Favourite Hymns Thread

Discussion in 'Arts, Literature, and Games' started by Scottish Knight, Jan 27, 2012.

  1. Scottish Knight

    Scottish Knight Well-Known Member

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    There are some brilliant hymns from the past and present- many of them sadly not sung very often now. Do you have any favourites? Know any obscure hymn gems that should be rediscovered? Why not post them up and share them here :)
     
  2. Scottish Knight

    Scottish Knight Well-Known Member

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    "Not what my hands have done" by Horatius Bonar is one of my favourites! I really connect to the words



    Not what my hands have done
    Can save my guilty soul;
    Not what my toiling flesh has borne
    Can make my spirit whole.
    Not what I feel or do
    Can give me peace with God;
    Not all my prayers and sighs and tears
    Can bear my awful load.

    Thy work alone, O Christ,
    Can ease this weight of sin;
    Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
    Can give me peace within.
    Thy love to me, O God,
    Not mine, O Lord to thee,
    Can rid me of this dark unrest
    And set my spirit free.

    Thy grace alone, O God,
    To me can pardon speak;
    Thy pow'r alone, O Son of God,
    Can this sore bondage break.
    No other work, save thine,
    No other blood will do;
    No strength, save that which is divine,
    Can bear me safely through.

    I bless the Christ of God;
    I rest on love divine;
    And with unfalt'ring lip and heart
    I call this Saviour mine.
    This cross dispels each doubt;
    I bury in his tomb
    Each thought of unbelief and fear,
    Each ling'ring shade of gloom.

    I praise the God of grace;
    I trust his truth and might;
    He calls me his, I call him mine,
    My God, my joy, my light.
    'Tis he who saveth me,
    And freely pardon gives;
    I love because he loveth me,
    I live because he lives.

    (Horatius Bonar 1861)
     
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  3. Scottish Knight

    Scottish Knight Well-Known Member

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    This is another one that I find quite moving:



    I asked the Lord that I might grow
    In faith, and love, and every grace;
    Might more of His salvation know,
    And seek, more earnestly, His face.
    ’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
    And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
    But it has been in such a way,
    As almost drove me to despair.
    I hoped that in some favored hour,
    At once He’d answer my request;
    And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
    Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
    Instead of this, He made me feel
    The hidden evils of my heart;
    And let the angry pow’rs of hell
    Assault my soul in every part.
    Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
    Intent to aggravate my woe;
    Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
    Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.
    Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
    Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
    “’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
    I answer prayer for grace and faith.
    These inward trials I employ,
    From self, and pride, to set thee free;
    And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
    That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”
    (John Newton,1776)

    I've certainly found in my own life, that the difficult times have been moments of spiritual growth - really the promise that all things work together for good for those who love God really is true - that even the bad things things in our lives are means of Grace! It's amazing how these moments work out far better than if our plans had suceeded!
     
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  4. halleluia

    halleluia Member

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    SK, are you asking about Christian songs in general? In which case there are several favorites that I have. I thought you were asking about some lost hymns, which immediately made me think of hymns by Charles Wesley that had been lost in manuscript somewhere.
     
  5. Scottish Knight

    Scottish Knight Well-Known Member

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    No, I meant any Christian hymns you like - post your favourites =)
     
  6. kestrel

    kestrel Member

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    And did those feet

    And did those feet in ancient time.
    Walk upon England's mountains green:
    And was the holy Lamb of God,
    On England's pleasant pastures seen!

    And did the Countenance Divine,
    Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
    And was Jerusalem builded here,
    Among these dark Satanic Mills?

    Bring me my Bow of burning gold;
    Bring me my Arrows of desire:
    Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
    Bring me my Chariot of fire!

    I will not cease from Mental Fight,
    Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
    Till we have built Jerusalem,
    In England's green & pleasant Land
     
  7. Gordon

    Gordon Well-Known Member

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    Make me a channel of your peace...

    Make me a channel of your peace.
    Where there is hatred let me bring your
    love.
    Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord
    And where there's doubt, true faith in
    you.

    Chorus:
    Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
    So much to be consoled as to console
    To be understood as to understand
    To be loved as to love with all my soul.

    Make me a channel of your peace
    Where there's despair in life, let me bring
    hope
    Where there is darkness, only light
    And where there's sadness, ever joy.

    Chorus:

    Make me a channel of your peace
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
    In giving to all men that we receive
    And in dying that we're born to eternal
    life.

    Chorus:
     
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  8. Scottish Knight

    Scottish Knight Well-Known Member

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    I remember singing this a lot at the church I grew up in :) Thanks for posting it
     
  9. Toma

    Toma Well-Known Member Anglican

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    My Soul, There is a Country...

    1650 poem set to music as an anthem by Sir Hubert Parry

    My soul, there is a country,
    Afar beyond the stars,
    Where stands a winged sentry,
    All skillful in the wars.

    There, above noise and danger,
    Sweet Peace sits crowned with smiles,
    And One born in a manger
    Commands the beauteous files.

    He is thy gracious Friend
    And (O my soul, awake!)
    Did in pure love descend,
    To die here for thy sake.

    If thou canst get but thither,
    There grows the flower of peace,
    The rose that cannot wither,
    Thy fortress, and thy ease.

    Leave, then, thy foolish ranges;
    For none can thee secure
    But One, who never changes,
    Thy God, thy Life, thy Cure.

     
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  10. Scottish Knight

    Scottish Knight Well-Known Member

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    I remembered this song from a series of animated new testament stories I used to watch as a kid. Glad I found this again

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H4P9VaH4Is

    Ps does anyone know why videos are not showing in the post anymore?
     
  11. Lowly Layman

    Lowly Layman Well-Known Member

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  12. MatthewOlson

    MatthewOlson Member

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  13. Jeff F

    Jeff F Well-Known Member

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  14. Toma

    Toma Well-Known Member Anglican

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    There's a huge confusion in this thread, though a gentle one. :)

    1. The Te Deum, Panis Angelicus, Ave Maria, and other such works are motets and anthems. This category of church music is intricate, and composed for solo of professional choir - its meter changes throughout, and melodies are altered. That complexity rules out most people from singing these, and so they aren't exactly "hymn"s in the way we know them.

    2. Works like "O God our help in ages past", "Rock of Ages", "I cannot tell", "Love Divine", etc. are metrical, with all verses in exactly the same meter. They are of a repetitive melody that cannot be altered - for the sake of the congregation.

    I think Scottish Knight meant the latter category (he would, being a Calvinist!). :)
     
  15. Toma

    Toma Well-Known Member Anglican

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    That distinction having been made :p , here are some of my favourite Hymns:

    For Lent: (lyrics in the video, questionable theology, but good refrain :D)



    For Good Friday: (lyrics in the "Show More" section of the Description)



    For the glorious holy celebration of EASTER, Our LORD's victory:

    It was sung as the recessional after my Baptism on Easter Even, so it always makes me choke up. :blush:

    Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
    our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
    who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
    suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

    Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
    unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
    who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
    sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

    But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
    our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
    now above the sky he's King, Alleluia!
    where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!



    For Evening services or just a good hymn before bed: (lyrics in "Show More")

     
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  16. Symphorian

    Symphorian Well-Known Member

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  17. Jeff F

    Jeff F Well-Known Member

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    Consular, you are of course correct in your distinction between Hymns and anthems, but I am one of those anomalies that have committed those to memory as a hymn. Having both parents who were music conservatory graduates, I was fluent in classical/sacred at a young age, and while other kids had Elvis, Conway Twitty, or Moody Blues blaring on the HiFi, we were rocking to Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms.:D One of my most recent blessings was to perform Handel's Messiah several years in a row with my Father, before his death. Under your posted definition/guidelines, my favorite hymn is Christ Our Lord Is Risen Today!

    Jeff

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMwPEmUMP7U&feature=share&list=PLCBDC85EF70B567DB
     
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  18. Symphorian

    Symphorian Well-Known Member

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    Hymn - It is a thing most wonderful
    Words: William Walsham How (1823-1897), 1872



    It is a thing most wonderful,
    almost too wonderful to be,
    that God's own Son should come from heaven,
    and die to save a child like me.

    And yet I know that it is true:
    he chose a poor and humble lot,
    and wept, and toiled, and mourned, and died,
    for love of those who loved him not.

    I cannot tell how he would love
    a child so weak and full of sin;
    his love must be most wonderful,
    if he could die my love to win.

    I sometimes think about the cross,
    and shut my eyes, and try to see
    the cruel nails and crown of thorns
    and Jesus crucified for me.

    But even could I see him die,
    I could but see a little part
    of that great love, which, like a fire,
    is always burning in his heart.

    It is most wonderful to know
    his love for me so free and sure;
    but 'tis more wonderful to see
    my love for him so faint and poor.

    And yet I want to love thee, Lord;
    O light the flame within my heart,
    and I will love thee more and more,
    until I see thee as thou art.
     
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  19. luke

    luke Member

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  20. Toma

    Toma Well-Known Member Anglican

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    In that case, I have an Easter gift for you, brother! :D

     
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