Hymn Notes

Weekly Hymn Notes
Hymns by Title
Hymns by Date

Weekly Hymn Notes

Learn about the origin of hymns, lyrics, and melodies, and other music that will be used during Sunday worship service. Contact Don De Bruin, Director of Music Ministries for more information at 608.233.9751.

Hymn Notes for January 17, 2021

#576 For the Healing of the Nations

Frederik Herman Kaan (b. 1929) wrote this text in 1965 for a Human Rights Day service at Pilgrim Church, Plymouth, England, where he was serving as pastor. His most widely sung hymn, it was also used at the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations.

Fred Kaan was born in Haarlem, The Netherlands, and became a minister of the Congregational Church Union of England and Wales (a forerunner of the United Reformed Church). He has written more the two hundred hymns, often using the themes of ecumenism and concern for the powerless. Kaan served on the staff of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

Henry Purcell (1659-1695) composed this melody as a choral anthem in the seventeenth century. Sydney Nicholson adapted it as a hymn tune and titled it WESTMINSTER ABBEY for the famous London church where Purcell was organist from 1679 until his death in 1695.

Henry Purcell is believed to have been born in London, England, in 1659. He died at Dean’s Yard, Westminster, London, on November 21, 1695. Purcell had been organist at Westminster Abbey since 1679 and gained a reputation as one of England’s greatest composers.

#593 Lift Every Voice and Sing

James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) earned two degrees at Atlanta University and became a public-school teacher and principal in Jacksonville, Florida. He wrote this text for a celebration commemorating Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12, 1921, and it was performed by schoolchildren.

James Weldon Johnson, a multitalented poet, lawyer, and diplomat, served as the first national executive secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and this anthem became that organization’s official song. Johnson also founded the first African American newspaper, the Daily American.

John Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954) composed this tune, called LIFT EVERY VOICE, for his brother’s text. He collected and published a number of important collections of African American songs and hymn tunes in addition to performing on the stage, composing, and directing musicals.

J. Rosamond Johnson was educated at the New England Conservatory of Music and studied further in Europe. From 1896 until 1908, he served as supervisor of music for the public school system of Jacksonville, Florida. Collecting African American music was his lifelong pursuit.

Hymns by Title

Hymn Number	Title	Service Date
#576	For the Healing of the Nations	January 17, 2021
#593	Lift Every Voice and Sing	January 17, 2021
#170	Your Ways Are Not Our Own	January 10, 2021
#328	Wonder of Wonders, Here Revealed	January 10, 2021
#154	Go Tell It on the Mountain	January 3, 2021
#584	I Am the Light of the World	January 3, 2021
#143	On Christmas Night All Christians Sing	December 27, 2020
#164	Arise, Your Light Is Come	December 27, 2020
#132	Joy to the World!	December 24, 2020
#128	In the Bleak Midwinter	December 24, 2020
#126	Angels, from the Realms of Glory	December 24, 2020
#131	It Came upon the Midnight Clear	December 24, 2020
#127	Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming	December 24, 2020
#145	Once in Royal David's City	December 24, 2020
#130	From Heaven unto Earth I Come	December 24, 2020
#144	Hark! The Herald Angels Sing	December 24, 2020
#135	Adeste Fideles (O Come, All You Faithful)	December 24, 2020
#134	Silent Night, Holy Night	December 24, 2020
#110	Now Bless the God of Israel	December 20, 2020
#109	With Joy Draw Water	December 20, 2020
#119	My Soul Gives Glory to My God	December 13, 2020
#105	Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear	December 13, 2020
#104	We Hail You God’s Anointed	December 6, 2020
#418	My Faith, It Is an Oaken Staff	December 6, 2020
#120	There's a Voice in the Wilderness	November 29, 2020
#114	Return, My People	November 29, 2020
#420	We Praise You, O God	November 22, 2020
#422	Come, O Thankful People, Come	November 22, 2020
#294	There’s a Spirit in the Air	November 15, 2020
#538	Standing at the Future’s Threshold	November 15, 2020
#571	O God of Love, O God of Peace	November 8, 2020
#575	O for a World	November 8, 2020
#295	I Sing a Song of the Saints of God	November 1, 2020
#299	For All the Saints	November 1, 2020
#50	I Sing the Praise of Love Almighty	October 25, 2020
#465	Teach Me, O Lord, Your Holy Way	October 25, 2020
#28	For the Beauty of the Earth	October 18, 2020
#177	God of Change and Glory	October 18, 2020
#1	Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise	October 11, 2020
#586	Come to Tend God's Garden	October 11, 2020
#30	Colorful Creator	October 4, 2020
#495	Called as Partners in Christ’s Service	October 4, 2020
#8	Praise to the Living God	September 27, 2020
#573	Lead On Eternal Sovereign	September 27, 2020
#24	Yigdal elohim Chai (The God of Abraham Praise)	September 20, 2020
#473	Blessed Assurance	September 20, 2020
#396	Where Charity and Love Prevail	September 13, 2020
#547	Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound	September 13, 2020
#314	Community of Christ	September 6, 2020
#516	O Grant Us, God, a Little Space	September 6, 2020

Hymns by Date

Service Date
January 17, 2021	Hymn #576: For the Healing of the Nations Hymn #593: Lift Every Voice and Sing
January 10, 2021	Hymn #170: Your Ways Are Not Our Own Hymn #328: Wonder of Wonders, Here Revealed
January 3, 2021	Hymn #154: Go Tell It on the Mountain Hymn #584: I Am the Light of the World
December 27, 2020	Hymn #143: On Christmas Night All Christians Sing Hymn #164: Arise, Your Light Is Come
December 24, 2020	Hymn #132: Joy to the World! Hymn #128: In the Bleak Midwinter Hymn #126: Angels, from the Realms of Glory Hymn #131: It Came upon the Midnight Clear Hymn #127: Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming Hymn #145: Once in Royal David's City Hymn #130: From Heaven unto Earth I Come Hymn #144: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Hymn #135: Adeste Fideles (O Come, All You Faithful) Hymn #134: Silent Night, Holy Night
December 20, 2020	Hymn #110: Now Bless the God of Israel Hymn #109: With Joy Draw Water
December 13, 2020	Hymn #119: My Soul Gives Glory to My God Hymn #105: Gentle Joseph, Joseph Dear
December 6, 2020	Hymn #104: We Hail You God’s Anointed Hymn #418: My Faith, It Is an Oaken Staff
November 29, 2020	Hymn #120: There's a Voice in the Wilderness Hymn #114: Return, My People
November 22, 2020	Hymn #420: We Praise You, O God Hymn #422: Come, O Thankful People, Come
November 15, 2020	Hymn #294: There’s a Spirit in the Air Hymn #538: Standing at the Future’s Threshold
November 8, 2020	Hymn #571: O God of Love, O God of Peace Hymn #575: O for a World
November 1, 2020	Hymn #295: I Sing a Song of the Saints of God Hymn #299: For All the Saints
October 25, 2020	Hymn #50: I Sing the Praise of Love Almighty Hymn #465: Teach Me, O Lord, Your Holy Way
October 18, 2020	Hymn #28: For the Beauty of the Earth Hymn #177: God of Change and Glory
October 11, 2020	Hymn #1: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Hymn #586: Come to Tend God's Garden
October 4, 2020	Hymn #30: Colorful Creator Hymn #495: Called as Partners in Christ’s Service
September 27, 2020	Hymn #8: Praise to the Living God Hymn #573: Lead On Eternal Sovereign
September 20, 2020	Hymn #24: Yigdal elohim Chai (The God of Abraham Praise) Hymn #473: Blessed Assurance
September 13, 2020	Hymn #396: Where Charity and Love Prevail Hymn #547: Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound
September 6, 2020	Hymn #314: Community of Christ Hymn #516: O Grant Us, God, a Little Space
August 30, 2020	Hymn #89: Awake, Awake to Love and Work Hymn #306: The Church of Christ, in Every Age Hymn #353: Great Work Has God Begun in You
August 23, 2020	Hymn #55: Rejoice, You Pure in Heart Hymn #82: Go, My Children, with My Blessing
August 16, 2020	Hymn #26: We Worship You, God Hymn #22: Sing Praise to God, Who Has Shaped
August 9, 2020	Hymn #402: De Colores (Sing of Colors) Hymn #388: Help Us Accept Each Other
August 2, 2020	Hymn #463: I Look to You in Every Need Hymn #562: Take My Gifts
July 26, 2020	Hymn #437: We Shall Not Give Up the Fight Hymn #495: Called as Partners in Christ’s Service
July 19, 2020	Hymn #23: There's A Wideness in God's Mercy Hymn #588: Let Justice Flow like Streams
July 12, 2020	Hymn #581: Lead Us from Death to Life Hymn #593: Lift Every Voice and Sing
July 5, 2020	Hymn #164: Arise, Your Light Is Come Hymn #461: Let Us Hope When Hope Seems Hopeless
June 28, 2020	Hymn #28: For the Beauty of the Earth Hymn #564: We Are Not Our Own
June 21, 2020	Hymn #83: I Sing As I Arise Today Hymn #306: The Church of Christ, in Every Age
June 14, 2020	Hymn #63: Holy Spirit, Truth Divine Hymn #586: Come to Tend God's Garden
June 7, 2020	Hymn #570: We Shall Overcome
May 31, 2020	Hymn #84: This Is the Day Hymn #59: Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling
May 24, 2020	Hymn #44: Beautiful Jesus Hymn #471: What a Covenant
May 17, 2020	Hymn #407: How Firm a Foundation Hymn #46: Hope of the World
May 10, 2020	Hymn #25: O God, Our Help in Ages Past Hymn #43: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
May 3, 2020	Hymn #73: Enter, Rejoice, and Come In Hymn #252: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
April 26, 2020	Hymn #52: There Is a Name I Love to Hear (O How I Love Jesus) Hymn #233: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
April 19, 2020	Hymn #230: Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain Hymn #245: The Day of Resurrection
April 12, 2020	Hymn #240: Jesus Christ Is Risen Today Hymn #198: Lift High the Cross
April 9, 2020	Hymn #202: O God, How We Have Wandered Hymn #224: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
April 5, 2020	Hymn #213: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna Hymn #475: God's Eye Is on the Sparrow
March 29, 2020	Hymn #83: I Sing As I Arise Today Hymn #494: We Who Would Valiant Be
March 22, 2020	Hymn #175: O Christ, the Healer, We Have Come Hymn #247: My Shepherd Is the Living God
March 15, 2020	Hymn #23: There's A Wideness in God's Mercy Hymn #444: We Are Often Tossed and Driven Hymn #492: I Would Be True
March 8, 2020	Hymn #320: Deep in the Shadows of the Past Hymn #444: We Are Often Tossed and Driven Hymn #426: O God, Whose Steadfast Love
March 1, 2020	Hymn #212: O Jesus Christ, May Grateful Hymns Hymn #444: We Are Often Tossed and Driven Hymn #330: Let Us Break Bread Together Hymn #202: O God, How We Have Wandered
February 26, 2020	Hymn #185: Savior, When in Tears and Dust Hymn #205: Forty Days and Forty Nights Hymn #418: My Faith, It Is an Oaken Staff
February 23, 2020	Hymn #182: We Have Come at Christ’s Own Bidding Hymn #588: Let Justice Flow like Streams
February 16, 2020	Hymn #400: Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation Hymn #323: Little Children, Welcome Hymn #314: Community of Christ Hymn #370: What Gift Can We Bring?