Month: January 2008

I’ve come to really appreciate this communion hymn. We sang it here on Sunday. I especially appreciate the first line of the 5th stanza that describes the worshiper at the end of communion:

Too soon we rise; the vessels disappear.
The feast, thought not the love, is past and gone.
The bread and wine remove, but you are here,
Nearer than ever, still my shield and sun.

Feast after feast thus comes and passes by,
Yet, passing, points to that glad feast above,
Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,
The Lamb’s great marriage feast of bliss and love.

I appreciate the line "Feast after feast thus comes and passes by." It is as though every single time we come to the table we’re so appreciative of what is offered there and what we truly receive. But yet there is still a part of us that aches for that feast that will never end. But soon, soon…

I’m a little behind on this one. This is my favorite Epiphany hymn. It is the known as the "Queen of Chorales". Of the five stanzas included in Christian Worship (79), this one is my favorite.

O mighty Father, in your Son
You loved me ere you had begun
This ancient world’s foundation.
Your Son has made a friend of me,
And when in spirit him I see, I joy in tribulation.
What bliss Is this!
He is living, To me giving
Life forever;
Nothing me from him can sever.

Even though today is Epiphany, I wanted to get at least one Christmas hymn in before moving to Epiphany. This is actually a newer hymn, written by Jaroslav Vajda (b.1919). I think there are many Christmas songs and writings that try to put the reader into the story and imagine what it would be like to be there. This hymn does that in a most beautiful way. It doesn’t so much focus on the sentimental or emotional aspects of the Christmas story, but marvels at the theological significance of what is happening. I love the way in which it points out Jesus’ purpose and goal, even as a baby: to live and die for us. I love the way it dramatically points out how Jesus is the fulfillment of OT prophecy, especially Isaiah 9. I love the phrase in stanza four that (in one phrase) rules out the errors of Arminianism/decision theology (unasked), Calvinism (unforced), and Roman Catholicism/other religions of works (unearned). It’s a beautiful description of the way our Savior works his way into our hearts.

Where Shepherd’s lately knelt and kept the angel’s word,
I come in half-belief, a pilgrim strangely stirred;
But there is room and welcome there for me,
But there is room and welcome there for me.

In that unlikely place I find him as they said:
Sweet newborn Babe, how frail! and in a manger bed,
A still, small voice to cry one day for me,
A still, small voice to cry one day for me.

How should I not have known Isaiah would be there,
His prophecies fulfilled? With pounding heart I stare:
A child, a son, the Prince of Peace for me,
A child, a son, the Prince of Peace for me.

Can I, will I forget how love was born and burned
Its way into my heart unasked, unforced, unearned,
To die, to live, and not alone for me,
To die, to live, and not alone for me.

To listen to a sample of this hymn, click here. or for a midi version. 

I think I’ve said many times that I could never pick a favorite hymn. I’ve said that my favorite hymn changes weekly, depending on the time of year and what hymns I happened to be singing at the time.

Recently I started making a list of those I would consider my favorites. I thought I would try to cap it at 100. But recently I thought that during this calendar year I would attempt to narrow my favorites down to 52. I’ll choose a hymn each week and share a few thoughts about that hymn. I’ll try to stay within the seasons of the church year, but I can’t guarantee that’s going to balance right (For example, there are so many good Advent and Christmas hymns for such short seasons.)