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 February 17, 2019

#30 Colorful Creator

Ruth C. Duck (b. 1947) wrote this hymn in 1992 for the installation service of Linda Clark as Houghton Scholar of Sacred Music at Boston University School of Theology, where Duck had also studied, earning her doctor of theology degree in 1989. The text honors the creative activity of artists, composers, and all who give expression to the holy through their work.

Ruth Duck served two local churches in Wisconsin before entering the teaching ministry. They were St. John's United Church of Christ, Hartford, where she served from 1975 to 1979, and Bethel-Bethany United Church of Christ, Milwaukee, where she was pastor from 1979 to 1984.

Carlton Raymond Young (b. 1926) composed this melody in 1992. It is named HOUGHTON for the chair to which Linda Clark was being installed at Boston University School of Theology. Young received his bachelor of sacred theology degree from that institution in 1953.

Carlton R. Young, an ordained United Methodist minister, has served the United Methodist church as director music in Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, and Georgia. He has received twenty-three awards from the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) for his compositions, which number more than 100.

#386 The Church's One Foundation

Samuel John Stone (1839-1900) based this 1866 hymn on Article Nine of the Apostles' Creed, to defend accepted church dogma against the attacks of Bishop John William Colenso. This was one of twelve hymns that Stone wrote to explain the High Church position in this controversy.

Samuel J. Stone was born April 25, 1839, at Staffordshire, England, while his father was priest to the poorest parish in England. After completing his education, he succeeded his father at St. Paul's Haggerston, London, where he remained for twenty years. Stone died on November 19, 1900.

Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876) composed the tune AURELIA in 1864 as the setting for a wedding hymn by John Keble. It appeared witha variety of texts that same year, including the canto "Jerusalem the Golden" from a long Latin hymn by Saint Bernard. The tune has been closely associated with Stone's text since appearing together in Hymns Ancient and Modern (1868).

Samuel S. Wesley was devoted to improving the level of compensation and respect for church musicians of his day. His innovative ideas were developed in A Few Words on Cathedral Music and the Musical System of the Church, with a Plan of Reform (1849). He was the greatest musical genius of the gifted Wesley family.

Hymns by Title

Hymn Number	Title	Service Date
#325	Child of Blessing, Child of Promise	June 26, 2011
#325	Child of Blessing, Child of Promise	November 13, 2011
#325	Child of Blessing, Child of Promise	February 26, 2012
#325	Child of Blessing, Child of Promise	April 22, 2012
#325	Child of Blessing, Child of Promise	July 8, 2012
#325	Child of Blessing, Child of Promise	June 17, 2012
#325	Child of Blessing, Child of Promise	January 20, 2013
#325	Child of Blessing, Child of Promise	July 7, 2013
#325	Child of Blessing, Child of Promise	October 26, 2014
#325	Child of Blessing, Child of Promise	December 18, 2016
#325	Child of Blessing, Child of Promise	March 11, 2018
#235	Cristo Vive (Christ Is Living)	April 3, 2016
#351	I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry	July 8, 2012
#351	I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry	July 7, 2013
#219	Journey to Gethsemane	April 1, 2012
#219	Journey to Gethsemane	March 24, 2013
#219	Journey to Gethsemane	April 10, 2014
#67	Let Me Enter God’s Own Dwelling	July 21, 2013
#67	Let Me Enter God’s Own Dwelling	May 25, 2014
#67	Let Me Enter God’s Own Dwelling	January 25, 2015
#67	Let Me Enter God’s Own Dwelling	January 28, 2018
#67	Let Me Enter God’s Own Dwelling	October 7, 2018
#117	Lift Up Your Heads, O Mighty Gates	December 22, 2013
#541	They asked “Who’s My Neighbor?”	March 17, 2013
#541	They asked “Who’s My Neighbor?”	July 14, 2013
#541	They asked “Who’s My Neighbor?”	July 27, 2014
#541	They asked “Who’s My Neighbor?”	September 17, 2017
#524	This Little Light of Mine	January 5, 2014
#524	This Little Light of Mine	March 8, 2015
#524	This Little Light of Mine	January 4, 2015
#524	This Little Light of Mine	January 6, 2019
#543	Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life	June 26, 2011
#543	Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life	November 20, 2011
#539	Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant	November 11, 2012
#539	Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant	October 20, 2013
#539	Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant	July 27, 2014
#539	Won’t You Let Me Be Your Servant	July 9, 2017
#204	"Take Up Your Cross," the Savior Said	March 26, 2017
#439	A Mighty Fortress Is Our God	February 17, 2013
#439	A Mighty Fortress Is Our God	October 29, 2017
#99	Abide with Me	April 3, 2014
#99	Abide with Me	February 18, 2015
#99	Abide with Me	March 1, 2017
#99	Abide with Me	February 14, 2018
#135	Adeste Fideles (O Come, All You Faithful)	December 24, 2013
#135	Adeste Fideles (O Come, All You Faithful)	December 29, 2013
#135	Adeste Fideles (O Come, All You Faithful)	December 24, 2015
#135	Adeste Fideles (O Come, All You Faithful)	December 24, 2014
#135	Adeste Fideles (O Come, All You Faithful)	December 24, 2016
#135	Adeste Fideles (O Come, All You Faithful)	December 24, 2017

Hymns by Date

Service Date
February 17, 2019	Hymn #30: Colorful Creator Hymn #386: The Church's One Foundation
February 3, 2019	Hymn #174: Hear the Voice of God, So Tender Hymn #358: God of the Prophets Hymn #335: Come, Gather in This Special Place Hymn #572: When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land
January 27, 2019	Hymn #21: God Reigns o’er All the Earth Hymn #423: Great Is Your Faithfulness
January 20, 2019	Hymn #158: O Morning Star, How Clear and Bright Hymn #60: O Spirit of God Hymn #582: O God of Earth and Altar
January 13, 2019	Hymn #328: Wonder of Wonders, Here Revealed Hymn #177: God of Change and Glory
January 6, 2019	Hymn #154: Go Tell It on the Mountain Hymn #584: I Am the Light of the World Hymn #524: This Little Light of Mine
December 30, 2018	Hymn #138: Jesus, Our Brother, Strong and Good Hymn #552: From the Crush of Wealth and Power Hymn #129: Good Christian Friends, Rejoice
December 24, 2018	Hymn #132: Joy to the World! Hymn #134: Silent Night, Holy Night Hymn #124: Away in a Manger Hymn #121: Toda la Tierra (All Earth Is Waiting) 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)
December 23, 2018	Hymn #102: O How Shall I Receive You Hymn #109: With Joy Draw Water Hymn #124: Away in a Manger
December 16, 2018	Hymn #107: Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn Hymn #128: In the Bleak Midwinter Hymn #323: Little Children, Welcome Hymn #104: We Hail You God’s Anointed
December 9, 2018	Hymn #120: There's a Voice in the Wilderness Hymn #114: Return, My People Hymn #121: Toda la Tierra (All Earth Is Waiting)
December 2, 2018	Hymn #103: Watcher, Tell Us of the Night Hymn #101: Comfort, Comfort O My People Hymn #436: God of Grace and God of Glory Hymn #335: Come, Gather in This Special Place
November 25, 2018	Hymn #461: Let Us Hope When Hope Seems Hopeless Hymn #593: Lift Every Voice and Sing Hymn #584: I Am the Light of the World
November 18, 2018	Hymn #22: Sing Praise to God, Who Has Shaped Hymn #25: O God, Our Help in Ages Past Hymn #459: Come, O Fount of Every Blessing
November 11, 2018	Hymn #42: O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing Hymn #81: God Be with You
November 4, 2018	Hymn #89: Awake, Awake to Love and Work Hymn #299: For All the Saints Hymn #342: Be Known to Us in Breaking Bread Hymn #298: O Savior, for the Saints
October 28, 2018	Hymn #73: Enter, Rejoice, and Come In Hymn #448: Take My Life, God, Let It Be Hymn #82: Go, My Children, with My Blessing
October 21, 2018	Hymn #293: Sweet, Sweet Spirit Hymn #537: Christian, Rise and Act Your Creed Hymn #538: Standing at the Future’s Threshold
October 14, 2018	Hymn #529: Now Let Us All, in Hymns of Praise Hymn #581: Lead Us from Death to Life
October 7, 2018	Hymn #67: Let Me Enter God’s Own Dwelling Hymn #397: Thank Our God for Sisters, Brothers Hymn #329: Jesus, the Joy of Living Hearts
September 30, 2018	Hymn #43: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Hymn #553: There is a Balm in Gilead
September 23, 2018	Hymn #159: As with Gladness Those of Old Hymn #565: God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending
September 16, 2018	Hymn #52: There Is a Name I Love to Hear (O How I Love Jesus) Hymn #527: We Offer Jesus Hymn #396: Where Charity and Love Prevail
September 9, 2018	Hymn #90: Rising in Darkness Hymn #534: O God of Strength Hymn #530: God Our Author and Creator
September 2, 2018	Hymn #84: This Is the Day Hymn #573: Lead On Eternal Sovereign Hymn #347: Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ Hymn #177: God of Change and Glory
August 26, 2018	Hymn #180: Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit Hymn #181: You Are Salt for the Earth, O People
August 19, 2018	Hymn #12: I Sing the Mighty Power of God Hymn #533: Children of God Hymn #396: Where Charity and Love Prevail
August 12, 2018	Hymn #68: God Is Truly with Us Hymn #438: When Peace, like a River (It Is Well with My Soul) Hymn #179: We Yearn, O Christ, for Wholeness
August 5, 2018	Hymn #69: Come, God, Creator, Be Our Shield Hymn #438: When Peace, like a River (It Is Well with My Soul) Hymn #342: Be Known to Us in Breaking Bread Hymn #558: O How Glorious, Full of Wonder
July 29, 2018	Hymn #26: We Worship You, God Hymn #438: When Peace, like a River (It Is Well with My Soul) Hymn #554: Out of the Depths, O God, We Call
July 22, 2018	Hymn #1: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Hymn #438: When Peace, like a River (It Is Well with My Soul) Hymn #312: We Love Your Realm, O God
July 15, 2018	Hymn #481: As Pants the Hart for Cooling Streams Hymn #438: When Peace, like a River (It Is Well with My Soul) Hymn #560: By Whatever Name We Call You
July 8, 2018	Hymn #9: We Sing to You, O God Hymn #438: When Peace, like a River (It Is Well with My Soul) Hymn #521: In Solitude
July 1, 2018	Hymn #4: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You Hymn #577: God the Omnipotent! Hymn #451: Be Now My Vision
June 24, 2018	Hymn #504: You Walk along Our Shoreline Hymn #436: God of Grace and God of Glory Hymn #584: I Am the Light of the World
June 17, 2018	Hymn #36: To God Compose a Song of Joy Hymn #407: How Firm a Foundation Hymn #410: If You But Trust in God to Guide You
June 10, 2018	Hymn #408: All My Hope on God Is Founded Hymn #586: Come to Tend God's Garden Hymn #76: Sent Forth by God’s Blessing
June 3, 2018	Hymn #66: O Day of Radiant Gladness Hymn #471: What a Covenant Hymn #330: Let Us Break Bread Together Hymn #530: God Our Author and Creator
May 27, 2018	Hymn #83: I Sing As I Arise Today Hymn #289: Come Forth, O Love Divine Hymn #273: Praise with Joy the World’s Creator
May 20, 2018	Hymn #267: Come, O Spirit, Dwell among Us Hymn #265: Come, O Spirit, with Your Sound
May 13, 2018	Hymn #70: God Is Here! As We Your People Meet Hymn #394: In Christ There Is No East or West
May 13, 2018	Hymn #70: God Is Here! As We Your People Meet Hymn #394: In Christ There Is No East or West
May 6, 2018	Hymn #397: Thank Our God for Sisters, Brothers Hymn #353: Great Work Has God Begun in You Hymn #346: Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken
April 29, 2018	Hymn #575: O for a World Hymn #391: In the Midst of New Dimensions
April 22, 2018	Hymn #323: Little Children, Welcome Hymn #248: Such Perfect Love My Shepherd Shows Hymn #576: For the Healing of the Nations
April 15, 2018	Hymn #245: The Day of Resurrection Hymn #251: I Greet You, Sure Redeemer Hymn #46: Hope of the World
April 8, 2018	Hymn #241: Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day Hymn #274: Womb of Life, and Source of Being Hymn #78: Part in Peace
April 1, 2018	Hymn #223: What Wondrous Love Is This Hymn #233: Christ the Lord Is Risen Today Hymn #236: Halleluja Hymn #242: The Strife Is O'er Hymn #303: Rejoice, Give Thanks and Sing Hymn #198: Lift High the Cross
March 29, 2018	Hymn #202: O God, How We Have Wandered Hymn #224: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
March 25, 2018	Hymn #216: All Glory, Laud, and Honor Hymn #223: What Wondrous Love Is This Hymn #222: My Song Is Love Unknown
March 18, 2018	Hymn #507: Jesus - The Very Thought to Me Hymn #50: I Sing the Praise of Love Almighty
March 11, 2018	Hymn #74: We Have Gathered, Jesus Dear Hymn #208: God Loved the World Hymn #325: Child of Blessing, Child of Promise Hymn #530: God Our Author and Creator