We were a three-time-a-week family. Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, Wednesday nights. It didn’t matter if we didn’t want to go, if we didn’t like something that was happening, or if it was the middle of “The Wizard of Oz” and we’d never seen the ending because it always started at 6:00 on Sunday evening and church began at 7:00.
And somewhere in all three of those services, there was an invitation song. Here are the ones I remember at the moment:
“Just As I Am” (of course)
“I Am Resolved”
“Softly and Tenderly”
“What Shall It Be?”
“O Why Not Tonight?”
“Jesus Is Tenderly Calling”
“Why Keep Jesus Waiting?”
“Out of My Bondage”
“Bring Christ Your Broken Life”
“Lord, I’m Coming Home”
“Sinners Jesus Will Receive”
I know I’m forgetting some others. But these are downloaded into my head. And many of their lyrics are powerful.
Just as I am! Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Oh, for the wonderful love he has promised,
Promised for you and for me;
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon
Pardon for you and for me.
Which invitation songs have I omitted? Which ones have spoken meaningfully to you?
Well, “O Why Not Tonight” was the last straw. I was so afraid I’d die and have to go to the bad place! “There’s A Great Day Coming” was sung a lot. That refrain of “…are you ready, are you ready” was hard on a little 11 year old girl who was scared of dying.
I find Just As I Am to be most powerful as a “Lord’s Supper Song”. I know there are people who are tired of it, but the stanza you quoted is my fav, and extremely moving for me. As invitation songs go, My Stubborn Will is #1 on my list.
Not that I’ve got a stubborn will or anything.
I remember my grandmother, Maxine’s, shaky alto voice singing “Oh, sinner, come home” at the end of Softly and Tenderly. Thought she made it sound very inviting to actually go home!
I also remember that in “my day” Wonderful World of Disney started at 5 p.m. and lasted for 2 hours on Sunday night (our service started at 6). I was secretly thrilled the week I had the flu and got to see the entire 2 hours.
COME TO THE FEAST. “All things are ready, come to the feast! Come for the table now is spread; Ye famishing, ye weary, come, And thou shalt be richly fed. Hear the invitation, Come who-so-ever will; Praise God for full salvation, For who-so-ever will.” This has been speaking so powerfully to me lately that I have used it as the theme of my blog.
Even reading the words now brings back the conversation going on in my head. “Go! Step into the aisle! It’s a short walk! What if…?” I never did take the walk down the aisle like all my friends had. I waited and waited and finally on a MONDAY night woke up in a cold sweat, went and got my sister and told her I needed to be baptized. I was baptized on a Tuesday morning. Between hearing “O Why Not Tonight?” and attending a special meeting in Lubbock (”Journey to Eternity”) I was scared to death! The songs you mentioned still evoke some of those thoughts.
Nearer, still nearer, close to Thy heart,
Draw me, my Savior—so precious Thou art!
Fold me, oh, fold me close to Thy breast.
Shelter me safe in that “Haven of Rest”;
Shelter me safe in that “Haven of Rest.”
Nearer, still nearer, nothing I bring,
Naught as an offering to Jesus, my King;
Only my sinful, now contrite heart.
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.
Grant me the cleansing Thy blood doth impart.
Nearer, still nearer, Lord, to be Thine!
Sin, with its follies, I gladly resign,
All of its pleasures, pomp and its pride,
Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.
Give me but Jesus, my Lord, crucified.
Nearer, still nearer, while life shall last.
Till safe in glory my anchor is cast;
Through endless ages ever to be
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee;
Nearer, my Savior, still nearer to Thee!
I guess I was too quick on the Submit button. “Nearer, Still Nearer” was written and scored by Leila Naylor Morris in 1898. She grew up and lived all of her life just twenty miles from where I did. She obviously had a clear understanding of God’s grace… Whenever I am weary I finding myself humming her invitation song…
What’s that one about the “all-seeing eye” watching us? That one’s a bun-burner.
The one time I “went forward,” I don’t remember what song it was. I just remember being consumed with guilt over having dumped my boyfriend for somebody else. I don’t remember which invitation song was sung when I got baptized, either.
I do remember how pointless it seemed to sing “Almost Persuaded” about some poor fellow who ignored the invitation song, died (probably in a car accident on the way home from church) and was doomed to hell (”Almost… but LOST!”) My dad grew up thinking the “Sad, sad the bitter wail” part was about a marine mammal named “Sad” who was holding onto a grudge.
I really love songs like “Nearer, Still Nearer” which are just honest confessions of sin and not an attempt to guilt-trip people down the aisle.
And now I want to leave you with this question: Did you repent? FULLY repent??
over in McCrory, Ark, we used to sing one called “What will you do with Jesus?” a lot, if I’m not mistaken. “What will you do with Jesus, my friend, what will your answer be…” That’s all I can seem to remember right now. Also, “There’s a fountain free” was popular.
My current favorite is “Turn My Heart” by Lynn DeShazo. Beautiful lyrics and beautiful melody.
Turn my Heart, O Lord, like rivers of water,
Turn my heart, O Lord, by Your hand;
Till my whole life flows in the river of Your Spirit
And my name brings honor to the Lamb.
(Repeat Chorus)
Lord, I surren-der to Your work in me;
I rest my life within Your loving hands.
Turn my Heart, O Lord, like rivers of water,
Turn my heart, O Lord, by Your hand;
Till my whole life flows in the river of Your Spirit
And my name brings honor to the Lamb.
Peace.
There are many songs that pierce my heart. I can’t think of any favorite during the “invitation” but I do know this one is a deep and earnest prayer of mine, especially if the Spirit calls me out of the aisle.
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
“Come to Jesus” and “There’s a Fountain Free” were sung often in my small church family growing up.
I’ve developed a connection over the years with the following lines:
There’s a fountain free
Tis for you and me
Let us haste, oh haste to it’s brink
Tis the fount of love
From the source above
And it bids us all freely drink
I never really appreciated those words, I think in part because I’m not crazy about the tune, but the words do have significance to me as over the years I have tried to drink from fountains other than the water Jesus has offered. Thanks for the reminder, Mike
The All Seeing Eye, by R.E. Winsett
All along on the road
to the soul’s true abode,
There’s an Eye watching you.
Every step that you take
this great Eye is awake,
There’s an Eye watching you.
Watching you, watching you,
Everyday mind the course you pursue;
Watching you, watching you,
There’s an all-seeing Eye watching you.
I think I know each one of those that you mentioned by heart–including all 38 verses of “Just as I Am”. And I am resolved that I if I ever sing “I am Resolved” again I will throw myself off of the steeple!
I’ll never forget the morning I responded…the song was “Softly and Tenderly”…and I remember parts of Daddy’s sermon being on God’s deep love for us…so deep He gave His Son.
There were other special invitation songs:
Have you been to Jesus for the clenasing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
There’s a fountain free, ’tis for you and me: Let us haste, O, haste to its brink; ‘Tis the fount of love from the Source above, And He bids us all freely drink!
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel’s veins; And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Would you be free from the burden of sin? There’s pow’r in the blood, pow’r in the blood; Would you o’er evil a victory win? There’s wonderful pow’r in the blood!…Wonderworking pow’r in the precious blood of the Lamb!
And then, as I came up out of the waters of baptism, my Grandad…as he always did…began the last verse of O Happy Day! which says:
‘Tis done, the great transaction’s done; I am my Lord’s and He is mine! He drew me and I followed on, Charmed to confess the voice divine!
“I Am Resolved” is a personal favorite of the one’s you mentioned, but I’ll also toss in “Who at My Door is Standing?” (#614 in the songbook I grew up with)
I once read a Christian humor book (an oxymoron) that included a guide for knowing “when you’re in the middle of a good old fashioned altar call,” for which the first indicator was, “If the hymn being sung begins with the word ‘Just’ or ‘Why’”
I hope this doesn’t become a time to make fun of our past. The truth is that so many of these songs have such a meaningful theology. I think this post can be great, but I also think that it can sink into the usual bashing of our past. I also grew up going everytime the doors were open. I remember relatives from out of town coming on Sunday afternoon. Dad was gracious and showed them where everything was and then told them that we would be back in about an hour or so and off we went to church. Those old songs taught me more about grace than most sermons I heard, and in the house of my youth there was no question as to priority. Nothing came before church, and it ws never presented in a legalistic way. It was just the way things happened. I knew that my dad thought that God came first. I know that many of the songs are pretty dated. I would love for someone to take some of the classic songs of the past and give them a more contemporary sound. I too never got to see Disney on Sunday night and I really missed the shows on Wednesday, but In looking back I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I was taught that something transended all else in terms of importance.
Prepare to Meet Thy God or Careless Soul. Man, that all seeing EYE song used to scared the life out of me. Just reading the words again here has made me draw up in a knot!
I’m with Tedd, those songs scared me to death and do NOT bring back fond memories. For a tradition that prides itself as being logical rather than emotional (at least, my experience of the CoC), I found the “song of invitation” to be emotionally-manipulative, even as a child.
Amen Richard! I wouldn’t trade it for the world! I love the old songs, we still sing them and I’m so thankful! We have a good mix of old and new songs. Personally, I don’t want to see people performing in worship~~it takes my mind off my personal worship. I can’t seem to concentrate. I’m not arguing here if it’s right or wrong. I don’t think we are at church on Sunday to be entertained. Hope I don’t get bashed, just my personal opinion. Our kids need to be reminded of these “old” songs, there is alot of substance~~
P.S. I’m only 37
Lee
O Heart Bowed Down With Sorrow is one I remember, although I remember them all. I remember missing Disney and everything else (that is until the church in Toronto where my dad was an elder decided to end - yes end - Sunday PM services in favor of a lunch plus afternoon devotional format! People had to travel from all over the city to get there and people were voting with their feet. I was free!) I do not remember much of anything learned on a Sunday PM service. I do not remember learning anything that transcended all else. The stuff I remember transcending all else came from family, Christian friends, and the Christian college experience later… Maybe I’m not alone….
I went forward on “O, Why Not Tonight?” I tried with all my might to resist the urge, gripping the seat in front of me with all my strength, but my scrawny frame was no match for such lyrics as:
Tomorrow’s sun may never rise
To bless thy long deluded sight;
This is the time, O then be wise,
Be saved, O tonight.
Man, I still get chills!
Funny story about that Sunday night so long ago. Elvis Huffard was conducting a meeting at our little church, and I would really have liked for him to baptize me (he had baptized my mom many years earlier). But, alas, Bro. Huffard had been at my dad’s farm that Sunday afternoon, had fallen off a horse and hurt his back. He couldn’t get down into the water, so our “regular” preacher did the honors. Bummer.
Oh, one more thing. When you do a search for “O Why Not Tonight?” you get some pretty weird stuff that pops up. Be careful…
From days gone by I remember:
God is calling the prodigal: Come without delay
Hear, O hear Him calling, Calling now for thee
Tho’ You’ve wandered so far from His presence, come today
Hear His loving voice calling still
Calling now for thee
O weary prodigal come
Calling now for thee
O weary prodigal, come
Patient, loving and tenderly still the Father pleads
Hear, O hear Him calling, Calling now for thee
O return while the Sporit in mercy intercedes
Hear His loving voice calling still
Come, there’s bread in the house of thy Father, and to spare
Hear, O hear Him calling, Calling now for thee
Lo! the table is spread and the feast is waiting there
Hear His loving voice calling still
Is anybody writing any new hymns these days? In any Christian tradition?
wistful qb
“The Great Physician now is near, the sympathizing Jesus”
well I was beaten to There’s a Fountain Free. I also remember singing those nautical songs a lot. Like “Throw out the lifeline”. There were others in that your gonna drown if we don’t get you in the water style.
an unamed evangelist ruined “Just As I Am” when at youth rallies he would bully the kids and sometime’s parents into feeling digusting enough to want to “come forward”. I had to read these songs like poetry before falling in love with them again.
My favorite new song is “untitled hymn” by Chris Rice. Heard it at one of our CC brothers churches, it melted some barriers.
I can’t sing There’s a Fountain Free without smiling and laughing, especially if I am worshipping with my dad. You see, I would sing at the top of my lungs, (when I was young of course). But instead of singing “Will you come to the fountain free? Will you come? tis for you and me; Thirsty soul,” I would sing, Thirsty frog!!!! at the top of my lungs. I guess as a child I didn’t know what a soul was but I sure knew what a frog was and it could be thirsty!!!
I have some good friends who, 20 years ago, were trying to conceive and were experiencing some difficulty… They were never able to sing “Let the Lower Lights be Burning” without cracking up…
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
I went forward during my father’s leading of “There’s a Fountain Free.” Then he baptized me. What I wouldn’t give to hear him sing it again.
I remember lectureship in Searcy (mid-1980s) and singing about 25 verses of “Just as I Am”, all the while hoping my “date” wouldn’t go forward!
That was always a sure sign it would be a short date.
Luckily, I’ve matured since then!
In about the second grade, my parents decided that I couldn’t go to the restroom or get a drink of water in the middle of church anymore — I had to wait until church was over. This was usually OK unless it was a hot, West Texas Sunday and the invitation song was “There’s a Fountain Free.” There was a water fountain in the foyer of our church (14th and Main, Big Spring, TX) that dispensed the coldest, wettest water you ever tasted. It was hard not to think about it while singing:
There’s a fountain free
Tis for you and me
Let us haste, oh haste to its brink
Tis the fount of love
From the source above
And it bids us all freely drink
I wasn’t thinking at all about Christ’s redeeming power. Every cell is my body was dying for a drink from that freestanding Halsey-Taylor in the foyer. I remember sticking one foot out in the aisle so I could run back there and take a long, gulping drink as soon as the closing prayer was over. A lot of those old songs are very moving and have a lot of meaning for me, but “There’s a Fountain Free” just makes me thirsty.
Just read the comments quickly. Wow — what significant memories! Especially around the sound “There’s a Fountain Free.” Keep ‘em coming!
Lee wrote: “Personally, I don’t want to see people performing in worship…”
Most CoC folks say this, yet critique the “performance” of the public speaking skills of ministers all the time. I find it quite ironic how “performing” by trained singers is frowned upon, but singing “Just As I Am” until the congregation turns blue and someone comes forward (now, let’s sing the third verse again, this time REALLY soft, etc.) is acceptable.
If you think about it, it’s all a performance. Now whether or not it’s all for God can be debated…
“Untitled Hymm” by Chris Rice is going to be my funeral song some day. (We didn’t do ‘Invitation Songs’ in the Catholic Church & I really don’t have much of an opinion about them now.)
I am just thankful that somebody removed the Bomb in Gilead that I was so nervous about as a kid growing up. It always confused me how a bomb could heal a sin-sick soul!
Kill it, yes………but heal it?
DU
I’ve had fun perusing a copy of Great Songs of the Church this morning instead of all the other things I should have been doing.
I ran across the song Come, Ye Sinners which I became familiar with several years ago through the music of Fernando Ortega. I don’t remember singing it growing up, but I like the words:
Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, week and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you, pull of pity, love and pow’r:
He is able, He is able, He is willing: doubt no more;
He is able, He is able, He is willing: doubt no more.
Let no sense of sin prevent you, nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth is to feel your need of him.
He is able, He is able, He is willing: doubt no more;
He is able, He is able, He is willing: doubt no more.
Does anyone remember singing it? My husband has led it recently but it seemed new to most in our congregation.
I, too, love There’s a Fountain Free but for very different reasons than anyone has said here. About ten years ago and in the midst of much discussion about gender justice in the Church of Christ, I heard this song and I fell in love with it all over again.
There’s a fountain free
tis for you and me
let us haste, o haste to its brink
tis the fount of love
from the source above
and he bids us all freely drink
Will you come to the fountain free?
Will you come?
tis for you and me
Thirsty soul, hear the welcome call
Tis a fountain opened for all
There’s a rock that’s cleft
and no soul is left
that may not its pure waters share
tis for you and me
and its stream I see
Let us hasten joyfully there
Will you come to the fountain free
Will you come?
tis for you and me
Thirsty soul, hear the welcome call
tis a fountain opened for all
These words still speak powerfully to me.
My favorite was singing “Oh Why Not Tonight” on Sunday morning. Doh!!!!!
“On Zion’s Glorious Summit Stood” is such a great song of worship.
I’d like to hear it turned into an invitation song. A poet could preach the message of Revelation and then zero in on those words, “I heard the song and strove to join.” Isn’t that what happens to us?
As a kid, too many episodes of “Popeye” left me wondering why Sweet-Pea needed to know that the tones were falling. So by the time I got that one, it was ruined.
I Surrender All.
Almost Persuaded. Whew!
At Even’ when the Sun was Set
Jesus, Keep me Near the Cross
Who at the Door is Standing?
LOVE them, and have to be deliberate in teaching them to the kids, cause NOBODY sings them.
I really enjoyed Sting’s version of “The All Seeing Eye.”
Your comments included a song with special meaning to me. On Sunday night, August 8, 1948, at the beginning of the second verse of “Out Of My Bondage,” I stepped into the aisle and responded for baptism.
Thanks for stirring my old cells …
Winston Hamby –
(Deana Nall’s dad) …
How about this one?
“O, heart bowed down with sorrow! O eyes that long for sight!
There’s gladness in believing; In Jesus there is light.
Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
Other stanzas:
“Divinest consolation doth Christ the healer give;
Art thou in condemnation? Believe, repent and live.
His peace is like a river, His love is like a song;
His yoke’s a burden never; ‘Tis easy all day long.”
Great to see you again, Mike. I miss your sermons.
You mentioned that it didn’t matter if Wizard of Oz was on or not…
I remember a few times during my 3x a week lifestyle that put my out in the middle of Wizard of Oz - the hairy weather and tornados part! (And I was sure that the mean old lady in the front pew was the Wicked Witch of the West…
A distant cousin of mine grew up believing that Jesus was a black man because he sang “Just a little chocolate Jesus” a lot at his church. I can’t help but smile when that song is sung.
By the way I wrote a hymn years ago. It has been in a trunk since 1971. Indulge me as I share the words … It was 3 a.m. and I could not sleep. I read Psalm 71 and God gave to me the following to share with you:
O God, incline Thine ear to me,
I seek Thy Holy way;
Thou art my fortress and my rock,
Deliver me I pray.
My mouth will praise Thy Holy name,
Thy truth my lips shall sing;
My tongue shall speak Thy Holy Word
My Master and my King.
O Lord, my trust I place in Thee,
My soul shall never stray;
Thou art my faith, my hope, my love,
My Guide unto that day …
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
Bless His Holy name.
Amen …
I realize that these verses are written with an influence from the King James Translation. Most of my early Bible study was all KJV.
Now I am 70 and have learned to study for the most part from the NIV and other translations. I still prefer the KJV when in poetic mode … May God bless all of you …
Richard and Lee - I’m with you about some of the old songs. My son-in-law (who became a Christian in college) talks about how the old songs connect us with part of our past and I like that. When I sing those “old” songs not only do I think about the moving words, but I also think about how my grandparents and great grandparents sang some of those same songs and I feel the sense of “community in Christ” in a whole new way.
I was probably much more critical of that past in my earlier years, like some of those here have been, but now I am able to see the beauty in those words and images.
“Softly and Tenderly” was sung as the invitation song on Sunday morning, Nov. 30, 1980. The day I was baptized and it was also my Daddy’s birthday. So that song still brings a tear to my eye.
After learning the background on “It Is Well With My Soul”, that song can be sung on any occassion and convict me afresh.
After reading Mike’s comments this morning, I had to smile when I walked out of my house at noon to hear the First Baptist bells playing “Just As I Am”!!!!!!
Jeff- I’ve never critiqued the preacher!
Seriously, I have so much admiration for anyone who can deliver a sermon!!!
Again, it’s a personal opinion on the performance of singers in front of the audience. I get distracted and feel as if I’m being entertained. Again, not saying if it’s right or wrong, just my opinion.
Sincerely,
Lee
Brad! We did the same thing. LOL
“My favorite was singing “Oh Why Not Tonight” on Sunday morning. Doh!!!!! “
I love “I Surrender All”. I think that is because it is the hardest thing for me to do. But, my fondest memories are of singing at a retirement home every Monday during college. We would sit with a room full of young at hearts and sing from an old hymn book. They loved it and would talk about the memories that those songs brought back. Most moving were the ones who would sit silently with tears streaming down their faces. I was always moved.
I wish we didn’t have so many associations with certain songs being about “invitations” because I would like to sing “There’s A Fountain Free” and “Just As I Am” at other times… like moments of thanksgiving or communion.
Ahh, yes, the memories of lengthy invitation songs. I do believe we set some sort of Guiness record one Wed. evening in the early 70’s in Abilene. Gary Beauchamp came to preach our annual gospel meeting, and Wed. represented the final night in the new, condensed and hip 70’s version of the ol’ gospel meeting. I think we sang through “O, Why Not Tonight” about 2.5 times, with Gary ad-libbing and pontificating between every two or three verses. Scared about half a dozen kids or so forward. I always wondered why no one over the age of 20 ever came forward in those marathons? To me, the memories are sweet, but very, very distant now.
Why don’t those commin’ forward pencils have erasers on them? And why can’t the cards and pencils be bigger?
Why can’t we use a big chief pencil and pad? I mean who we kiddin, the 3×5 card will hold about one month’s worth of “doing what I shouldn’t been doin.”
I’m with Amy. Especially where “Just as I Am” is concerned. It is such a beautiful song - such moving lyrics about abandonment of self and the power of God’s grace. I wish we could find a way to sing it more often.
Actually, singing OWNT on Sunday morning wouldn’t be so bad if we CofC folks didn’t think we had to rush a repentent sinner right to the water. We could sing it in the morning, have someone respond, repent and confess, then baptize them in the evening…but noooo, not us…it’s right to the water in case they fall off a horse in the afternoon and go straight to hell!
Hi Lee,
Forgive me if I sounded mean-spirited, I sure didn’t mean to, honest. You have got to be the first CoC’er I’ve ever heard that hasn’t critiqued the minister’s “performance” at least once, even if to say “the preacher did a good job” in a positive review. Are you sure you’re a CoC’er, haha! Kidding, kidding!
Jeff
I attended a conference today and heard Jack Hayford speak about worship. He said the wonderful thing about the great old hymns is that most of them were written during times of great revival. When we sing them now, we are tapping into revival from a different era even as we seek it in our own time. That’s why he likes a mixture of old and new songs. I thought that was an interesting insight.
I am surprised no one mentioned “Tomorrow may be to late”
With like phrases like: “Today is the day of Salvation, tomorrow may be to late,”. And the forced 3rd verse that says “repent, confess, and be baptized. There is no other way.” What a Horrible song.
But there are so many great songs, Oh Sacred Head, There is a Fountain Filled With Blood, Love Lifted Me, Amazing Grace, O Thou Fount of Every Blessing, O to be Like Thee, Standing on the Promises. These songs speak to my past, present, and future.
We were also a three times a week, and every Gospel meeting family. My parents especially enjoyed “Three Unusual Days” with Jack Exum, I think I have had 21 Unusual Days. But to be fair we grew up in a military house hold and my parents wanted to be at Church with other military believers. We were there early and stayed late. Those other military families were our life line, and Mickey or Dorothy couldn’t do that for us.
They are so happy.
Happy.
Happy.
Who do their Savior obey?
Sorry Jeff, I meant to say “I’ve never critiqued the preacher in a negative way”!
Lee
I will never forget one Sunday morning about 30 years ago, our preacher gave a rousing sermon and then offered the invitation. The young song leader got up and started leading “Oh Why Not Tonight”. We all laughed and thought he must be hungry, ready to go home and thought any sinner could come forward tonight.
“Up from the grave he arose!” I love these songs but boy am I glad that I have a God who loves change.
I, like many of the previous writers, have special memories of many of those songs. The memory of “invitation songs” I want to write about came in the form of a question from our children. We were totally stunned when we realized our children didn’t know what an “invitation song” was. When my father died, the preacher said…after preaching what my father desired to be shared at his funeral…that he felt like he should extend the invitation. On the way home, we were asked, “What is the invitation?” While being happy that my children got to skip some of the sorting out it took me years to do, I was saddened by what we have left behind in that shaking out process. Invitation songs serve as a great time of reflection, something I think our society as a whole has left behind in our hurry-scurry world. I loved reading the words again to some of those beautiful hymns. Thanks for the post!
#492 in Songs of the Church (with the little musical note beside, blue book). Standing Outside.
The little church I preach for uses it about once a month for the invitation. I’m glad it didn’t make it into newer song books. It’s not the best choice of songs. There are plenty of invitation songs to sing. So, if you are leading invitation songs, you might, for the mercy of all those in your hearing, skip this one.
If you are not familiar with the song, look it up in the old blue Songs of the Church (the one with 728b).
It seemed like we sang “Day is dying in the west” a lot on Sunday nights growing up at University C of C in Abilene.
Another biggie was “I Am Resolved.” It seemed like every man in the congregation would become “Alpha Bass” during, “Hasten glad and free!”
I also loved “Sweet Hour of Prayer”.
“Why Do You Wait, Dear Brother?”
Interesting info on George Frederick Root:
http://chi.gospelcom.net/DAILYF/2003/08/daily-08-30-2003.shtml
For a short time, I led singing at Central in Amarillo when Bob Barnhill was the preacher. One Sunday morning Bob preached on the sanctity of marriage. I thought nothing of my invitation song until a smart-mouthed deacon questioned my choice of invitation songs: Out of My Bondage.
I have been wracking my brain trying to remember all the words to this one but can only come up with a few verses.
“Standing outside the Portals,
Standing outside denied.
Knowing that with the Demons
Ever you shall abide.
…..to be away from loved ones
and by your God denied.
Awful, Standing Outside.”
I actually liked the tune of it as a teenager but the song leader refused to lead it after one of the deacon’s wife’s complained about it. Of course, it took on a different meaning completely when we found out later they were having an affair!
All that aside, thank goodness, we in the COC have gotten away from guilting people into repenting. I remember sitting thru Gospel Meetings that they would not end until someone came forward! We would sing three or four songs until someone came forward, often one of the teens just so we could go home!
I love the new songs but still enjoy the old ones too. A mixture is a good thing!
“I Am Thine, O Lord” was the invitation song on the Sunday evening (January 10, 1965) when I was baptized. I have always loved the words.
I am thine, O Lord.
I have heard thy voice
And it told thy love for me.
Now I long to rise
In the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Consecrate my now to Thy service, Lord
By the power of grace divine.
Let my soul look up with a stadfast hope
And my will be lost in Thine.
Draw me, nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord
To the cross where Thous hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord
To Thy precious bleeding side.
I went forward to be baptized to “Almost Persuaded”. It really had little to do with the song, but more with the fact that I was 18, had been in the CoC my whole life, and after finishing my senior year of football, figured I had finally got all my sinnin’, cussin’ ways out of my system. Now I look back and think, yeah, “Almost Persuaded”, God has a funny sense of humor! That song reflected more about me after baptism than before! Nowadays, the hymn that brings a connection to me is “O Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” Not really sung as an invitation song where I grew up, but it creates a stirring in me that few songs do. Even with the Ebenezer thing going on in there. My wife and I have begun teaching our children one “old” hymn per week as part of our nightly devotionals. It’s been a real blessing, especially when your 4 year old and 6 year old ask us to explain a word not used in common speech. As others have said, a lot of the songs we sing have great and powerful messages, whether they are “old” or “new.”
I remember standing for 25 verses of Just as I Am at the Jimmy Allen Campaign for Christ in Waco, Texas.
All the old songs lately seem to cause me to lose it during church, causing me to switch to waterproof mascara….they remind me of my mom and dad who are both gone.
I can hear my mom’s sweet alto voice in those songs and see my dad holding the old Songs the of Church! Remember how the OF was sort of big and italicized?
Also, I work the computer at my church, and when we sing the old hymns, we have to push the slides because the younger generation does not know the words to the oldie but goodies.
I always thought ‘O Why Not Tonight’ sounded like a rather whiney plea, especially when sung with a strident nasal Texas twang.
And the collective foot-tapping on the off-beat used to lull me into annoyance…
Thanks for this post, Mike — lots of fun memories! The first hymn I lead singing on was ‘Softly and Tenderly’. No foot tapping.
Deb - YOU led singing?????!!!!!???? I am assuming you are a female! You must have been with only other females. So, which part sang the echo “Come home”??? Hehehe…..
I really love this post! There is nothing nearer and dearer to me than our heritage. I thank God for my past years in the COC, but I appreciate SO MUCH the present day of feeling the freedom to admit that we do not (and never have had) the perfect interpretation of scripture. And, I look forward to the future in seeing what God can do through our fellowship of believers.
This note is from Serena V. (and I echo her appreciation, Winston):
Winston,
How beautiful! Thanks for taking the time to share you hymn.
Thys and thees work for me — especially since I had a Spanish professor at ACU (J. W. Treat) who explained to us that thy, thee and thou were first person familiar. It is the way you would address someone with whom you have a close relationship. Most of us using that language thought is was just the opposite. It was one of those pieces of information that changed my perspective forever.
Seems like a lot of folk are indicating that they don’t sing these hymns anymore. Am I reading that right?
Wow… I cried all the way through these wonderful memories. Thanks to all of you for sharing … and especially Winston for sharing his own work. We need to honor and encourage our writers to do more writing. The songs that resonate will stay around for ages. I thought of a few songs that didn’t get mentioned. One begins with the words, “Swiftly we’re turning life’s daily pages.” I have not thought about “Who At The Door Is Standing” in years … thanks for that reminder. We like to use “Jesus Let Us Come To Know You” as an invitation song. “Jesus Paid it All” is also a favorite. In the country churches of Mississippi a twangy version of “Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone” can be heard on any given Sunday.
“God is calling the prodical, come without delay…”
There is also a song in this old hymn book I have called “Did You Fully Repent” I am glad we never sung that one, even though such a question was sure preached enough.
I’m a bit older than most who responded, but it was “Bonanza” I resented missing on Sunday nights. Never did see the program until it was on “T.V. Land”. Until I knew better, as a young child, I loved any invitation song because it meant that the sevice was almost over! Then I reached that illusive “age of accountability” and began to hate all invitation songs. Now I’am a grandad and have fond memories of most of them. “There is a Fountain” might be my all time favorite of the traditional ones. When you reach the “age of accountability” you got to love that wonderful Blood that is the paymnet for our sin. You got to love Jesus!
Hi Joyce. We still sing these songs at our church every Sunday. We try to mix the old and new.
Debbie Curry — yes, I led, and still lead singing. All four parts, or whatever the score calls for. There is SO much more you can do with the echo, ‘Come Home’ when you have ALL the voices!
I live in a country where these songs from my tradition are not known. So every once in awhile I pull out a BUNCH of them (have to go softly, softly here, because the Brits don’t like to have the Americans tell them how to do church). They actually love them. I must admit I was slightly taken aback with some of the feedback I received the first time I introduced one of my choirs to some of my CofC favourites. One of my kindest supporters (an alto) looked up misty-eyed at me and said, ‘These Victorian hymns are just so different. Beautiful, yes, but they really pull at you!’
They notice the year every hymn is written, and give me kudos when we sing a hymn that moves further ahead into the 20th Century.
They were totally thrown and perplexed when I had to give them the hymns in the shaped-note version. But I quickly had a Leader’s Accompaniment Edition of ‘Songs of Faith and Praise’ shipped over here that prints the hymns in regular notation.
This past Sunday, they sang ‘When My Love to Christ Grows Weak’ during the Eucharist. We did it with the violin, oboe, and keyboard. I know a lot of you would object, but not only was everyone moved, I had to really be careful not to go to pieces. It made our communion so poignant and heartfelt. And it was the first time in four years that I got to hear this song again in the worship context of communion.
Apologies, Mike, for this long explanation …
PS: ‘There’s a Fountain Free’ also gets my vote!
I remember the song Winston wrote. I actually sang it with Bill Cook. Bill and his wife Bettie and my husband Tollie and I sang it. I can’t remmeber now who wrote the music to it, but I knew you were the one who wrote the words. (It may have been Bill Cook who wrote the music, just can’t remember.)
It was a beautiful song and I am really trying to remember all the music to it. Thanks for sharing this and helping me remember those happy times.
Peggy
Probably the most memorable invitation was one that had no song at all. Jeff Walling had just finished speaking at a youth rally (where else?)and everyone stood up. It was so powerful to not be distracted by the singing. He still does this from time time.
My father baptized me in 1967 after we had sung “Have you Been to Jesus”.
I also wanted to agree with what Richard wrote in an earlier post “Those old songs taught me more about grace than most sermons I heard.” I often wonder why those who whine that they never learned about grace growing up in the church didn’t recognize it in the last verse of “Years I Spent in Vanity and Pride….Oh the love that drew salvation’s plan - Oh the grace that brought it down to man - Oh the mighty gulf that God did span, at Calvary…Mercy there was great and grace was free - Pardon there was multiplied to me - There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.”
The most beautiful invitation song I remember hearing was at a small congregation in Arkansas in the 70’s…Have You Counted the Cost?
There’s a line that is drawn by rejecting our Lord,
Where the call of His Spirit is lost,
And you hurry along with the pleasure-mad throng,
Have you counted, have you couned the cost?
You may barter your hope of eternity’s morn,
For a moment of joy at themost,
For the glitter of siin and the things it will win,
Have you counted, have you counted the cost?
While the door of his mercy is open to you,
Ere the depths of His love you exhaust,
Won’t you come an be healed, won’t you whisper, I yield,
Have you counted, have you counted the cost?
Have you counted the cost, if your soul should be lost,
Though you gain the whole world for your own?
Even now it may be that the line you have crossed,
Have you counted, have you counted the cost?
OK…I’ve been a lurker for quite a while and finally decided to take the plunge! My favorite is Trust & Obey - I still remember hearing it at Clyde cofC! What a great song!
Ohhh, the precious memories you have evoked! Although I love much of the newer music I, too, am “hard-wired” for those old hymns. Brother K. C. Moser used to say that our theology needed to catch up with the hymns we were singing, and I think he was right. We sang a lot more about grace than we ever talked about it, back then.
In the past 10 years, one of the most powerful “invitation” songs I’ve experienced was when we were doing a series on the Ten Commandments, one per Sunday. In the sermon about the 2nd commandment, after being challenged by the preacher to examine modern-day equivalents like sports, TV and computer games that regularly absorb more time than we give to God… and how so many of these teen killers had spent time shooting other humanoids in violent videogames… and how we become like what we spend time with… we stood and sang O to Be Like Thee. I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard it used for an invitation song, per se, but I was suddenly blown away by the line “stamp Thine own image deep on my heart”! After all, that’s what it’s all about.
Could you please send me the words of the song “Have you counted the cost if your sould should be lost”
Thanks.
Google is the best search engine
I have been looking for the words “Have You Counted The Cost” and found them here on your website. Thank you form the bottom of my heart. My husband passed away on March 21 and thre were so many attending the funeral who did not know the Lord. Again, thank you.
Stupore! ho una sensibilit? molto buona circa il vostro luogo!!!!
I wanted this song to sing for an appeal at a church service and found it here. Thanks a lot. May God bless you
Thank you for your beautiful posts. You have brought back many memories from my past, as well.
My favorite ( from the Baptist Church) was Higher Ground. If you listen to Van Morrison’s song, Whenever God shines His light, you’ll hear overtones of the hymn. He must have sung it as a child, also.