When's the last time you had some folks in for a hymn sing? We weren't a large group (12 adults, 3 kids, and an unborn baby), but we made up for it in enthusiasm. It is so much fun to get together and sing praises to our Lord and Savior, maker and ruler of the Universe.
One of my favorites:
And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Saviour's blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me.
'Tis mystery all, Th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the first-born seraph tries
To sound the depths of love Divine!
Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For O, my God, it found out me.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness Divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, thro' Christ my own.
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.
AMEN.
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
Romans 8:1-4
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
Rice Lake, WI
September
September
South Side
East Side
all three views of the church are beautiful.. and I miss those old hymn books. have always loved this song.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, I went to some 'singings'. I had a friend that played the piano for them. He's a minister now. Sure brings back good memories. Enjoy your Sunday my friend! Sweet hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful lyrics. As a former church pianist, I would often visit nursing homes and play the old hymns for the residents. Even with failing memory, they could recall the words to the old hymns.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty church photos, too.
My mom was in our Methodist Church choir, and I still have her hymnal. I love the old hymns that I grew up hearing on Sunday and singing. The Catholic Church just doesn't know how to sing...our choirs are terrible and the hymnals don't have harmonies... I would love to have joined your group!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of the church.
Lovely post...have not had a family hymn sing for a long time. However, my brothers and I always sing the table prayer when we are together for food.
ReplyDeletebeautiful twin spires!
ReplyDeletelove it in October! lately I really enjoy Alan Jackson's "Precious Moments" great hymns. ( :
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful. My favorite hymn is Lift High the Cross.
ReplyDeleteHave you posted photos of the church's stained glass?
Whenever my siblings get together we tend to end up singing together. We grew up having "sings" regularly but it's been a while since we had a good ole sing. At our daughter's wedding reception we passed out music and sang 3 hymns together. So great! Thanks for this reminder and this is one of my favorite hymns you shared. Love the "Spires" you shared, too.
ReplyDeleteSinging hymns is fun. We sometimes do that as a family here. Loved the one you picked, it's one of my favorite hymns. That church is lovely..
ReplyDeleteI'm a great fan of church architecture, but a formal building isn't necessary is it. Tom The Backroads Traveller
ReplyDeleteVery, very lovely.
ReplyDeleteThe church is beautiful, what church do you go to, this one? We both LOVE this song, and our church sings it frequently. I never tire of hearing it or singing it. Your home is just beautiful, and I love the rug.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful, wonderful thing to do. I love the idea. I do love all the old hymns that were such a big part of church in the past.
ReplyDeleteThat church is gorgeous, Judy. xo Diana
Wonderful churches! Used to love to go to "singings."
ReplyDeleteI have to be honest - I have never had anyone over to hymn sing - but we go to church to do it. Sounds like so much fun.
ReplyDeleteYour church is beautiful and I like the room where you held your sing. Amazing Grace, How can it be?, such profound and joyful words.
ReplyDeleteThis brings back sweet memories. I grew up with hymn sings and they are something we still do today, though not as frequently as we would like. Beautiful song!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gathering!
ReplyDeleteWe sing hymns at Christmas when we are all together. Love it!
ReplyDeleteA great idea. What a fun way to fellowship.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos of St. Joseph's Church.
Love this, of course. Some Sunday nights we get to call out numbers of old favorites and we sing them. A friend had an idea to gather some of us around her piano to do this very thing and we may yet do it. It's amazing how the words from the old hymns are so clear in my mind and come quickly…just like the oldsters in the nursing home. But what comfort those words can bring when times get hard. A wonderful post and a pretty church.
ReplyDeleteAmazing love how can it be ......... love how deep the meanings of the old hymns are.
ReplyDeleteWe have had people over for hymn singing on a few occasions, although it has been two or three years since we have. I feel very blessed to be a part of a fellowship that sings mostly hymns. Hymns are so rich and full of Scriptural truth! We also have impromptu hymn sings with just the four of us. Bekah will play something and one or all of us will start singing along and then we'll ask for another and another and another...
ReplyDeleteI love the hymn you shared today! Powerful, humbling, amazing thoughts put to beautiful music!
A hymn sing! I don't know that I've ever done that - not calling it by this name, at least. I love it!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite hymns. I haven't been to a group 'anything' for a long time but one coming up very soon and I'm looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteNice shots of the church, all three of them.
Diana
http://adifferentlenslens365.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/first-church.html
What a beautiful post!!!
ReplyDeleteand I just played an arrangement of that hymn for the offertory in church yesterday!! It is one of my hubby's favorites!!
Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures!!
Blessings,
J
Those first shots bring back memories of many 'home' church services. The church building is very pretty and inviting.
ReplyDeleteYour church is beautiful. It reminds me of my own - St. Alphonsus.
ReplyDeleteI hope your gathering inspires others to do the same. Being at home to worship this way just fills that dwelling with his divine presence!
Our church has a hymn sing from time to time. I love the poetic verse to many of them. The windows in your church are so pretty. They don't make them like that much any more.
ReplyDeleteA choir friend is organizing a hymn sing at our church followed by a potluck dinner, but unfortunately we have a conflict. Should be great fun though!
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the last time I did this. I go to a home group when I can but we don't sing.
ReplyDeleteHave never had a family home hymn sing but I have some of the old hymns that would be on my list if I did.
ReplyDeleteMy weekly visit with my "bestie" though has had moments where we burst out in song of the old hymns like . . .
How Great Thou Are
In The Garden
I miss the singing of old hymns in some churches of today. It seems like many prefer a praise type music.
I am an oldie . . . and like the reverence of the old hymns.
JUDY LOVE YOUR CHRISTIAN BLOG I TOO AM A CHRISTIAN. ALSO LIVE IN NW WI I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN RICE LAKE.
ReplyDeleteWOULD LIKE YOU TO E MAIL ME AT TURNERNANCY32@GMAIL .COM SO WE COULD CHAT I GET TO THAT AREA FREQUENTLY I ONLY LIVE 30 MILES FROM RICE LAKE