Sabbath Song #3

 24 October 2021. Wow, getting Covid can really set one back. Spending 2 months sick and then in recovery kept me from church, and the shaking kept me from writing. So grateful I'm well now. 

Today's hymns were 280 Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning, 169 As Now We Take the Sacrament, 129 Where Can I Turn for Peace?, and 14 Sweet is the Peace the Gospel Brings.

"Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning" is a joyous, happy song. Lyrics by Robert Baird (1855-1916), music by Ebenezer Beezley (1840-1906). 

Robert Baird was from Glasgow, Scotland, and emigrated to Willard, UT in 1863, with his parents and some of his 13 siblings. He served as a schoolteacher, director of the Willard Ward choir, and as a member of the Willard City Council. In addition to today's song, he also wrote the lyrics to several others songs of praise and joy, including  "O Father, Look Upon Us," "With Cheerful Hearts and Voices Sweet," and  "Come, Join with Me to Sing and Praise."

The Sabbath should be a day of joy and gladness, given by God to man as a day of rest and refocusing on what's truly important--our relationship to each other and to the Father of us all.

"As Now We Take the Sacrament" is a contemplative prayer. Lyrics by Lee Tom Perry (b. 1951), music by Daniel L. Carter (b. 1955). Brother Perry is the son of the late L. Tom Perry, a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. Daniel Carter has composed several works for the Church.

The sacrament, or communion, is the focal point of Sabbath worship. It is a reaffirmation of our baptismal covenant to always remember the Savior and keep His commandments. This song reminds us of the gifts we have been given of repentance, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we strive to obey. 

"Where Can I Turn for Peace?" is a hymn that is on my mind often. Text by Emma Lou Thayne (1924-2014), music by Joleen G. Meredith (b. 1935). Sister Thayne was a beloved poet, activist and "hugger of life" who wrote, and lived, prolifically. When both Thayne and Meredith were on the Young Women General Board of the Church, they were collaborating on a song for the 1971 YW General Conference. Both had been dealing with mental illness in their families, and as they talked on the phone about it, this hymn was created. They called it their 'mental illness hymn", and apt nickname for a song that describes so poignantly the mental and physical challenges we all face from time to time. It was first included in the 1985 hymnal.

"Sweet is the Peace the Gospel Brings" seems to me a logical next step after the previous hymn. Text by Mary Ann Morton Durham (1826-1897), music by Alfred M. Durham (1872-1957). Verse 6 is especially meaningful for me.

That which we have in part received

Will be in part no more,

For he in whom we all believe

To us will all restore.

Have a blessed Sabbath!

Sabbath Song #2

15 August 2021

I had the signal honor of conducting the singing in sacrament service today, as our regular conductor was ill. There was little time to prepare, as she texted me last night to ask if I could do it, and then texted me the songs numbers early this morning. The four hymns were #252 (Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel), #177 ('Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love), #308 (Love One Another), and #81 (Press Forward Saints).

Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel is a rousing song, the lyrics and music both written by Will L. Thompson (1847-1909). Thompson was an American lyricist and composer who opened a publishing house as well as a music store. First published in The New Century Hymnal in 1904, PYSttW was republished by the LDS Church in 1909 in Deseret Sunday School Songs, and has been a Church standard ever since. The song has a special meaning for the LDS, as it evokes the struggles and triumphs of our pioneer heritage, which included the pushing of handcarts and driving oxen-pulled wagons across the Great Plains from Missouri to their new home in Utah.

'Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love (text by George Manwaring, 1854-1889) is in the hymnal twice (#176 and #177), with different music. #176 is to Frank W. Asper's tune Meredith, in 3/4 time, while #177 uses Ebenezer Beezley's tune Hancock, in 6/4 time. I prefer the latter, as it sounds more lyrical, but it is longer, as it takes the 4th verse as a repeated chorus. The text is based on two sections from the Doctrine & Covenants (sec. 138:1-4, sec. 20:75.) On the third of October, in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen, I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures; and reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption of the world; and the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world; that through his atonement, and by obedience to the principles of the gospel, mankind might be saved...It is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus. The song also reminds me of another scripture verse, from 2 Nephi 31:21. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God.

Love One Another (text and music by Luacine Clark Fox, 1914-2002) is a beloved LDS hymn, originally written as part of an Easter cantata. Sister Fox recounted how the song came to her:
“It is always my habit to pray before doing any writing or composing. This I did while in the process of working on Psalm of Easter, from which “Love One Another” is taken. In searching the scriptures, I came to the words of the Savior at the Last Supper wherein he gave his new commandment to love one another. I knew I had found the theme I wanted. As I jotted down the words in my notebook, taken from John 13:34–35, the melody to accompany them came into my mind, and I wrote it down as well. The final result of the words and music was exactly the same as had come to me initially, with no variation whatsoever. It is my witness that whatever is of worth in the song came from the Lord.”

Of the four, my favorite is Press Forward Saints.Written by Marvin K. Gardner (b. 1952), it is based on a verse from the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 31:20) Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting on the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. It is joyful, as well as reverent, in its exhortation to keep going, to keep striving to follow the Savior.

May you also find joy, not only in the music, but in the Spirit which comes to those who take the words to heart, who find good in all things, and who love and serve Jesus Christ.

Sabbath Song #1

 Welcome to Sabbath Song! Since I was a child, I've had music in my life. My mother would play classical music on a record player, my father belonged to the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA), they sang in the adult choirs at church, while I sang in the children's choir. I learned to love both sacred and secular music and to find joy in performing it for others. In 1964, at the age of 12, I had the incredible chance to sing in the children's choir for the dedication of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, wrote the music for the dedication. 

When I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I found a home where everyone loved music. In a Latter-day Saint Sunday service, there are at least three hymns sung during the general, or sacrament, service, the opening hymn, an intermediate hymn, and the closing hymn. Other hymns are sung during the other Sunday meetings (Relief Society for the women, Priesthood for the men, and classes for the Young Women/Young Men and the children's Primary classes). The Church also hosts one of the oldest and best-known choirs in the country, the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square (formerly the Mormon Tabernacle Choir). For almost 100 years, the Choir has brought joy, comfort, and inspiration to people all around the world through live concerts, television specials, and the continuous broadcast of the half hour Sunday devotional "Music and the Spoken Word". 

This blog is the result of some gentle Divine nudging to start recording my thoughts and impressions regarding the Restored Gospel and its influence on my life. It seemed natural to do this through the medium of sacred music, which has been such a driving force in everything I do. Music is constantly in my head, songs, both sacred and secular, continually work their way through my mind. (The occasional 'earworm' settles in, but I can usually banish it with a better song.) In deciding how to start this off, I spent many weeks going through my internal 'library', until the Lord, getting impatient with my lack of progress, simply said, "What did you sing in church this past Sunday?" Hence, the title of the blog!

My hope is that you, gentle readers, will feel the Spirit through my feeble efforts to bring the music I love to you. 

25 July 2021. Hymn 185 "Reverently and Meekly Now"

This is one of only two hymns in the LDS hymnal where Christ is speaking in the first person. Ebenezer Beezley wrote the music, Joseph Townsend the lyrics. To me, it speaks most clearly of the love of God for us, His children. Christ came to save us from our fallen selves, and this song reminds us of the great price that was paid on our behalf. We have been bought and paid for, redeemed from death and being eternally cut off from our Heavenly Father. Christ is the source of my joy, my Help through trials and suffering, and my Mediator before the Father. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/music/library/hymns/reverently-and-meekly-now?lang=eng

 

 

Lyrics

1. 1. Rev’rently and meekly now,

   Let thy head most humbly bow.

   Think of me, thou ransomed one;

   Think what I for thee have done.

   With my blood that dripped like rain,

   Sweat in agony of pain,

   With my body on the tree

   I have ransomed even thee.

2. 2. In this bread now blest for thee,

   Emblem of my body see;

   In this water or this wine,

   Emblem of my blood divine.

   Oh, remember what was done

   That the sinner might be won.

   On the cross of Calvary

   I have suffered death for thee.

3. 3. Bid thine heart all strife to cease;

   With thy brethren be at peace.

   Oh, forgive as thou wouldst be

   E’en forgiven now by me.

   In the solemn faith of prayer

   Cast upon me all thy care,

   And my Spirit’s grace shall be

   Like a fountain unto thee.

4. 4. At the throne I intercede;

   For thee ever do I plead.

   I have loved thee as thy friend,

   With a love that cannot end.

   Be obedient, I implore,

   Prayerful, watchful evermore,

   And be constant unto me,

   That thy Savior I may be.

5. May you have a blessed Sabbath!