I know it’s going to be colder on the weekend, but right now, yesterday and today, there’s been a hint of spring-to-come in the air. Bliss! Anybody else looking forward to that first cup of coffee outside? Let the countdown begin, and that includes the number of weeks left in the Winter Hymn Project. So…keep those hymn suggestions coming (email addresses below), and we’ll sing our way through to spring!
We have a wonderful collection of hymns this week, including two that are not in the ‘regular’ hymn books. I’ve copied out a few verses for each of them, which you can find below.
Angela Barraclough: VU 291 All Things Bright and Beautiful
I would appreciate hearing All Things Bright and Beautiful. This was one of my Mom’s favorite hymns. I am sure she really loved it because of her love for animals and nature. We played it for her funeral at the church and also played it for my Aunt Rene’s funeral. I have been fortunate to watch the South West’s services on YouTube each week. I love the music. It has been so uplifting.
Douglas Hastie: VU 409 Morning Has Broken
*Standing by a Purpose True
A couple of my favorite hymns are Morning has Broken and an old Presbyterian one, Standing by a Purpose True (sometimes known as Dare to be a Daniel). The first time that I heard Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) sing Morning Has Broken was in the early 70’s. I was hooked and it became one of my favorites. It still is. When I was 9 or 10, I would sometimes stay after Sunday School and go to church with my Uncle George. My father had died several years earlier and my mother worked on Sunday at CJAD as the switchboard operator. It seemed like Standing by a Purpose True was the favorite of the minister as we seemed to sing it often. I remember belting it out while standing on the wooden floors in the old church.
Cheryl Runciman Mees: VU 703 In the Bulb There is a Flower
In the Bulb There is a Flower is one of my favourites because of the hope it offers. I especially love listening to it on bad days and in the winter.
Bruce Padgham: *I Come to the Garden Alone
I would like the hymn I Come to the Garden Alone in memory of my Grandmother Padgham. It was her favourite hymn.
*I Come to the Garden Alone
I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet, the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me,
Within my heart is ringing.
Refrain
I’d stay in the garden with Him,
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling.
Refrain
*Standing by a Purpose True
Standing by a purpose true,
heeding God’s command,
honor them, the faithful few!
All hail to Daniel’s band!
Refrain:
Dare to be a Daniel!
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known!
Many mighty men are lost,
daring not to stand,
who for God had been a host
by joining Daniel’s band. [Refrain]
Hold the gospel banner high;
on to vict’ry grand;
Satan and his host defy,
and shout for Daniel’s band. [Refrain]
To request a hymn for an upcoming service, contact :
Sarah: saromica@yahoo.ca
or the Office: Southwestunited@gmail.com