This hymn is free for congregations to use to support recovery efforts for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico. It is based on Mark 13:24-27 and was written to be sung to the tune, THAXTED (#341 in Glory to God). In the wind that howls, the deep’ning dark, when rains begin to fall and the hopes we cherish most in life are shrouded in their pall, then at last we lift our vision; then at last we strain our ear for the word of sweet deliv’rance: our rescuer draws near. Teach us, Lord, to rescue others, and to find as we are found, until all your people reach the shore and stand on higher ground. O that you, O God, would tear the skies and to the earth descend ‘mid the trembling mountain’s tumult, ‘mid fear that knows no end. Though the stars may leave their places, constellations cease to be, though the world we know and all we love lost to memory, still we wait, Lord, rapt in wonder, ‘til morning’s sun shall rise, ‘til the clouds are rent … [Read more...]
Hymns for Advent and Christmas – Year B
The Presbyterian Outlook commissioned Presbyterian hymn writer, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to compose Advent hymns set to familiar Christmas tunes and other well-loved hymns. Your hymn purchase includes downloads of a PDF of the lyrics scored with the music for a half-page regular sheet of paper, a second PDF of the lyrics scored with music for a half-page of legal-sized paper (large print) and a document with lyrics only. You have permission to print as many copies as needed for your use. Advent wreath hymn “The Candle of Hope” is a new hymn that is not geared to the lectionary passages. This new hymn follows the themes of each of the Sundays in Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. If you light Advent candles as part of your worship during the season, then this hymn is ideal! The words are set to the familiar tune of “O Worship the King, All Glorious Above.” The Candle of Hope (preview of full hymn text) “The candle of hope we light in this hour, proclaims that the Lord is … [Read more...]
O God, We’ve Prayed in Wind and Rain (Hymn for Harvey relief)
“O God, We’ve Prayed in Wind and Rain” was written in response to severe storms -- Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana and even more devastating flooding in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh (1,200 deaths and 41 million people impacted in the Asian storms). We pray for those who are suffering, give thanks to the many who have responded, and pray for continuing efforts to help in comforting and rebuilding. O God, We’ve Prayed in Wind and Rain AMAZING GRACE CM (“Amazing Grace”) O God, we’ve prayed in wind and rain and now we pray once more For those who felt the hurricane and heard the waters roar. We pray for those who watched the storm destroy the life they knew, Who wait in shelters, tired and worn, and wonder what to do. We thank you, God, for acts of love not bound by race or creed, For hands that reach across the flood to all who are in need. We pray for others far away who’ve seen destruction, too; We look beyond ourselves, for they are also loved by … [Read more...]
God, With Joy We Look Around Us (a hymn)
A seminary classmate, Richard Lanford, was serving as the pastor at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Skokie, Illinois, when the Ku Klux Klan announced they were going to have a rally in front of a Cook County Courthouse a few days before Christmas. Richard asked that a new hymn be written that the churches in the community could sing to counter the hate group’s rally. The hymn tune is a traditional Christmas tune ("Angels, from the Realms of Glory"), reflecting the season of year when it was first sung. The hymn has since been used by many churches as part of their annual celebrations of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. When this hymn was first sung by churches struggling to respond to a Klan rally in their community, they had a creative response beyond the hymn. In addition to inviting people of faith to attend services in their houses of worship, they also encouraged them to pledge money for a group working to end racism, the Southern Poverty Law Center based on how long … [Read more...]
Lenten hymns for Year A (2017)
The Presbyterian Outlook commissioned Presbyterian hymn writer, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette to compose Lenten hymns set to familiar tunes. Your purchase includes a bulletin insert score (a PDF of the lyrics scored with the music for a half-page regular sheet of paper), a large print version (PDF of the lyrics and scored with the music for a full sheet of paper) and a document with lyrics only. Each hymn is $10. You have permission to print as many copies as needed for your use. 2017 package - $70 Click here to purchase Order all 7 new hymns for 2017: One for each Sunday of Lent, one for Palm Sunday and one for Easter Sunday 1st Sunday – God, We Long for Our Own Comfort 2nd Sunday – Who on Earth Can Find God’s Kingdom? 3rd Sunday – As Jesus Journeyed with His Friends 4th Sunday – Christ, You Made the Blind Man See 5th Sunday – “Lord, If Only You Had Been Here” 6th Sunday – Christ Jesus, On Sunday, You Rode into Town Easter Sunday – Now Sing the Gospel Story ASH WEDNESDAY – … [Read more...]
A New Father, Awestruck (A new hymn for refugees)
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, a Presbyterian pastor and author of more than 300 hymns, has written a new hymn in response to the refugee crisis in the Middle East. Gillette is offering it for churches to use, saying that "the new hymn would be very appropriate for Christmas Eve, Christmas Sunday and New Year's Day (the First Sunday after Christmas' lectionary gospel reading is Jesus and his family being refugees fleeing Herod)." Tune: MUELLER 11.11.11.11 ("Away in a Manger") Biblical references: Luke 2:1-20; 22-24; Leviticus 12:6; Matthew 2:13-18; Luke 1:46-55; Matthew 25:31-46 and Micah 6:8. Text: Copyright © 2016 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Gillette also has written this hymn note: Hymn Note: This hymn begins with a traditional image of a manger scene, and becomes a prayer that we may look deeper— at our loving God who chose to come into this world as someone who was poor, powerless, in danger, and a refugee. It is a prayer for the church to … [Read more...]
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