evokes a sense of awe…
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What does facing the rising sun on your knees have to do with taking Communion? For slaves belonging to Anglican families in the antebellum South, the connection might have seemed obvious.
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Originally written for Advent, this elaboration of Psalm 24 explores the majesty of Jesus’ coming to earth, with almost as many variations in text and tune as there are hymnals.
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Frances Havergal lived in God's peace, and even death did not frighten her. When told she would soon die, she is reported to have said, “It is too good to be true.”
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This hymn stems from the prophecies in Isaiah about the branch coming up from the stump of Jesse, and so you might wonder how we ended up singing about a rose. The German word for twig or sprig is “Reis,” and somewhere down the line, a rather un-informed translator made the more obvious switch to the English “rose.”
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The Oxford English Dictionary defines “be” as “to exist in life, to live.” Thus, when we sing of our desire to “be” a Christian, we are singing of our desire to live in Christ, to exist solely in Christ.
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Among all the hymnals published in the last half of the twentieth century, it would be difficult to find one hymn that is included in every single hymnal. But in 1994, this hymn could be found in 100% of all published hymnals, which had not been the case for this song since 1783!
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The author of this hymn died tragically in a train accident when he was only thirty-eight years old. This hymn is the last thing one of his good friends, Ira Sankey, heard him sing in this life. What a beautiful piece of music to be remembered by.
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This hymn expresses the Christian’s desire to live a godly and fulfilling life, starting with a deeper knowledge and understanding of Christ.
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Elizabeth Prentiss didn't show this hymn to anyone – not even her husband – for many years after it was written, but we are glad she eventually did, for it is a wonderful prayer of devotion to Christ.
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It is said that, upon reading Ray Palmer's hymn, Lowell Mason exclaimed, “Mr. Palmer, you may live many years and do many good things, but I think you will be best known to posterity as the author of 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee.'”
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Not all of us can boast to have days as productive as Edward Mote’s: in just twenty-four hours he had composed all but two verses of his well-known hymn, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.”
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Whenever you hear someone say that teenagers can’t think or write deeply enough to relate to anyone else, point them to this beloved hymn. William Featherstone wrote it when he was just sixteen years old!
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Attempting to re-write or add to a text so universally well-loved as Psalm 23 can be quite the daunting challenge, but Isaac Watts did it with grace and beauty, providing us with a wonderful hymn text that captures the comfort and simplicity of the beloved psalm.
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Fanny Crosby is known for the thousands of poems she wrote during her long life, of which many are still sung as hymns. This one is in the top ten for popularity.
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This hymn was a favorite of President William McKinley, who is reported to have spoken the words on his deathbed after he was shot in 1901.
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This hymn about the redeeming power of Jesus's blood is one of Robert Lowry's best-known songs.
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There is a popular story that says this hymn was sung at the Peace of Westphalia at the end of the Thirty Years War. Though it would be a good tale, this is rather unlikely. It has been, however, sung at many occasions of national rejoicing in Germany, causing it to be called the “Te Deum” of that country.
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“O Come, All Ye Faithful” is a weird hymn. That’s all there is to it. Its rhythm (or lack thereof) and irregular meter make this a hymn that, musically, didn’t belong in the 1740s, but which has since found a solid home in our collections of Christmas hymns.
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While we all pretend to hate those Christmas gifts that come wrapped in eight boxes and three bags all stuffed inside of each other, we also love the thrill of anticipation and the laughter that ensues. In the same way, the many layers of meaning of the ancient Advent hymn “O Come, O Come Immanuel” make this a 1500 year old gift that is continually being unwrapped by Christians around the world.
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It certainly cannot be said of Charles Wesley that he was ever at a loss for words - his great hymn of praise "Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing," originally contained 18 stanzas! Offering a unique combination of belief in God’s present work and our hope for the future, today's 'slightly' shorter version powerfully declares the coming of the new heaven and new earth.
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This hymn is so popular in Great Britain that is has become known as the second national anthem of England!
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Although this song is heavily associated with the camp meetings of nineteenth-century America, most of the text was in fact written in England by an English clergyman.
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One of the best-loved American Christmas hymns, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was inspired by a trip the author took to Bethlehem for Christmas in 1865.
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This hymn and its music come from separate fifteenth-century sources, and are a good example of the rich heritage of the Church that has been passed down to us.
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This hymn was written for the wedding of the author's sister, and became popular when used for the wedding of the Duke of Fife and the Princess of Wales in 1889.
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Legend has it that one day, when Bernard of Clairvaux was meditating upon a crucifix hanging on the wall, he had a vision in which the image of Christ on the cross leaned down and embraced him in acceptance of his devotion. It was this vision that apparently inspired Bernard to write verses of prayer to the crucifix, part of which is the foundation for this hymn text.
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Not very many Easter hymns focus on the disciples' response to the astounding story that their beloved Master, Jesus Christ, was no longer dead but alive. This old hymn from France tells just that story.
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This Pentecost hymn looks forward to the day when the redemption of all creation is fully realized.
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If you have ever been to the beach on a windy day, you know the power of the waves to carry away anything in their path. In this hymn, Samuel T. Francis compares God's love to the ocean's waves.
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In 2000, Margaret K. Dismore made a discovery that put one publication on hold, and another one into motion. After a century and a half of doubt and confusion, the mystery of the composer of the tune LYONS was solved. Was it Haydn? Was it Mozart? Continue reading to find out…
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Even though this hymn is most often sung at Christmastime, it actually has very little to do with the Christmas story. Rather, this hymn asserts the divine nature of Christ, something we should be singing about all the time!
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John Chandler apparently didn’t know his history very well. When he translated Charles Coffin’s Latin text for this hymn into English, he put it in a book of medieval verse, even though it was written in 1736!
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This hymn is one example of the breadth of Christian hymnody, with stanzas by an English minister, a camp-meeting refrain, and a tune from William Walker's Southern Harmony.
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In 1848, Cecil F. Alexander published a book of hymns for children, containing thirteen hymns she had written to explain the Apostles' Creed. This hymn is one of three of these that are still in common use.
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Though this hymn, with its overt martial images, is rather controversial in a time when the church throughout the world prefers to focus on peace, it is still quite popular.
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This twentieth-century hymn text by a Presbyterian evangelist was written for one of the most popular of all hymn tunes.
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Described by some as “gross and repulsive in its conception and language,” and “intense and impassioned” by others, this is a hymn with a first line that has been in question since it first appeared more than two centuries ago (Lutheran Hymnal Handbook).
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This short text was originally the final stanza to three longer texts, but has become one of the best-known single hymns stanzas in the English-speaking world.
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We can only imagine the thoughts going through Elizabeth II’s mind as she walked down the aisle to marry her beloved Phillip, with all the world watching. How reassuring to do so while listening to the triumphant declaration of praise to the “King of Heaven,” who is Lord of all, and who assures us that everything is in His hands.
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This hymn was given the royal treatment - it was the favorite of Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia. In this case, I think we can all agree that this king had good taste in Church music.
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Charles Wesley's hymn was written to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It does not stop there, but goes on to celebrate the Ascension and anticipate the Second Coming, realizing a fuller meaning of what is celebrated at Easter.
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This hymn was written to accompany the procession of several assembled choirs for a choral festival at an English cathedral, and has prompted an American composer to write a modern setting for a processional in an American cathedral.
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This spiritual does not tell a historically accurate story, but it contains an important message about life priorities.
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Augustus Toplady wrote a magazine article in 1776 in which he computed that, if a person sinned “only at the rate of one sin for every minute,” by age eighty, he or she would have committed 42,048,000 sins! He concluded his article with the text of this hymn.
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We know very little about this hymn, except that it has blessed Christians for two centuries with its words of trust and prayer, giving us the words to ask our God to provide for us.
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Robert Lowry wished to be known more as a preacher than as a hymn writer, but the multitude of people who have sung this hymn, which is his most popular one, have decided otherwise.
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This is by far the best known and most loved sacred Christmas carol. There are chapels and museums dedicated to it, a Silent Night Association, and more stories about how this hymn came into existence than there are words in the carol!
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This widely popular German hymn has been translated numerous times and is the only one of Johann Schütz's hymns to appear in English-language hymnals.
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This colorful and scriptural Christmas carol turns the story of Christ’s birth into song form, and is perfect for the Christmas season.
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Dwight L. Moody is reported to have told Will Thompson, the author of this hymn, “I would rather have written 'Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling' than anything I have been able to do in my whole life.”
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This hymn is a beautiful and thankful acknowledgement of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
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In this very personal and well-known hymn, the singer calls to mind various places in Scripture concerning Christian love and the Holy Spirit.
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Do you eagerly anticipate vacations, and feel a sudden sense of relief and bliss when you head out for a trip and leave the pressures of the everyday world behind? That is the attitude that the author of this hymn had toward the daily time of prayer.
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No one is quite sure how this happened, but in the early twentieth century, this African American spiritual became a drinking song sung after rugby games in England. In 1988, a group of school boys sang it during the last match of England against Ireland, and it quickly caught on until the whole English crowd was singing the song. In 1991, it became the official theme song of the English rugby team, and is sung with gusto and pride today at every match.
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Author Frances Havergal took her own lyrics quite seriously. A few years after she wrote the words of this hymn, “Take my silver and my gold,” she felt called to heed her own words and donated all her jewelry and ornaments to the Church Missionary House, save for a brooch and a locket.
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William Neidlinger was best known in his time for his books of songs for young children, but this song is his only enduring work.
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How beloved is this hymn? According to the Lutheran Hymnal Handbook, “Archbishop Temple is supposed to have once said that whenever he was called on to visit a country parish, he could always count upon two things: ‘cold chicken and The Church’s One Foundation.’”
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This eighth-century hymn of celebration was traditionally sung at midnight on Easter in the Greek church.
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While the authorship of this hymn is disputed, the power of the words is not. This great text of the faithfulness of God has assured Christians for the last two centuries of the power of Christ and the certainty of hope.
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This carol with folk origins is one of our best-loved Christmas hymns, but despite the opening reference to the shepherds, it is all about the wise men and the star.
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The original Hebrew text for this hymn was written in the twelfth century by the famous Jewish philosopher, Moses Maimonides. A Wesleyan preacher in the eighteenth century brought this Jewish song into a Christianized form.
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Of all the numerous paraphrases of Psalm 23, Henry Baker's is one of the most popular, and justly so. His vivid interpretation repeatedly recalls the image of Christ the Good Shepherd, wedding both Old and New Testament imagery.
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George Bennard wrote about his experience writing this hymn, “I saw the Christ of the cross as if I were seeing John 3:16 leave the printed page, take form, and act out the meaning of redemption."
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Being brilliant isn’t only about coming up with original ideas. Both the text and tune of this hymn were based on pre-existing music, written many years before this hymn. In this beautiful adaptation of a Latin text and an Italian mass, the author and composer have given the church a beautiful Easter hymn.
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In Edgar Allen Poe’s famous poem, “The Raven,” the speaker asks the bird, “Is there balm in Gilead? Tell me truly I implore.” The broad use of the phrase “balm of Gilead” in books, movies, plays, and music proves the universal power of this Biblical message of our hope in Christ. This gentle hymn of comfort assures us of that truth, and encourages us to continue to tell all people of God’s love.
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This hymn is an excellent reminder of why music is such an important part of celebrating Christmas – the angels welcomed Jesus in song.
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This poignant and powerful Easter hymn has become incredibly popular over the last 100 years and promises to remain in Easter services for centuries to come.
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The opening lines of “The Shire Theme” from Lord of the Rings is one of the most recognized motifs from any recent movie score. What makes it even more recognizable is that Howard Shore, the piece’s composer, used the first seven notes of “This is My Father’s World” verbatim as the first line of the melody!
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Although this hymn is usually sung for Advent or Christmas, it really tells the story of all of Jesus' life, from His birth to His ascension. The focus is on the contrast between Christ's divine reality and the humble way He lived on earth.
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In a world full of death, poverty, and war, what better response is there for a Christian believer than to affirm, in the words of a woman who had suddenly lost her husband, “’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus!”
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Even though author Fanny Crosby was an American, this hymn was more widely known in England than in the States for many years until it was finally re-introduced to the American public in 1945 at a Billy Graham crusade.
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This popular gospel hymn has its origins in a testimony meeting at a Dwight L. Moody evangelistic tour.
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In 1597, Philipp Nicolai's parish was struck with a pestilence that killed 1300 people in six months. During that time, when he performed burial services daily, Nicolai began to meditate on the life to come. One of the results of his contemplation was this hymn.
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For many people, the opening words of this hymn “We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing” might evoke memories of sitting down to a Thanksgiving Day feast, but its real message has nothing to do with turkey.
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In comparison with England and America, small countries such as the Netherlands can become quite lost in the world of hymnody. The tune for this hymn, however, is the most widely distributed of any Dutch hymn tune, and is recognized and loved around the world.
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Despite its historical inaccuracy, this hymn is one of our best-loved songs for Epiphany, because its tune and opening text give the impression of being in the Middle East.
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When we get together with old friends, it’s almost a guarantee that much of our time will be spent in “Remember Whens,” reliving the experiences we’ve shared, whether good or bad. In the same way, this old spiritual allows us to come together as a people to remember our shared story, a story of suffering and of hope.
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The author of this hymn, Joseph Scriven, never intended for his text to be published. As it is now one of the most-loved hymns of assurance, we can be glad that his original intention was never realized!
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The tune of this hymn was mentioned by Shakespeare in a number of his plays, not the least of which was The Merry Wives of Windsor, where Falstaff writes to Mrs. Ford: “I would have sworn his disposition would have gone to the truth of his words: but they do no more adhere and keep pace together, than the Hundredth Psalm to the tune of Green Sleeves.”
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Answering the call to redeem all things, the meter of “What Wondrous Love is this?” comes straight from an old English ballad about the infamous pirate, Captain Kidd.
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It is often said that Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts compete for the spot of “Father of hymnody.” If we go by what Wesley says, Watts has him beat, for Wesley is said to have thought this hymn text was better than anything he had ever written, and hymnologists around the world claim this to be Watt’s finest hymn text.
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While “When in our Music God is Glorified” is still fairly young by Church standards, it has established itself as a monumental hymn of its generation having been published in dozens of hymnals since its first release.
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There are almost as many versions of this hymn as there are hymnals, but the one thing that is consistent among all of them is the constant refrain, “May Jesus Christ be praised.”
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According to hymnologist Ira Sankey, “This hymn was heard by a gentleman who had suffered great financial reverses in the panic of 1899, and who was in the deepest despondency. When he learned the story of the hymn he exclaimed: ‘If Spafford could write such a beautiful resignation hymn, I will never complain again’” (My Life and Sacred Songs, 127).
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When Nahum Tate died, he left behind debts and his contribution (along with Nicholas Brady) to a well-known paraphrase of the Psalms. This Christmas hymn of his is a paraphrase of the story of the shepherds and angels from Luke 2.
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This hymn was written in the face of religious persecution in England, yet its author, Charles Wesley, was still able to extol the power and glory of God.
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It seems odd that a hymn whose first two stanzas lists the Orthodox orders of angels and call to the Virgin Mary should still appear in Protestant hymnals over a hundred years later, but J. Athelstan Riley does a wonderful job of reminding us how vast the throng is that worships God.
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