This Is My Father’s World, Into The Heart of Jesus, Lead Kindly Light, A Wonderful Saviour, In Heavenly Love Abiding, Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims, Father & Friend, Jesus Is All The World to Me, Love For All, Blessed Assurance, Crown Him With Many Crowns, & many more….all sung so beautifully by the congregation at College Church in Searcy back in the day.
I have to say that, though I love today’s praise & worship songs, the songs mentioned above are the ones I sing to myself when I’m thinking about Jesus—I sing these words more than I say scripture. Maybe an indictment of myself, but I just love music so much!
We recently sang “O Lord Our Lord” for the first time in ages. It gave me chills. Also, we recently sand several of the old Stamps Baxter songs. Love that harmony!
Just kidding. I always hated that song. There are several worship leaders (Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, etc) that are taking old hymns and making choruses for them. I love the integration of new and old.
Heavenly Sunlight. My childhood church had an 60’s building, with the 60’s concrete design-work over the side windows of the sanctuary. On sunny mornings, the sun came streaming into the church building, making what I thought were beautiful designs through the green-tempered glass. I was sure that was “heavenly sunlight”.
Our congregation sings almost all “new” songs. And I find that I don’t really miss the old songs. But if you were to press me I would say “Standing on the Promises”, “He Bore it All”, “What Can Wash Away My Sins”, along with a few of those already mentioned. Also, “Flee as a Bird” brings back memories of when I attended the Heights church in the 70’s.
I’ve never felt so edified as when Paul Dennis used to lead “O Lord Our Lord” or “Our God He is Alive” at the Hillcrest C of C back in the 80’s. At very least you knew he was going to sing 728B.
Oh shoot, Frank took mine. I just love “In the Land of Fadeless Day.” What a beautiful wedding of the words and music.
Having grown up with Sacred Selections (or as we called it, “Scarred Selections”) I was overwhelmed when I learned the songs from “Great Songs of the Church” during my stay at Harding. I think “O God of Bethel” is a beautiful song for weddings, and “At Even When the Sun Was Set” still makes me cry.
Val MUST lead “In Heavenly Love Abiding” some Sunday at Highland. I, of course, will be unable to sing. Hard to when one remembers one’s Mom having tears steam down her cheeks when singing it. Same for “His Grace Reaches Me”. Didn’t hear the word “Grace” too often but was contantly reminded of the “Providence of God”. Symantics (did I spell that right?)
“Worthy of Praise is Christ our Redeemer”….God bless Bro.Tillit S. Teddlie.
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (wonderfully rich four part harmony that captures the “feel” of a coronation, even in acapella)
Great is Thy Faithfulness (”Strength for today/and bright hope for tomorrow” captures something really important to me)
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (”See from his head, his hands, his feet/sorrow and love flow mingled down” - one of the most powerful metaphors in the old school hymnal)
At even, ere the sun was set,
The sick, O Lord, around Thee lay;
O, with how many pains they met!
O, with what joy they went away!
Once more ’tis eventide, and we,
Oppressed with various ills, draw near;
What if Thyself we cannot see?
We know that Thou art ever near.
O Savior Christ, our woes dispel;
For some are sick, and some are sad;
And some have never loved Thee well,
And some have lost the love they had.
And some are pressed with worldly care
And some are tried with sinful doubt;
And some such grievous passions tear,
That only Thou canst cast them out.
And some have found the world is vain,
Yet from the world they break not free;
And some have friends who give them pain,
Yet have not sought a friend in Thee.
And none, O Lord, have perfect rest,
For none are wholly free from sin;
And they who fain would serve Thee best
Are conscious most of wrong within.
O Savior Christ, Thou too art man;
Thou has been troubled, tempted, tried;
Thy kind but searching glance can scan
The very wounds that shame would hide.
Thy touch has still its ancient power.
No word from Thee can fruitless fall;
Hear, in this solemn evening hour,
And in Thy mercy heal us all.
A prayer just as valid today as when it was written. . .
I’d like a lot of those other old songs better if they didn’t use all masculine language, by the way . . .
Or vocabulary that nobody knows . . .
Or theology that directly conflicts with the sermon . . .
Etc.
Beulah Land (My dad’s favorite)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Be Still My Soul
He Leadeth Me
And there’s one we sang at SVCC that I can’t remember except it spoke of deep calling to deep and I loved it, but we rarely sang it. It was praise in the midst of weeping.
Have never posted before, but I find this really interesting. I do sing many, many of the songs you all are missing probably 65-70 percent of the time…and long to be able to sing more of the newer praise songs much more often.
Mike, can’t express in words how much your blog is appreciated.
I’m with Jeff. Our church sings these “classics” every week. I enjoy singing them but I would love to sing any of the new praise songs that so many of you enjoy each week. “I Will Call Upon the Lord” was actually referred to as a “new” song in worship a couple of weeks ago.
How I Love the Great Redeemer, It Is Well With My Soul (if you don’t know the story behind that song, you must look into it), O Sacred Head, Ring It Out. I Love the Lord.
The first song, just gets me going. It makes my soul want to jump out of my body. To sing the song without thinking the words is dangerous, because you have to feel the message. The second I cannot sing without crying. I cried before I knew the origin of the song, but now I cry even more that I know the story behind it…an example of praising God in tragedy and realizing God is bigger than any of anyone’s sorrows. When we sing “My sin oh the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole is NAILED to the cross and I bear it no more… I always make a hammer motion with my hand as the tears role down my cheek. Gets me every time. “Ring it Out” well it reminds me of what we all need to do and why we are here. I think we should sing it at the close of every worship. Who knows maybe we’d actually be motivated evangelize.
I feel like our church has a good balance of old and new. We’ve recently moved into a new building and have screens to project the songs on so we are no longer limited to “Great Songs of the Church,” so some of our song leaders have brought back some of those great old songs and have also incorporated a lot of the newer praise songs.
My Favorite Oldies:
Jesus Hold my Hand
A Beautiful Prayer
If We Never Meet Again
I’ll Meet You in the Morning
(all have alto leads…betcha can’t guess what part I sing)
Salvation has Been Brought Down
I’m with Foy. My mom who passed away 15 years ago still shows up when we rarely sing “Love Lifted Me.” She taught me the true meaning of grace with her life - having come out of a very sad early life separated from God to receive His grace with wholehearted acceptance - she really meant that song when she sang it. I can still hear her voice and feel the lump in my throat. . .
Be Still my Soul. I always loved this song but now it’s words are so important and comforting. I miss singing so many of these songs and I am amazed and kind of sad that my children know so few of them.
“For Christ and the Church let our voices ring; Let us honor the name of our own blessed King.” I really wonder what motive has led to this great song of praise which cries out for unity being omitted from “Songs of Faith and Praise” and other newer “praise” oriented hymnals. When sung with enthusiasm and faith, it moves the heart: “For Christ, our dear Redeemer! For Christ, the Crucified! For the Church his blood has purchased, the church, his holy bride.” May be it was ruined by bad songleaders or maybe cynical, burned believers don’t want to be reminded that Christ purchased the church, to which all the saved belong. Maybe it’s just a copyright problem. It’s still a shame it’s not in more of the newer hymnals. At least it’s in the “Paperless Hymnal.”
Although this is not a song that I grew up singing, nor is it one that I would necessarily “miss,” it is a moving expression of deep, honest grief. I often struggle with God, wondering if my emotions at any given moment are heart-felt frustrations or simple wallowings in self-pity. Regardless, I believe this hymn gives a voice to many emotions some might feel uncomfortable or improper expressing to God. While it is most certainly not a song for all times, it is sincere cry to the Lord of all to move, to act, to save, and to embrace.
Love this topic as I live out of the country and NOTHING makes you miss the classics from childhood like singing in a language that you barely understand! I found this to be true my first trip back to the US and while I loved singing the new songs, found that I could not get through any of the oldies without crying, even now thinking of finally for the first time in 30 years really listening to the words of those beautiful songs (specifically Just As I Am) brings a tear to my eye!
Right now, my favorite that I sing to myself is None of Self and All of Thee.
Oh, the bitter pain and sorrow
That a time could ever be,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
“All of self, and none of Thee.”
All of self, and none of Thee,
All of self, and none of Thee,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
“All of self, and none of Thee.”
Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding on th’ accursed tree,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee.”
Some of self, and some of Thee,
Some of self, and some of Thee,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee.”
Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee.”
Less of self, and more of Thee,
Less of self, and more or Thee,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee.”
Higher than the highest heaven,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
“None of self, and all of Thee.”
None of self, and all of Thee,
None of self, and all of Thee,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
“None of self, and all of Thee.”
Since many churches don’t regularly use an invitation nowadays–or they soften up the invitation by using a less pointed song–I notice many of the comments above mention old invitation songs like “Just as I am” and “Softly and Tenderly.”
Likewise, since many churches don’t have Sunday evening services anymore (and on Sunday evenings there was always more time to sing, it seemed) some of the “evening songs” are missed, such as “At even, when the sun was set” and “Now the Day is Over.”
I am very thankful that in my church we sing a mixture of older and newer songs. We don’t sing all the ones mentioned here, but we certainly sing “O Sacred Head” and “Be Still My Soul” and “It is Well with my Soul” now and then.
We are now at an instrumental church and we sing mostly contemporary stuff which is great, but I really miss the old classics. The other day we sang “O Worship the King” and it felt so good to sing it that I nearly cried. I don’t think about how much I miss those songs until I hear one.
My kids are also missing out on giggling through songs like “Low in the Gravy Lay” like I grew up doing. Just the other day, I told my 9-year-old about how we used to mistake “the consecrated cross I bear” for “the constipated cross-eyed bear” and she laughed so hard she shot the Coke she was drinking out her nose.
I find it an interesting coincidence that “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind” has been mentioned a few times. I have not verified this, but I was once told that this was a Quaker hymn written in response to a battle brewing between old and new worship styles (from the “old” side of the fence). Hence, “forgive our foolish ways,” “let our ordered lives confess,” “Drop thy still dews of quietness,” “in deeper reverence praise.” The old-timers of the day did not like the “quaking” going on and wanted a more reserved style. At first, this story ruined it for me, but if you sing it as a personal prayer instead of an agenda, it is a beautiful sentiment. Then again, I love prayer songs…and Desperado, of course. (And, Gina, “My Eyes Are Dry.)
I just read the comment by Phil regarding the 80’s a Hillcrest in Abilene. I am Paul Dennis and those were wonderful years. Thanks for remembering.
Paul
I love the “classics” - they have such depth to them. How much effort can it take to repeat the same phrase over and over (like so many of the newer songs)? The older songs have so much meaning behind them. I tend to agree with the earlier poster that said he didn’t know if the happy clappy songs would stand the test of time. Oh well. I remember my grandmother always singing/humming “The Old Rugged Cross.” I can rarely sing that song without thinking of her sweet spirit.
Chris Dell,our worship leader at church, recently led “My God and I” It took many of us back to Harding days around the lily pond, many, many, years ago. I wonder if they still sing this great old song at Harding?
Yes, we sing “My God and I” at Harding and College church. We mix the old and new along with occasional Stamps-Baxter type. When our family first moved to Searcy, I knew only one song Uncle Bud led that first Wednesday night (1958), but my Daddy wisely said, “You’ll learn them, and you’ll love them.” He was right; I miss many of the songs in the 2nd half of Great Songs of the Church, because they speak to my soul. Many of them were written as devotional thoughts and have several verses more than what is in the songbook, such as “At ev’en when the sun was set….” I have all of the “Hymns from Harding” CDs. These are the songs I sing around the house, for devotional time, and when I need to renew my faith.
We sang a lot of “classic” songs at Southwest today. I was glad this time, actually, because I had several friends from different Christian traditions visiting and they were able to join in and sing along; it helped them feel more at home. I think that’s an advantage to singing the “old” songs, but I think there’s plenty of room for old and new.
I grew up coc and have heard the “you know you’re church of Christ if” joke but I do not know what song 728b is.
I loved singing “Peace Be Still” (Master the tempest is raging..) It had such a dramatic tempo and many parts, I always felt like clapping when we had accomplished singing it. Applause not being one the official 5 acts of worship I did not, of course. But, we worded hard to sing that song well and we did.
728B is “Our God He Is Alive” in the Songs of the Church book by Alton Howard. A guest minister here last week referred to it as the Church of Christ National Anthem.
728b is There is Beyond the Azure Blue (well, that is the first line anyway - I can’t remember the title!!)
also, for all you who are overseas or otherwise able to attend a church that sings the old classics, quite a few of the contemporary Christian artists are putting out songs of hymns …. you should check them out!
My husband and his brothers stand up and put their hands over their hearts to sing 728b. They also sing “Peas, Perfect Peas” and rewrote “A Beautiful Life,” making it into a song about spam. Good EKs, those three.
I love “Be Thou My Vision” and “Come Thou Fount”. I’ve been leading the latter more often (but with the original words).
I tend to shy away from too many “heaven” songs. Not that they are bad per say, but I can remember growing up singing a TON about heaven and never getting back to God. Isn’t that the point of heaven- GOD!?! So, I have shied away from those since I don’t feel that they are technically “songs of worship”. Reminiscing about songs is fine- it just needs to get back to God!
And, personally, I think there is room for the “happy clappy” songs, the hymns, the modern songs, the 7/11s, etc. Everyone is on a journey. And sometimes, people need to sing something rich with theology like “In Christ Alone”, and on that same day there may be someone else who has had a terrible week and does not know how to communicate the pain they feel. And that person simply needs to sing, “I love you, I love you, I love You . . ” over and over simply because that’s all they got. I need to be reminded of that from time to time- complexity and simplicity can coexst side by side for a meaningful experience.
A lot of my favorites have already been listed. But, it’s difficult for me to say I miss them because DJ does such a great job of using both “classics” and “new songs” very effectively.
I love:
Lord, We Come Before Thee Now; Be Thou My Vision; Let Every Heart Rejoice and Sing; Praise The Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him; I think Be Still My Soul is one of the most beautiful and touching hymns I’ve ever heard, even though I still find it a little tough to sing, myself.
As I go to a church that sings both “old” and “new” songs I cannot answer this in reality, but theoretically the songs that would make me contemplate leaving a church were they dropped would be
I read through these posts…memories flood over me. Just last night, I spent some time with our “senior saints” in a “Stump the Song Leader” time singing the “Golden Oldies.”
At the same time, I read through them and see so many echoes of folks who say that “our church doesn’t sing the oldies any more.” Yes, while it is true that there are songs like “Mansions Over the Hilltop” with horrible theology and lots of songs about heaven…what I see is not very many churches embracing a truly holistic, blended view of song selection in worship planning. We sing between 350 and 450 different songs each year at our congregation and we always seek to honor a blend. Do we skew more towards the newer stuff? Sure…because we want to reach out and be a missional presence through language that reaches people where they are. But will you find some of the “golden oldies” mentioned so often in these posts? Absolutely…
Planning truly blended song selection is incredibly difficult.
And let’s not even talk about all those song lyrics the various CofC leaders changed to avoid singing about the Holy Spirit (Holy Holy Holy, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Come Thou Almighty King, just to name a few)…maybe Mike could post on that sometime???
Sparking off of Something Chris Lindsey said…(Thanks Chris!)
There are some great contemporary hymns being written these days thanks to people like Keith & Kristyn Getty, Stuart Townend. Check out http://www.gettymusic.com (And other places too) and you will find a wealth of these great new hymns that are absolutely stunning!
“Crossing the Bar” from an Alfred Lord Tennyson poem. Not even in our current song book, but forever in my heart. I’m guessing I haven’t heard the song sung in well over 20 years. I also love all the contemporary, one liner, very vertical songs, even if they are happy clappy as some have said. Different styles speak to different hearts. Doesn’t make one more spiritual than the other, just different. And it doesn’t even matter if they stand the test of time. If a song speaks to one heart and brings them in to a fellowship with Christ, well then it was worth it, short lived or not and happy clappy or not.
“For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.”
Wow - 100 messages without a drop of drama - bravo! “Now the Day is Over” is a classic, but I must confess that as a 12 year old it meant we were no more than a (hopefully) quick closing prayer, and dash down First Street to a Mack’s Square Burger.
This is way off topic, directed to Judy Miller: Are you Judy Braddock from Dallas, Texas? If so, this is your cousin Gay!
Now on topic: At my congregation, we sing a blend of old and new! At small group on Sunday night, we sing newer, more contemporary songs. I enjoy and am inspired by both.
Of course, Our God, He is Alive. Another one that we sang well. Thanks for telling me. I felt so clueless.
Anyone for songs that they are glad we don’t sing anymore? “Oh Why Not Tonight” comes to mind. I was pretty old when I was still singing “Oh, Do not let the WORLD depart”
My Jesus I Love Thee….that was my Gramps’ favorite hymn. I can still hear his booming bass voice. He & my grandmother worshipped for 50+ yrs @ 9th & Columbia in Plainview, TX. In fact, My Jesus I Love Thee is inscribed on their headstone. We actually sing it several times a year at our church, for which I am thankful. Although I never can sing….too many tears. All of these mentioned here bring a flood of similar memories and its weird, but I can still smell that “songbook smell”—I miss that, as we no longer use books, which is probably a good thing, keeps people from burying their heads in the book. Another sign of a bygone era, my Gramps used to tell stories of going to “singins” and my mother also told of being dragged to them in the 40’s & 50’s. Anybody else remember those?
When I was a little boy, my two favorite songs were “Stand Up For Jesus” (number 497 in the old blue books) and “The Garden Of Prayer.” While I’ve heard “Stand Up” a handful of times at my inlaws country congregation, I can’t tell you the last time I heard the chorus:
There my savior awaits
And he opens the gates
To that beautiful garden of prayer.
Precious mem’ries, unseen angels
Sent from somewhere to my soul
How they linger, ever near me
And the sacred past unfold.
CHORUS:
Precious mem’ries, how they linger
How they ever flood my soul
In the stillness of the midnight
Precious, sacred scenes unfold.
Precious father, loving mother
Fly across the lonely years
And old home scenes of my childhood
In fond memory appear.
In the stillness of the midnight
Echoes from the past I hear
Old-time singing, gladness bringing
From that lovely land somewhere.
I remember mother praying
Father, too, on bended knee
Sun is sinking, shadows falling
But their pray’rs still follow me.
As I travel on life’s pathway
Know not what the years may hold
As I ponder, hope grows fonder
Precious mem’ries flood my soul.
My brother read the lyrics to this song at our mother’s funeral. As he was sitting at her bedside when she was taking her last breath, these words just came to him.
Wendy P
Since you have elected to bring this lofty topic down a few notches, I feel compelled to offer “Gladly the Cross-eyed Bear” and “I Was Sinking Deep in Sin(wheee!)”; there are others-fortunately I can’t recall them right now.
Singings when I was growing up in the 1950s and singing schools under the direction of Tillit S Teddlie, a special family friend, were two of the highlights of my childhood.
I was just thinking how these songs bored me to tears growing up in church and singing them in such a rote manner with little to no passion or understanding of the lyrics. But now I find such comfort in these songs unlike any of the newer songs we sing today. Don’t get me wrong, I love the new songs but nothing brings me that kind of peace when I’m alone like singing the old hymns.
Any old Camp Blue Havener’s out there? I attended from 87-90
Thank you to all of you for stirring my memory with these wonderful and some not so wonderful old songs. Jennifer, I feel like you, I love the new songs, but the old ones feel like a good worn quilt on a cool evening.
for Val. This is late and you may not see it, but a little more background on “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.” The Whittier poem from whence it comes is titled, “The Brewing of Soma,” soma being an intoxicating brew. It depicted a heathen people brewing the soma, dancing unclothed around the cauldron. If memory serves me right, that theme runs for 12 or 13 stanzas before the calming, “Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways. Reclothe us in our rightful minds . . . ” drives home Whittier’s point.
I’ve sometimes used this poem in worship seminars to gently expose the fallacy of the teaching that “you should NEVER skip a verse in a song.” I think this is one song we are relieved to be skipping verses!
I have to agree with Claudia. I like the “newer” songs, but the “old” ones stir me with memories from my childhood at Cross Plains Church of Christ. I enjoy singing @ Hospice on Thusdays because most all of our requests are for the Old songs I grew up with. If any of you went to Vine Street Church of Christ in the 70’s you will remember how JIM DENISON could jump up on the podium and bring the whole congretation to its feet in praise that would raise the rafters with—-728B!!! My grown children always look over at me and smile when we sing that @ Highland. I want my grandchildren to know the old as well as the new songs, but above all…I just want then to KNOW HIM. We had a Small Group Bible Study at our house the week before Mike mentioned the songs and memories last Sunday. We played a tape of some of the OLD Gospel songs and asked for comments from the group. Thanks for the memories. Sorry this post is so long, but this is a subject very close to my heart since I grew with the old brown paperback sonbooks at family gatherings as a child—AND—no, I’m not
THAT old!!! My favorite song that was sang at my mother’s funeral was ‘PARADISE VALLEY”. I had “old” COC members ask me about that song afterwards. It has never been sung at the church I now attend, so I hope to sing it soon.
How about the one inside the back cover of Great Songs of The Church, Beyond the Sunset. I loved that everytime Horace Coffman at Broadway in Lubbock lead it.
Our congregation sings mostly newer songs, but still mixes in some of the older hymns. I love many that have already been mentioned and several more…
Christ We Do All Adore Thee
Hallelujah, What A Savior
We Praise Thee O God
On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand
Joyful, Joyful
Praise God From Who All Blessings Flow
Lord We Come Before Thee Now
I Need Thee Every Hour
On Zion’s Glorious Summit
O Lord And Father Of Mankind
It May Be At Morn
Christ The Lord Is Risen Today
All Creatures of Our God And King
My Daddy used to be a songleader when I was “growing up”, and so now when someone leads a song he used to lead quite often, it can sometimes make me very nostalgic (and he’s still alive!) to the point of tears. I had to get up and leave during a service one day because of “I am Thine, O Lord” and also because of the verse that means so much to me as I get older, ” There are depths of love that I cannot know Till I cross the narrow sea; There are heights of joy that I may not reach Till I rest in peace with Thee” (beautiful and so true)
I also still love the words and tunes to Just As I Am, Soldiers of Christ Arise, We Praise Thee, O God, There is a Habitation, and many others. Fortunately our church does sing a mixture of old hymns and contemporary selections.
Sandy Mc
Great Topic. Our church sings a mixture, but there a lot I’ve not heard in a while…
Follow Me — the words really help me remember that it isn’t all about me, and I have a completely blessed life.
Paradise Valley — Alto Lead!
Salvation Has Been Brought Down
Oh Lord Our Lord — Love it when Firestone Fieldhouse at Pepperdine resonates with this one… I can hardly sing I get so emotional.
I Know Whom I Have Believed
Blessed Assurance
Nearer Still Nearer
Victory In Jesus
Sing And Be Happy — this song is one I purposefully sat down and memorized at camp one summer because [1] alto lead and [2] it is peppy and never fails to cheer me up if I’m mired in self… there’s a time and a place for every song.
My great aunts and uncles used to get out the hymnals and sing for an hour or so every time they got together. I used to love to stand and sing with them…even as a very little girl. I’m sure it is what started my love of a cappella music. The fun they’d have together teasing and so on when one voice part would be predominant and the ‘pressure’d be on’ to get it right… Probably one of my fondest memories.
I’ve just returned from the memorial service for Dr. Thomas A. Langford at the Quaker Avenue Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas. The congregation sang his favorite song: “Where Livest Thou?” (written by Lloyd O. Sanderson, 1948). Dr. Langford, 77, who penned a column in my One Body magazine for 14 years, was what I call “A Righteous Renaissance Man.”
Just now, your doubtings give o’er;
Just now, reject him no more;
Just now, throw open the door;
Let Jesus come into your heart.
Sooo many! Heavenly Sunlight - A Beautiful Life - Amazing Grace - Tell Me The Story Of Jesus - to name a few.
Walking Alone At Eve, Take My Life O Father Mold It, Dear Lord and Father of Mankind — these are just a few that express strong longings of the heart.
This Is My Father’s World, Into The Heart of Jesus, Lead Kindly Light, A Wonderful Saviour, In Heavenly Love Abiding, Here We Are But Straying Pilgrims, Father & Friend, Jesus Is All The World to Me, Love For All, Blessed Assurance, Crown Him With Many Crowns, & many more….all sung so beautifully by the congregation at College Church in Searcy back in the day.
I have to say that, though I love today’s praise & worship songs, the songs mentioned above are the ones I sing to myself when I’m thinking about Jesus—I sing these words more than I say scripture. Maybe an indictment of myself, but I just love music so much!
Walking Alone at Eve… Blessed Assurance… Sing and Be Happy… He Leadeth Me… Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand…
A Mighty Fortress; O Love That Will Not Let Me Go; O Lord, Our Lord; Now The Day Is Over…hymns.
Trust and Obey, I’ll Fly Away, Where No One Walks Alone
O Thou Fount of Every Blessing.
Never Grow Old
O, Heart Bowed Down With Sorrow, On Jordan’s Stormy Banks, Sweeter as the Years Go By…I think of different ones every day.
Purer In Heart
We recently sang “O Lord Our Lord” for the first time in ages. It gave me chills. Also, we recently sand several of the old Stamps Baxter songs. Love that harmony!
Be Still My Soul. Never has any song - ever - spoken to me the way this old hymn does.
Pray All the Time (love the bass lead in the chorus)
Night with Ebon Pinion
It Is Well with My Soul
“In the Land of Fadeless Day”
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Where Will you Be (When you get where you’re going)
Abide With Me
“O, Sacred Head” or as it was once misprinted in our bulletin, “O, Scared Head”
Toiling On
Rise Up Lazarus
Just kidding. I always hated that song.
There are several worship leaders (Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, etc) that are taking old hymns and making choruses for them. I love the integration of new and old.
Heavenly Sunlight. My childhood church had an 60’s building, with the 60’s concrete design-work over the side windows of the sanctuary. On sunny mornings, the sun came streaming into the church building, making what I thought were beautiful designs through the green-tempered glass. I was sure that was “heavenly sunlight”.
Jesus, Hold My Hand…or as I lovingly refer to it - 277b
Dont forget about some modern favorites too…
http://www.wayofthemaster.com/songofthelukewarm.shtml
Jim
There’s an (All-Seeing) Eye Watching You
“…Ev’ry day mind the course you pursue…”
They don’t make ‘em like that ennymore.
qb
Sing to Me Of Heaven & There’s Not a Friend!
Oh and one more: I Come to the Garden Alone.
Maybe it is a good thing we don’t sing it much. I’ve always wanted to get up and waltz to it!
“A Beautiful Life”:
Each day I’ll do a golden deed,
By helping those who are in need;
My life on earth is but a span,
And so I’ll do the best I can…
Life’s evening sun is sinking low,
A few more days, and I must go,
To meet the deeds that I have done,
Where there will be no setting sun.
******************************************
A truly beautiful song…
*O Thou Fount of Every Blessing
*Be Thou My Vision
*Praise To The Lord, The Almighty, The King of Creation (Let the amen sound from His people again!)
It’s often thought that the “older” songs are only loved by the “older” members, but I’m not all that old at all…
“Be With Me Lord”
“Be Still My Soul”
“Sweet Hour of Prayer”
Our congregation sings almost all “new” songs. And I find that I don’t really miss the old songs. But if you were to press me I would say “Standing on the Promises”, “He Bore it All”, “What Can Wash Away My Sins”, along with a few of those already mentioned. Also, “Flee as a Bird” brings back memories of when I attended the Heights church in the 70’s.
“Be Still My Soul”
“I Come To The Garden Alone”
“O, Sacred Head Now Wounded”
There are so many, but I’ll stick to one…Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
I’ve never felt so edified as when Paul Dennis used to lead “O Lord Our Lord” or “Our God He is Alive” at the Hillcrest C of C back in the 80’s. At very least you knew he was going to sing 728B.
He Leadeth Me, Follow Me, Marching to Zion
Oh shoot, Frank took mine. I just love “In the Land of Fadeless Day.” What a beautiful wedding of the words and music.
Having grown up with Sacred Selections (or as we called it, “Scarred Selections”) I was overwhelmed when I learned the songs from “Great Songs of the Church” during my stay at Harding. I think “O God of Bethel” is a beautiful song for weddings, and “At Even When the Sun Was Set” still makes me cry.
Val MUST lead “In Heavenly Love Abiding” some Sunday at Highland. I, of course, will be unable to sing. Hard to when one remembers one’s Mom having tears steam down her cheeks when singing it. Same for “His Grace Reaches Me”. Didn’t hear the word “Grace” too often but was contantly reminded of the “Providence of God”. Symantics (did I spell that right?)
“Worthy of Praise is Christ our Redeemer”….God bless Bro.Tillit S. Teddlie.
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name (wonderfully rich four part harmony that captures the “feel” of a coronation, even in acapella)
Great is Thy Faithfulness (”Strength for today/and bright hope for tomorrow” captures something really important to me)
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (”See from his head, his hands, his feet/sorrow and love flow mingled down” - one of the most powerful metaphors in the old school hymnal)
Foy (12:25 pm) - I checked with the womynfolk, and they said your spelling is just right.
Helpfully,
qb
MANY of the ones already mentioned, plus my childhood favorite:
“Love Lifted Me”
Yeah, even me.
DU
At even, ere the sun was set,
The sick, O Lord, around Thee lay;
O, with how many pains they met!
O, with what joy they went away!
Once more ’tis eventide, and we,
Oppressed with various ills, draw near;
What if Thyself we cannot see?
We know that Thou art ever near.
O Savior Christ, our woes dispel;
For some are sick, and some are sad;
And some have never loved Thee well,
And some have lost the love they had.
And some are pressed with worldly care
And some are tried with sinful doubt;
And some such grievous passions tear,
That only Thou canst cast them out.
And some have found the world is vain,
Yet from the world they break not free;
And some have friends who give them pain,
Yet have not sought a friend in Thee.
And none, O Lord, have perfect rest,
For none are wholly free from sin;
And they who fain would serve Thee best
Are conscious most of wrong within.
O Savior Christ, Thou too art man;
Thou has been troubled, tempted, tried;
Thy kind but searching glance can scan
The very wounds that shame would hide.
Thy touch has still its ancient power.
No word from Thee can fruitless fall;
Hear, in this solemn evening hour,
And in Thy mercy heal us all.
A prayer just as valid today as when it was written. . .
Just as I am
I’d like a lot of those other old songs better if they didn’t use all masculine language, by the way . . .
Or vocabulary that nobody knows . . .
Or theology that directly conflicts with the sermon . . .
Etc.
I miss singing anything newer than 1970. The church I attend sings nothing but the classics.
My real answer…Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
and you?
Nearer Still Nearer; maybe someone will sing it at my funeral
Where cross the crowded ways of life
Where sound the cries of race and clan
Above the noise of selfish strife
We hear Your voice, O Son of Man!
Matt E: Mom wanted “Never Grow Old” sung at her funeral. We did. I miss “Lo, What a Glorious Sight Appears.”
Rojay1950, I’m with you. Nearer Still Nearer has always been my favorite. I thought I was going to be original!
Beulah Land (My dad’s favorite)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Be Still My Soul
He Leadeth Me
And there’s one we sang at SVCC that I can’t remember except it spoke of deep calling to deep and I loved it, but we rarely sang it. It was praise in the midst of weeping.
Have never posted before, but I find this really interesting. I do sing many, many of the songs you all are missing probably 65-70 percent of the time…and long to be able to sing more of the newer praise songs much more often.
Mike, can’t express in words how much your blog is appreciated.
Desperado
Come to our church. You can sing those oldies every week. Believe me — You won’t miss them anymore.
I’m with Jeff. Our church sings these “classics” every week. I enjoy singing them but I would love to sing any of the new praise songs that so many of you enjoy each week. “I Will Call Upon the Lord” was actually referred to as a “new” song in worship a couple of weeks ago.
Beyond This Land Of Parting (Happy Summer Land)
Ivory Palaces; how can you beat that alto line?
Ten Thousand Angels
How I Love the Great Redeemer, It Is Well With My Soul (if you don’t know the story behind that song, you must look into it), O Sacred Head, Ring It Out. I Love the Lord.
The first song, just gets me going. It makes my soul want to jump out of my body. To sing the song without thinking the words is dangerous, because you have to feel the message. The second I cannot sing without crying. I cried before I knew the origin of the song, but now I cry even more that I know the story behind it…an example of praising God in tragedy and realizing God is bigger than any of anyone’s sorrows. When we sing “My sin oh the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole is NAILED to the cross and I bear it no more… I always make a hammer motion with my hand as the tears role down my cheek. Gets me every time. “Ring it Out” well it reminds me of what we all need to do and why we are here. I think we should sing it at the close of every worship. Who knows maybe we’d actually be motivated evangelize.
I feel like our church has a good balance of old and new. We’ve recently moved into a new building and have screens to project the songs on so we are no longer limited to “Great Songs of the Church,” so some of our song leaders have brought back some of those great old songs and have also incorporated a lot of the newer praise songs.
My Favorite Oldies:
Jesus Hold my Hand
A Beautiful Prayer
If We Never Meet Again
I’ll Meet You in the Morning
(all have alto leads…betcha can’t guess what part I sing)
Salvation has Been Brought Down
I’m with Foy. My mom who passed away 15 years ago still shows up when we rarely sing “Love Lifted Me.” She taught me the true meaning of grace with her life - having come out of a very sad early life separated from God to receive His grace with wholehearted acceptance - she really meant that song when she sang it. I can still hear her voice and feel the lump in my throat. . .
Oh To Be Like Thee
Sacred Head
Christ, we do all adore thee.
“Softly and Tenderly”
It Is Well (With My Soul). That song always makes me cry when it’s sung.
Be Still my Soul. I always loved this song but now it’s words are so important and comforting. I miss singing so many of these songs and I am amazed and kind of sad that my children know so few of them.
“For Christ and the Church let our voices ring; Let us honor the name of our own blessed King.” I really wonder what motive has led to this great song of praise which cries out for unity being omitted from “Songs of Faith and Praise” and other newer “praise” oriented hymnals. When sung with enthusiasm and faith, it moves the heart: “For Christ, our dear Redeemer! For Christ, the Crucified! For the Church his blood has purchased, the church, his holy bride.” May be it was ruined by bad songleaders or maybe cynical, burned believers don’t want to be reminded that Christ purchased the church, to which all the saved belong. Maybe it’s just a copyright problem. It’s still a shame it’s not in more of the newer hymnals. At least it’s in the “Paperless Hymnal.”
Oh Happy Day (I like the Edwin Hawkins Singers version)
Precious Lord (Mahalia Jackson’s rendition is timeless)
Of course there are many that I’m happy that we don’t sing any more. Is there any shallower song than “Sing and Be Happy”?
Although this is not a song that I grew up singing, nor is it one that I would necessarily “miss,” it is a moving expression of deep, honest grief. I often struggle with God, wondering if my emotions at any given moment are heart-felt frustrations or simple wallowings in self-pity. Regardless, I believe this hymn gives a voice to many emotions some might feel uncomfortable or improper expressing to God. While it is most certainly not a song for all times, it is sincere cry to the Lord of all to move, to act, to save, and to embrace.
“While On the Sea”
Love this topic as I live out of the country and NOTHING makes you miss the classics from childhood like singing in a language that you barely understand! I found this to be true my first trip back to the US and while I loved singing the new songs, found that I could not get through any of the oldies without crying, even now thinking of finally for the first time in 30 years really listening to the words of those beautiful songs (specifically Just As I Am) brings a tear to my eye!
Right now, my favorite that I sing to myself is None of Self and All of Thee.
Oh, the bitter pain and sorrow
That a time could ever be,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
“All of self, and none of Thee.”
All of self, and none of Thee,
All of self, and none of Thee,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
“All of self, and none of Thee.”
Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding on th’ accursed tree,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee.”
Some of self, and some of Thee,
Some of self, and some of Thee,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of self, and some of Thee.”
Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee.”
Less of self, and more of Thee,
Less of self, and more or Thee,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee.”
Higher than the highest heaven,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
“None of self, and all of Thee.”
None of self, and all of Thee,
None of self, and all of Thee,
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered:
“None of self, and all of Thee.”
I don’t think the happy clappy songs will stand the test of time like the classics. All my favorites have been named.
Since many churches don’t regularly use an invitation nowadays–or they soften up the invitation by using a less pointed song–I notice many of the comments above mention old invitation songs like “Just as I am” and “Softly and Tenderly.”
Likewise, since many churches don’t have Sunday evening services anymore (and on Sunday evenings there was always more time to sing, it seemed) some of the “evening songs” are missed, such as “At even, when the sun was set” and “Now the Day is Over.”
I am very thankful that in my church we sing a mixture of older and newer songs. We don’t sing all the ones mentioned here, but we certainly sing “O Sacred Head” and “Be Still My Soul” and “It is Well with my Soul” now and then.
We are now at an instrumental church and we sing mostly contemporary stuff which is great, but I really miss the old classics. The other day we sang “O Worship the King” and it felt so good to sing it that I nearly cried. I don’t think about how much I miss those songs until I hear one.
My kids are also missing out on giggling through songs like “Low in the Gravy Lay” like I grew up doing. Just the other day, I told my 9-year-old about how we used to mistake “the consecrated cross I bear” for “the constipated cross-eyed bear” and she laughed so hard she shot the Coke she was drinking out her nose.
I find it an interesting coincidence that “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind” has been mentioned a few times. I have not verified this, but I was once told that this was a Quaker hymn written in response to a battle brewing between old and new worship styles (from the “old” side of the fence). Hence, “forgive our foolish ways,” “let our ordered lives confess,” “Drop thy still dews of quietness,” “in deeper reverence praise.” The old-timers of the day did not like the “quaking” going on and wanted a more reserved style. At first, this story ruined it for me, but if you sing it as a personal prayer instead of an agenda, it is a beautiful sentiment. Then again, I love prayer songs…and Desperado, of course. (And, Gina, “My Eyes Are Dry.)
Val,
If you want to uncover an absolutely wonderful backgroung to a hymn, google “The Brewing of Soma,” a poem by J.G. Whittier, and read its story.
Prince of Peace, Control My Will
Be Thou My Vision
Nearer, Still Nearer
I have resurrected “Be Still, My Soul” into our congregation’s worship. Now if we could ressurect “Lead Us, Heavenly Father.”
Rex
Lead me to some soul today.
I just read the comment by Phil regarding the 80’s a Hillcrest in Abilene. I am Paul Dennis and those were wonderful years. Thanks for remembering.
Paul
I love the “classics” - they have such depth to them. How much effort can it take to repeat the same phrase over and over (like so many of the newer songs)? The older songs have so much meaning behind them. I tend to agree with the earlier poster that said he didn’t know if the happy clappy songs would stand the test of time. Oh well. I remember my grandmother always singing/humming “The Old Rugged Cross.” I can rarely sing that song without thinking of her sweet spirit.
Chris Dell,our worship leader at church, recently led “My God and I” It took many of us back to Harding days around the lily pond, many, many, years ago. I wonder if they still sing this great old song at Harding?
The Love of God (is greater far…)
Kent: Linda and I sing old hymns and older contemporary songs all the time so we’re not missing any!
Linda: The Family of God
Yes, we sing “My God and I” at Harding and College church. We mix the old and new along with occasional Stamps-Baxter type. When our family first moved to Searcy, I knew only one song Uncle Bud led that first Wednesday night (1958), but my Daddy wisely said, “You’ll learn them, and you’ll love them.” He was right; I miss many of the songs in the 2nd half of Great Songs of the Church, because they speak to my soul. Many of them were written as devotional thoughts and have several verses more than what is in the songbook, such as “At ev’en when the sun was set….” I have all of the “Hymns from Harding” CDs. These are the songs I sing around the house, for devotional time, and when I need to renew my faith.
We sang a lot of “classic” songs at Southwest today. I was glad this time, actually, because I had several friends from different Christian traditions visiting and they were able to join in and sing along; it helped them feel more at home. I think that’s an advantage to singing the “old” songs, but I think there’s plenty of room for old and new.
The Lord is in His Holy Temple
How Great Thou Art
I grew up coc and have heard the “you know you’re church of Christ if” joke but I do not know what song 728b is.
I loved singing “Peace Be Still” (Master the tempest is raging..) It had such a dramatic tempo and many parts, I always felt like clapping when we had accomplished singing it. Applause not being one the official 5 acts of worship I did not, of course. But, we worded hard to sing that song well and we did.
I also loved Walking Alone at Eve.
Linda,
728B is “Our God He Is Alive” in the Songs of the Church book by Alton Howard. A guest minister here last week referred to it as the Church of Christ National Anthem.
728b is There is Beyond the Azure Blue (well, that is the first line anyway - I can’t remember the title!!)
also, for all you who are overseas or otherwise able to attend a church that sings the old classics, quite a few of the contemporary Christian artists are putting out songs of hymns …. you should check them out!
My husband and his brothers stand up and put their hands over their hearts to sing 728b. They also sing “Peas, Perfect Peas” and rewrote “A Beautiful Life,” making it into a song about spam. Good EKs, those three.
I love “Be Thou My Vision” and “Come Thou Fount”. I’ve been leading the latter more often (but with the original words).
I tend to shy away from too many “heaven” songs. Not that they are bad per say, but I can remember growing up singing a TON about heaven and never getting back to God. Isn’t that the point of heaven- GOD!?! So, I have shied away from those since I don’t feel that they are technically “songs of worship”. Reminiscing about songs is fine- it just needs to get back to God!
And, personally, I think there is room for the “happy clappy” songs, the hymns, the modern songs, the 7/11s, etc. Everyone is on a journey. And sometimes, people need to sing something rich with theology like “In Christ Alone”, and on that same day there may be someone else who has had a terrible week and does not know how to communicate the pain they feel. And that person simply needs to sing, “I love you, I love you, I love You . . ” over and over simply because that’s all they got. I need to be reminded of that from time to time- complexity and simplicity can coexst side by side for a meaningful experience.
Love you all, good posts.
-chris
He just reminded me of another - “Are You Sewing The Seed Of the King, Dumb Brother?”
Family holiday gatherings are a riot.
WendyP: How ’bout “Let us have a little choc’late Jesus”?
A lot of my favorites have already been listed. But, it’s difficult for me to say I miss them because DJ does such a great job of using both “classics” and “new songs” very effectively.
I love:
Lord, We Come Before Thee Now; Be Thou My Vision; Let Every Heart Rejoice and Sing; Praise The Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him; I think Be Still My Soul is one of the most beautiful and touching hymns I’ve ever heard, even though I still find it a little tough to sing, myself.
As I go to a church that sings both “old” and “new” songs I cannot answer this in reality, but theoretically the songs that would make me contemplate leaving a church were they dropped would be
Be With Me Lord
Be Thou My Vision
All Things Are Ready
God is Calling the Prodigal
When They Ring Those Golden Bells
I love “Walking Alone at Eve.”
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
All the Way My Savior Leads Me
I read through these posts…memories flood over me. Just last night, I spent some time with our “senior saints” in a “Stump the Song Leader” time singing the “Golden Oldies.”
At the same time, I read through them and see so many echoes of folks who say that “our church doesn’t sing the oldies any more.” Yes, while it is true that there are songs like “Mansions Over the Hilltop” with horrible theology and lots of songs about heaven…what I see is not very many churches embracing a truly holistic, blended view of song selection in worship planning. We sing between 350 and 450 different songs each year at our congregation and we always seek to honor a blend. Do we skew more towards the newer stuff? Sure…because we want to reach out and be a missional presence through language that reaches people where they are. But will you find some of the “golden oldies” mentioned so often in these posts? Absolutely…
Planning truly blended song selection is incredibly difficult.
And let’s not even talk about all those song lyrics the various CofC leaders changed to avoid singing about the Holy Spirit (Holy Holy Holy, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Come Thou Almighty King, just to name a few)…maybe Mike could post on that sometime???
Peace…and thanks for the conversation!
Sparking off of Something Chris Lindsey said…(Thanks Chris!)
There are some great contemporary hymns being written these days thanks to people like Keith & Kristyn Getty, Stuart Townend. Check out http://www.gettymusic.com (And other places too) and you will find a wealth of these great new hymns that are absolutely stunning!
Growing up, we sang “Now the Day is Over” at the end of Sunday night service. Wow, hadn’t thought about that in a long time!
“Crossing the Bar” from an Alfred Lord Tennyson poem. Not even in our current song book, but forever in my heart. I’m guessing I haven’t heard the song sung in well over 20 years. I also love all the contemporary, one liner, very vertical songs, even if they are happy clappy as some have said. Different styles speak to different hearts. Doesn’t make one more spiritual than the other, just different. And it doesn’t even matter if they stand the test of time. If a song speaks to one heart and brings them in to a fellowship with Christ, well then it was worth it, short lived or not and happy clappy or not.
“For tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.”
We used to alternate between ‘Now The Day Is Over’ and ‘Walking Alone At Eve’ for ending Sunday night services.
Wow - 100 messages without a drop of drama - bravo! “Now the Day is Over” is a classic, but I must confess that as a 12 year old it meant we were no more than a (hopefully) quick closing prayer, and dash down First Street to a Mack’s Square Burger.
This is way off topic, directed to Judy Miller: Are you Judy Braddock from Dallas, Texas? If so, this is your cousin Gay!
Now on topic: At my congregation, we sing a blend of old and new! At small group on Sunday night, we sing newer, more contemporary songs. I enjoy and am inspired by both.
Of course, Our God, He is Alive. Another one that we sang well. Thanks for telling me. I felt so clueless.
Anyone for songs that they are glad we don’t sing anymore? “Oh Why Not Tonight” comes to mind. I was pretty old when I was still singing “Oh, Do not let the WORLD depart”
My Jesus I Love Thee….that was my Gramps’ favorite hymn. I can still hear his booming bass voice. He & my grandmother worshipped for 50+ yrs @ 9th & Columbia in Plainview, TX. In fact, My Jesus I Love Thee is inscribed on their headstone. We actually sing it several times a year at our church, for which I am thankful. Although I never can sing….too many tears. All of these mentioned here bring a flood of similar memories and its weird, but I can still smell that “songbook smell”—I miss that, as we no longer use books, which is probably a good thing, keeps people from burying their heads in the book. Another sign of a bygone era, my Gramps used to tell stories of going to “singins” and my mother also told of being dragged to them in the 40’s & 50’s. Anybody else remember those?
When I was a little boy, my two favorite songs were “Stand Up For Jesus” (number 497 in the old blue books) and “The Garden Of Prayer.” While I’ve heard “Stand Up” a handful of times at my inlaws country congregation, I can’t tell you the last time I heard the chorus:
There my savior awaits
And he opens the gates
To that beautiful garden of prayer.
Geez…I got teary-eyed typing that!
Precious mem’ries, unseen angels
Sent from somewhere to my soul
How they linger, ever near me
And the sacred past unfold.
CHORUS:
Precious mem’ries, how they linger
How they ever flood my soul
In the stillness of the midnight
Precious, sacred scenes unfold.
Precious father, loving mother
Fly across the lonely years
And old home scenes of my childhood
In fond memory appear.
In the stillness of the midnight
Echoes from the past I hear
Old-time singing, gladness bringing
From that lovely land somewhere.
I remember mother praying
Father, too, on bended knee
Sun is sinking, shadows falling
But their pray’rs still follow me.
As I travel on life’s pathway
Know not what the years may hold
As I ponder, hope grows fonder
Precious mem’ries flood my soul.
My brother read the lyrics to this song at our mother’s funeral. As he was sitting at her bedside when she was taking her last breath, these words just came to him.
Wendy P
Since you have elected to bring this lofty topic down a few notches, I feel compelled to offer “Gladly the Cross-eyed Bear” and “I Was Sinking Deep in Sin(wheee!)”; there are others-fortunately I can’t recall them right now.
Singings when I was growing up in the 1950s and singing schools under the direction of Tillit S Teddlie, a special family friend, were two of the highlights of my childhood.
O’ Sacred Head, Oh Lord Our Lord, Amazing Grace… so many.
I also have forgotten so many songs we used to sing at Camp Blue Haven. I really wish I had a Camp Blue Haven song book!
I was just thinking how these songs bored me to tears growing up in church and singing them in such a rote manner with little to no passion or understanding of the lyrics. But now I find such comfort in these songs unlike any of the newer songs we sing today. Don’t get me wrong, I love the new songs but nothing brings me that kind of peace when I’m alone like singing the old hymns.
Any old Camp Blue Havener’s out there? I attended from 87-90
#12 in the OLD bluebook—-”Angry Words.”
“Be Still My Soul”
Waymon
Thank you to all of you for stirring my memory with these wonderful and some not so wonderful old songs. Jennifer, I feel like you, I love the new songs, but the old ones feel like a good worn quilt on a cool evening.
God Himself is With Us
for Val. This is late and you may not see it, but a little more background on “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind.” The Whittier poem from whence it comes is titled, “The Brewing of Soma,” soma being an intoxicating brew. It depicted a heathen people brewing the soma, dancing unclothed around the cauldron. If memory serves me right, that theme runs for 12 or 13 stanzas before the calming, “Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways. Reclothe us in our rightful minds . . . ” drives home Whittier’s point.
I’ve sometimes used this poem in worship seminars to gently expose the fallacy of the teaching that “you should NEVER skip a verse in a song.” I think this is one song we are relieved to be skipping verses!
I have to agree with Claudia. I like the “newer” songs, but the “old” ones stir me with memories from my childhood at Cross Plains Church of Christ. I enjoy singing @ Hospice on Thusdays because most all of our requests are for the Old songs I grew up with. If any of you went to Vine Street Church of Christ in the 70’s you will remember how JIM DENISON could jump up on the podium and bring the whole congretation to its feet in praise that would raise the rafters with—-728B!!! My grown children always look over at me and smile when we sing that @ Highland. I want my grandchildren to know the old as well as the new songs, but above all…I just want then to KNOW HIM. We had a Small Group Bible Study at our house the week before Mike mentioned the songs and memories last Sunday. We played a tape of some of the OLD Gospel songs and asked for comments from the group. Thanks for the memories. Sorry this post is so long, but this is a subject very close to my heart since I grew with the old brown paperback sonbooks at family gatherings as a child—AND—no, I’m not
THAT old!!! My favorite song that was sang at my mother’s funeral was ‘PARADISE VALLEY”. I had “old” COC members ask me about that song afterwards. It has never been sung at the church I now attend, so I hope to sing it soon.
How about the one inside the back cover of Great Songs of The Church, Beyond the Sunset. I loved that everytime Horace Coffman at Broadway in Lubbock lead it.
Our congregation sings mostly newer songs, but still mixes in some of the older hymns. I love many that have already been mentioned and several more…
Christ We Do All Adore Thee
Hallelujah, What A Savior
We Praise Thee O God
On Christ The Solid Rock I Stand
Joyful, Joyful
Praise God From Who All Blessings Flow
Lord We Come Before Thee Now
I Need Thee Every Hour
On Zion’s Glorious Summit
O Lord And Father Of Mankind
It May Be At Morn
Christ The Lord Is Risen Today
All Creatures of Our God And King
Doxology
It’s simple, timeless, and true.
Jennifer S’s comment about Camp Blue Haven reminded me how I used to love when we sang “Ring It Out” at Camp Red Oak Springs (Camp Copperhead).
Steve,
very interesting list, we sang EVERY ONE of those songs in Lancaster’s recording in Tulsa. I guess you were there.
I loved to sing “Write Something New on Your Blog So I can Be Engaged in Christian Conversation.” It was 728C I believe.
My Daddy used to be a songleader when I was “growing up”, and so now when someone leads a song he used to lead quite often, it can sometimes make me very nostalgic (and he’s still alive!) to the point of tears. I had to get up and leave during a service one day because of “I am Thine, O Lord” and also because of the verse that means so much to me as I get older, ” There are depths of love that I cannot know Till I cross the narrow sea; There are heights of joy that I may not reach Till I rest in peace with Thee” (beautiful and so true)
I also still love the words and tunes to Just As I Am, Soldiers of Christ Arise, We Praise Thee, O God, There is a Habitation, and many others. Fortunately our church does sing a mixture of old hymns and contemporary selections.
Sandy Mc
Leland, you’re a card!
Great Topic. Our church sings a mixture, but there a lot I’ve not heard in a while…
Follow Me — the words really help me remember that it isn’t all about me, and I have a completely blessed life.
Paradise Valley — Alto Lead!
Salvation Has Been Brought Down
Oh Lord Our Lord — Love it when Firestone Fieldhouse at Pepperdine resonates with this one… I can hardly sing I get so emotional.
I Know Whom I Have Believed
Blessed Assurance
Nearer Still Nearer
Victory In Jesus
Sing And Be Happy — this song is one I purposefully sat down and memorized at camp one summer because [1] alto lead and [2] it is peppy and never fails to cheer me up if I’m mired in self… there’s a time and a place for every song.
My great aunts and uncles used to get out the hymnals and sing for an hour or so every time they got together. I used to love to stand and sing with them…even as a very little girl. I’m sure it is what started my love of a cappella music. The fun they’d have together teasing and so on when one voice part would be predominant and the ‘pressure’d be on’ to get it right…
Probably one of my fondest memories.
I’ll Fly Away and There Is A Habitation
On Zion’s Glorious Summit (with Sanctus)
Be Still My Soul
Abide With Me
O Sacred Head
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I loved your presentation at Pepperdine and especially your song leading!
My Task by Maude L. Ray, His Eve is On the Sparrow by Civillia D. Martin, What Shall It Profit? by Johnson Oatman, Jr.
I’ve just returned from the memorial service for Dr. Thomas A. Langford at the Quaker Avenue Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas. The congregation sang his favorite song: “Where Livest Thou?” (written by Lloyd O. Sanderson, 1948). Dr. Langford, 77, who penned a column in my One Body magazine for 14 years, was what I call “A Righteous Renaissance Man.”