Songs of Praise.
Blessed be the fountain of blood
Fanny Crosby was visiting the home of Phoebe Knapp. Phoebe played a new tune she had written for Fanny on her piano. After she played it, she asked what the tune sadi to her. “Blessed assurance” came the reply. One of the best known of the approximately 800 hymns written by Fanny Crosby, this is still a favourite of many, with it’s simple truths.
A youth club had a weekend retreat at Overstrand Christian Endeavour home, The Pleasaunce. At the end of the weekend, attenders were invited to sign the Young Disciples Roll. This hymn was sung at the end of the retreat.
Blessed assurance
Many years ago, a Sunday School group was carol singing round the town, and trying to visit congregation members who were unable to get to chapel. In a small terraced house, the groupm was invited into a bedroom to sing to an elderly lady. After a few carols, the leader asked if the lady had a favourite. And the group then sang “O master let me walk with thee”. The bed-bound lady said that she hoped to see us at chapel at Easter. It seemed unlikely, and indeed, there was no sign of that Easter, but the following Easter, she walked, unaided, up the ramp to the chapel and joined the congergation. I cannot sing this hymn without seeing her arrive at the chapel that morning. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find the tune we sand this hymn to (Stanley) but this will have to do.
O master let me walk with thee
In the 1970s, a group of young Methodist students from university were at at week’s retreat in Shropshire, at a Youth Hostel. This hymn had been used in worship several times over the week, so it was no surprise that it was used in worship at the communion service to mark the end. What was a surprise was the way in which the Holy Spirit took over the meeting, and moved many to realise that they had indeed answered “All of self, and none of Thee”
O the bitter shame and sorrow
A lovely, modern song. There is nothing complicated about the Christian faith. It is very simply about sharing your life with Jesus, the one who stilled the waters. He can calm the storms in your life, if you simply put your hand is his.
Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water
We can all find ways to praise God. We all have something to offer. The last verse was written by children in a school where the first two verses had been used.
If I were a butterfly
Those of you who used to listen to Radio Luxembourg might remember this one. It was played at the end of the night’s broadcasting (2-00a.m.) Use it as a prayer.
At the end of the day
In our family, this one was always called “The meat song”. This is what my brother had called it after he heard the ladies’ meeting belting it out with great gusto after the afternoon meeting. The nmame stuck.
God be with you till we meet again
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