Hymn Stories
Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing Him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.
~John Wesley |
Some time back it was suggested that we dedicate one Sunday evening a month for the study of a hymn. Member's of the congregation decide on the hymn we will study and every one goes home to read, research and gather materials for that service. We have had many wonderful discussions as we go over a hymn stanza by stanza. This devotional examination of the old hymns of the faith have made them very precious to all the Lord's people here at Westminster. It is wonderful to "sing with understanding."
- A Mighty Fortress is Our God . . . . . . . . . . . Martin Luther (1483 - 1546)
- Abide in Me, And I O Lord In Thee . . . . . . . . John Fawcett (1740 - 1817)
- Alas! And Did My Saviour Bleed? . . . . . . . . . . Isaac Watts (1674 - 1748)
- All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name . . . . . . . . .Edward Perronet (1726 - 1792)
- An Evening Funeral Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Wesley (1707 -1788)
- The Dangers of Contemporary Christian Music (Charles Wesley) .......Joel Taylor
- Asleep in Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Margaret Mackay (1802 - 1887)
- Beautiful Garden of Eden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William O. Cushing (1825 - 1902)
- Begone Unbelief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Newton (1724 - 1807)
- Behold the Saviour of Mankind . . . . . . . . . . Samuel Wesley (1662 - 1735)
- Blessed Be the Tie that Binds . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Fawcett (1740 - 1817)
- Come Holy Spirit, Lord And God . . . . . . . . . . Martin Luther (1483 - 1546)
- Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing . . . . . . .Robert Robinson (1735 - 1790)
- Commit Thou All Thy Griefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Paul Gerhardt (1607 - 1676)
- Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy . . . . . . . . Joseph Hart (1712 - 1768)
- Day By Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lena Sandel-Berg (1832 - 1903)
- Fear Not Little Flock the Foe . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Altenburg
- Flung to the Heedless Winds . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martin Luther
- God Be With You Till We Meet Again . . . . . . Jeremiah Eames Rankin (1828 - 1904)
- God Leads His Dear Children Along . . . . . . . George A Young
- God Will Take Care of You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Civlla Durfee Martin (1866 - 1948)
- Higher Ground . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Johnson Oatoman (1856 - 1922)
- Home of the Soul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellen M. H. Gates (1835 - 1920)
- I Must Tell Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elisha A. Hoffman (1839 - 1929
- In The Cross of Christ I Glory . . . . . . . . . . . . John Bowring (1792 - 1872)
- I Will Sing of My Redeemer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Philip Bliss
- Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry Francis Lyte (1793 - 1847)
- Jesus, I will Trust Thee. . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Jane Walker
- Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry J. Van Dyke (1852 - 1932)
- Just As I Am . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Elliott
- Leaning on the Everlasting Arms . . . . . . . . . Elisha Albright Hoffman (1839 - 1929
- Lord, I'm Coming Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .William Kirkpatrick (1838 - 1921)
- My Jesus I Love Thee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William Featherston
- No Hope In Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .William Orcut Cushing (1825 - 1902)
- Now Thank We All Our God . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Martin Rinkhart (c. 1648)
- Oft In Sorrow, Oft In Woe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry K. White (1785 - 1806)
- O Love That Will Not Let Me Go . . . . . . . . . . George Matheson
- O That Will Be, Glory for Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles H. Gabriel
- Peace, Perfect Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edward Bickerseth
- Revive Us Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mackay
- Safe In the Arms of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fanny Crosby
- Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart . . . . . George Croly (1780 - 1860)
- Take Me As I Am . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth H. Hamilton
- 'Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . Louisa M. R. Stead
- What Wondrous Love is This . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alexander Means
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross . . . . . . . .Isaac Watts
- Who Would A Pilgrim See? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Bunyan