Hymn Notes
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 March 24, 2019
From The New Century Hymnal Companion, Copyright 1998, The Pilgrim Press.
#68 God Is Truly with Us
Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769), a German mystic, published this hymn in 1729. He translated the words of Labadie from French to German and paraphrased some of the Frenchman’s thoughts for the text. The English translation is a composite from many sources.
Gerhard Tersteegen gave up a career as a silk weaver to devote his life to his religious calling. Each year, he traveled to Holland to hold preaching services and help the unfortunate. Tersteegen held large prayer meetings in his home and encouraged the practice of congregational singing.
Joachim Neander (1650-1680) composed WUNDERBARER KÖNIG as the setting for a text he had written, and both were published in 1680. The tune is sometimes called ARNSBERG. The melody has undergone many changes from its original form and would hardly be recognized by Neander.
Joachim Neander enjoyed the carefree life of a student while a youth in Bremen, Germany. He was greatly moved by the preaching of Theodore Undereyck and became a follower of the pietist movement. Neander was an independent thinker and made his living primarily as a teacher in a grammar school.
#471 What a Covenant
Elisha Albright Hoffman (1839-1929) wrote this hymn in 1887 at the suggestion of A. J. Showalter, a music publisher. It has been published in more than one thousand music books and translated into nearly every language of the world where Christianity is practiced.
A. J. Showalter was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, in 1858. A composer and music teacher, he formed his own publishing company with branches in Georgia, Texas, and Tennessee and published over one hundred books on music during his life. He died in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1924.
#414 Incarnate God, Immortal Love
Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) wrote a long poem, "In Memoriam," as a tribute to his deceased friend, Arthur Hallam. Although Hallam died in 1833, Tennyson did not publish the poem until 1850, when he has recently married and come to terms with his grief. The hymn is from the poem's prologue.
Alfred Tennyson was born at Somerset, England, on August 6, 1809, and vecame one of England's greatest poets, named poet laureate in 1850. He married at age forty-one and died on October 6, 1892, at Aldworth, England. Tennyson was affected by melancholy throughout his life.
Edward Miller (1731-1807) adapted this tune in 1790 from a shorter melody called TUNBRIDGE. It is named ROCKINGHAM for Miller's patron and friend, the Marquis of Rockingham, who was prime minister for two terms. The tune was called MAYHEW in collections by Lowell Mason.
Edward Miller edited The Psalms of David for Use of Parish Church (1790), the source of this tune and one of the most successful hymn collections printed in England. Miller served as organist at Doncaster Parish Church for fifty-one years and was also an accomplished player on the flute and harpsichord.
Hymns by Title
Hymns by Date
| Service Date | |
|---|---|
| March 24, 2019 | |
| March 20, 2019 | |
| March 17, 2019 | |
| March 13, 2019 | |
| March 10, 2019 | |
| March 6, 2019 | |
| February 27, 2019 | |
| February 24, 2019 | |
| February 17, 2019 | |
| February 3, 2019 | |
| January 27, 2019 | |
| January 20, 2019 | |
| January 13, 2019 | |
| January 6, 2019 | |
| December 30, 2018 | |
| December 24, 2018 | |
| December 23, 2018 | |
| December 16, 2018 | |
| December 9, 2018 | |
| December 2, 2018 | |
| November 25, 2018 | |
| November 18, 2018 | |
| November 11, 2018 | |
| November 4, 2018 | |
| October 28, 2018 | |
| October 21, 2018 | |
| October 14, 2018 | |
| October 7, 2018 | |
| September 30, 2018 | |
| September 23, 2018 | |
| September 16, 2018 | |
| September 9, 2018 | |
| September 2, 2018 | |
| August 26, 2018 | |
| August 19, 2018 | |
| August 12, 2018 | |
| August 5, 2018 | |
| July 29, 2018 | |
| July 22, 2018 | |
| July 15, 2018 | |
| July 8, 2018 | |
| July 1, 2018 | |
| June 24, 2018 | |
| June 17, 2018 | |
| June 10, 2018 | |
| June 3, 2018 | |
| May 27, 2018 | |
| May 20, 2018 | |
| May 13, 2018 | |
| May 13, 2018 | |
| May 6, 2018 | |
| April 29, 2018 |
