We sang one of my favorite hymns today. I first heard it sung by Shirley Temple in the movie, Heidi, then it was a song we sang in the Lutheran churches we attended for eight years. During that time, I transcribed the tune to play on my bagpipes.
It is an old hymn but not a dirge hymn; and it has some good theology as well.
Holy God, we praise Thy name;
Lord of all, we bow before Thee;
All on earth They scepter claim;
All in heav’n above adore Thee.
Infinite Thy vast domain;
Everlasting is Thy reign.
Hark, the glad celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and seraphim
In unceasing chorus praising;
Fill the heav’ns with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy Lord.
Holy Father, Holy Son,
Holy Spirit: Three we name Thee
While in essence only one;
Undivided God we claim Thee,
And adoring, bend the knee
While we sing our praise to Thee.
Growing up Catholic, that was the Processional Hymn almost every week at Mass.
ReplyDelete....certainly an improvement of "You Said", which we closed with at service last week. (Did I mention that? My daughter turned to me and questioned the theology in the chorus of "You Said". That's my girl.)
Ah, yes! One of the finest. NetHymnal.org has all eight verses. I remember growing up singing the first four but was unaware of the final four.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, counting the word Holy - I found it seven times - sadly it is seldom heard once in the churches of America.
ReplyDeleteMay our Infinitly HOLY God wake us up to the reality of Who He Is.!.
Marie: I've never heard of "You Said." I guess I have to look it up.
ReplyDeleteSteve: Three verses is all I've ever seen in any hymnal. Thanks for that link - great reference source.
Watchman: Most churches is American are more interested in singing about how they feel!
Perhaps the church should sing the old Sammy Davis tune -
ReplyDeleteI Gotta Be Me:
"Whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong. Whether I find a place in this world or never belong I gotta be me, I've gotta be me. What else can I be but what I am.
I want to live, not merely survive
And I won't give up this dream of life that keeps me alive
I gotta be me, I gotta be me
The dream that I see makes me what I am.
That far-away prize, a world of success Is waiting for me if I heed the call..."
Somehow, it seems appropriate.