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I Will Be Your God
Hymn Information
- First Line
- To Abraham and Sarah
- Author
- Judith A. Fetter (1984)
- Tune Name
- NYLAND
- Harmonizer
- David Evans, 1874-1948
- Tune Source
- Finnish · <cite>Revised Church Hymnary</cite>, 1927
- Topic
- Biblical Names and Places: Abraham · Biblical Names and Places: Sarah · Covenant Faithfulness
Copyright Information
- Text Copyright
- © 1984 Judith A. Fetter
- Tune Copyright
- Harm. reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press
- Reprint/Projection Information
- Words: Please contact the copyright holder for permission.
- Music: Permitted with a license from CCLI.com or from OneLicense.net. If you do not own one of these licenses, please contact the copyright holder for permission.
Scripture References
Further Reflections on Scripture References
The powerful covenant commitment by God is given to us in the narrative of his dealings with Abraham and Sarah found in Genesis 12, 15, 17 and Hebrews 11:8-12.
Confessions and Statements of Faith References
Further Reflections on Confessions and Statements of Faith References
God has made himself and his ways known through Abraham. Our World Belongs to God recognizes this as the beginning of covenant relationships and professes in Article 21, “The Lord promised to be God to Abraham, Sarah, and their children, calling them to walk faithfully before him and blessing the nations through them. God chose Israel to show the glory of his name, the power of his love, and the wisdom of his ways.”
40
I Will Be Your God
Additional Prayers
A Prayer of Acclamation
Covenant God, your word of promise establishes an island of certainty in a sea of uncertainty. We thank you that your word is sure and your promise dependable through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—
Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.
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I Will Be Your God
Hymn Story/Background
Judith Fetter wrote this text in 1984 for the anniversary service of the United Church congregation of which her husband, Lawrence Fetter, was pastor. Hymnologist Paul Richardson states “This ballad-like call to go to another culture, a summons to Sarah as well as to Abraham, anticipated by several years [the Fetter’s] acceptance of a ministry in Brazil.”
NYLAND, named for a province in Finland, is a folk melody from Kuortane, South Ostrobothnia, Finland. In fact, the tune is also known as KUORTANE. NYLAND was first published with a hymn text in an appendix to the 1909 edition of the Finnish Suomen Evankelis Luterilaisen Kirken Koraalikirja. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world after David Evans's use of it in the British Church Hymnary of 1927 as a setting for Anna L. Waring's text "In Heavenly Love Abiding." David Evans edited that hymnal, which was the source of a number of his harmonizations, including this one.
—
Bert Polman
Composer Information
David Evans (b. Resolven, Glamorganshire, Wales, 1874; d. Rosllannerchrugog, Denbighshire, Wales, 1948) was an important leader in Welsh church music. Educated at Arnold College, Swansea, and at University College, Cardiff, he received a doctorate in music from Oxford University. His longest professional post was as professor of music at University College in Cardiff (1903-1939), where he organized a large music department. He was also a well-known and respected judge at Welsh hymn-singing festivals and a composer of many orchestral and choral works, anthems, service music, and hymn tunes.
—
Bert Polman
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