We had communion during our worship today, and, as we do sometimes, we sang a hymn as the elements were passed. It was a contemporary song, but from the team of Keith and Kristyn Getty, and Stuart Townend - some of whose hymns I’ve previously posted.
Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away,
Slain for us - and we remember
The promise made that all who come in faith
Find forgiveness at the cross.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of peace
Around the table of the King.
Torn for you - eat and remember
The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life
Paid the price to make us one.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of love
Around the table of the King.
Shed for you - drink and remember
He drained death's cup that all may enter in
To receive the life of God.
So we share in this bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of grace
Around the table of the King.
To respond, - and to remember
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ
As His body here on earth.
As we share in His suffering
We proclaim Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven
Around the table of the King
6 comments:
How I long for the church to return to singing the doctrines of our faith. A modern setting is fine, so long as it emphasizes Christ and right doctrines and de-emphasizes self and selfishness.
Amen and AMEN.!!! Townsend - nice name. ali
Except it is not "Townsend," rather it is "Townend." It took me forever before I discovered that!
Amen, and I am always thankful for a modern song that has correct doctrine, has substance, and doesn't use words like "gotta". :)
I never caught the "Townend" spelling, until right now.
-Carolyn
I was listening to a hymn compilation on utube posted by Robert Madden and read some lines on hymns. I thought it might be interesting to attach or post here as well, if you so think, tho rather long:
Top 10 Reasons to NOT Sing Hymns
POSTED BY DAVID MUSIC ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 IN WORSHIP
And Why They Are False!
#10 Hymns do not attract nonbelievers to Christ
True. Neither does any other kind of music. Nonbelievers are attracted to Christ by the Holy Spirit. Hymns and other types of music are merely tools that may be used by the Holy Spirit.
#9 Hymns require the ability to read music
This argument would be a surprise to the millions of Christians of previous generations who participated whole-heartedly in hymn singing without being able to read a note of music. The first book of congregational song published in America, the Bay Psalm Book (which contained no music), was issued more than 350 years ago, but hymnals containing music have been standard in the United States for only about 150 years.
#8 Hymns all sound alike
Hymn texts and tunes range in date from the fourth to the twenty-first centuries. They were written in different countries by various authors and composers, and in contrasting styles and idioms. How can they all sound alike? They only sound identical if we sing and play them all alike.
#7 Hymns are all slow
Some hymns are indeed slow, particularly ones that are meditative or reflective in character like O Sacred Head, Now Wounded (PASSION CHORALE) or When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (HAMBURG). But would we really want to sing the messages of these hymns fast?
#6 Hymns are all long
Most hymns have from three to five stanzas—about the same length as an average contemporary Christian song. In earlier days, hymns in some traditions did indeed have twenty or more stanzas, but they were often sung with stanzas alternating between the congregation, choir, and organ.
#5 Hymns can only be accompanied by organ and/or piano
Certainly, hymns have traditionally been accompanied by keyboard instruments. But there is no reason at all that other instruments cannot be used, including tubas, saxophones, violas, accordions, recorders, orchestras, and praise bands.
#4 Young people don’t like them
This suggestion is a real disservice to young people. It assumes they are so wrapped up in one type of music that they are not willing to explore other sorts of music. Like all humans, young people have favorite kinds of music that they listen to or participate in on a regular basis, but youth are much more broad-minded than they are usually given credit for.
#3 Hymns are full of theological jargon
Some hymns do indeed include words that are not common in everyday American speech—terms such as “righteousness,” “justified,” and “Ebenezer.” But then the same is true of the Bible, which is the source of all these words as they are used in hymns.
#2 Hymns are about God, not sung to God
Nothing could be further from the truth. Of course there are hymns that are not addressed to God, but rather teach us about who God is and what he has done, such as This Is My Father’s World or Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. The same is true of many contemporary Christian songs and choruses.
#1 Hymns are all old
This will be news to the many persons both young and old who are writing hymns today in a diversity of styles, including Keith and Kristyn Getty, Stuart Townend, Dan Damon, Adam Tice, Carl P. Daw, Thomas Troeger, Ruth Duck, Rae Whitney, Sally Ann Morris, Delores Dufner and dozens of others. There is indeed a historic heritage of hymns that continues to be relevant and needed in the present day, but hymns continue to be written and sung, addressing topics that are as ancient as the psalms and as contemporary as the web blog.
It mentions Getty and Townend too.
Wow, those reasons are about as false as they can be. I'm guessing the author is all about "praise" choruses and other "me" songs.
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