Tune: REDEEMING LOVE
For the first time in over forty years, I am singing in a
church choir! I’m experiencing the music ministry from the other side of the
rail! I consider myself fortunate indeed to attend an evangelical church that
still has a choir; the truth is that we’ve had several people join our church
in recent months because they want to attend a service in which the music is
choir-driven.
It’s a very good choir: they sing well, read music better
than most volunteer groups, and they are engaged in their leadership of
worship. Another way in which I am fortunate is that my minister of music is a
great person, wonderful minister and a good friend. In other words, I’m
enjoying the weekly rehearsals and the Sunday morning anthem-singing.
But one of these days, I plan to stand with a massive number
of singers who gather near the throne of God to offer up continual praise of
the One who sits there! I have the feeling the music never ends – that it’ll be
like an incessant medley, won’t it? When we finish one great hymn or anthem, we’ll
modulate into the next. For us musicians, THAT would be heavenly!
Although it sounds like an old gospel song, the third stanza
of this fairly new hymn (first published in 1956, ten years after the death of
its writer) speaks to me with today’s hymn-line and following:
When at last I stand with the heav’nly choir
in the light of the throne above,
On the golden strand I shall never
tire of the song of redeeming love!
Of his love I shall ever sing
Till above I behold the King.
Through eternity my glad song shall
be of the Savior’s redeeming love.
Sometimes I fly into the choir room after Sunday School and
throw on my robe, make certain I have the correct stole turned to the right
side, grab my folder and race to my chair, trying my best to be situated before
the pre-service rehearsal begins. I often audibly say “Whew” as my backside
hits the chair. But once the singing begins, I am renewed. I hope I shall
never tire of singing the praises of God… in this life or the next.
[I couldn’t find a recording of this hymn. I hate that,
because I’d love for you to hear it! Sometimes those hymns whose phrases speak
to us are not as popular with everyone else as they were with us. Take my word
for it: it’s worth hearing… and singing.]
Thanks for posting this. Me too! Old retired music minister searching for this song. Turn in your hymnal to page??? I cannot recall the name of the hymn but I should have a recording of it somewhere. I will keep on trying to find it in cyber hymnals and hopefully will be able to hear it again. I am glad that you are still able to race to the pre-service rehersals.
ReplyDelete