Fee Fee Baptist Church

Tag: Pandemic Hymns

  • Music Musings – Vol. 61, No. 6

    Hymns Written During Current Pandemic – IV

    Many songs, prayers, and poems have been written in response to our current pandemic in an effort to bring hope and comfort during this strange and difficult time. Here are three songs either newly written or revived in recent months.

    Shelter Me by Father Michael Jonas

    Father Jonas wrote this song in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The lyric is influenced by Psalm 23.  Contemplate on this excerpt of the refrain verses:

    O shelter me, O shelter me.

    The way ahead is dark

    and difficult to see.

    O shelter me, O shelter me.

    All will be well if only

    You will shelter me.

     

    I will look back in days to come

    and realize Your faithfulness has led me home.

    Within Your house

    I’ll find my peace.

    Trusting that in Your mercy

    You have sheltered me.

    In the Light of Your Promise by Laura Laughlin and Tom Paulson

    This new hymn was written for the Crown of Glory Lutheran Congregation by Pastor Laura Laughlin and Music Director Tom Paulson in their desire to turn pain into art in this time of uncertainty. The song proclaims “in the light of Your promise give us Your peace” and “guide the hearts of all people.” The entire song can be heard on YouTube.

    Waymaker by Sinach

    Waymaker is a song recently covered by Michael W. Smith. This song describes God as One who makes a way for us, works miracles, keeps His promises, and defeats darkness with His light. The song was written by Nigerian gospel singer, Sinach, in 2015 and was hugely successful there. It has since been covered by multiple artists worldwide. Smith listened to the song at his daughter’s request and believed it to be a great response to the rough times people were going through. The memorable chorus goes as such:

    Waymaker, Miracle Worker

    Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness

    That is Who You are.

    Virtual Choir

    Our latest virtual choir project has been completed and sent off to the producers. We will soon be adding this beautiful piece to an upcoming worship service. A hearty thank-you goes to all participants, as well as to Vance Stewart for his preparation of recordings, and Andrea Jennings for giving of time and assisting many recordings. We are blessed with wonderful people with servant hearts.

  • Music Musings – Vol. 61, No. 4

    Hymns Written During Past Pandemics – Part III

    By Dr. Julie Barrier, Crosswalk.com

    James Montgomery, born in 1771, was a Scottish-born hymn writer and poet. He wrote 400 hymns in the midst of controversial quarantines for yellow fever, cholera, and bubonic plague.  Sing Hallelujah, Sing is one of his most famous. What a statement of faith!

    “Sing Hallelujah, Glory to God alone…Bring your thank-offerings to the throne. The Lord put forth His hand.  He touched us and we died.  Vengeance went through the land, but mercy walked beside.  He heard our prayers; He saw our tears and stayed the plague and quelled our fears.”

    Dr. John Ryland was an English Baptist pastor and a close friend of John Newton, composer of Amazing Grace. The deadly Cattle Plague was similar to smallpox, but even more deadly. This plague ravaged Britain and other parts of Europe. Ryland paraphrased Psalm 139 into lyrics for his hymn, Sovereign Ruler of  the Skies.

    “He that formed me in the womb shall guide me to the tomb. All my times shall ever be ordered by His wise decree…Plagues and death around me fly ’til He bids I cannot die. Not a single shaft can hit ’til the God of love thinks fit.”

    Swiss pastor Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) was one of the most influential voices in the Protestant Reformation. Black plague broke out in Zurich and he raced to minister to the sick. Zwingli caught the dreaded disease and almost died. But the hymn he wrote gives us an inspiring glimpse of his faith. The first four verses of his hymn were penned when the disease struck. Verses five through eight were written as his health deteriorated. Verse nine through twelve were written after God healed him. What a great model for us as we fight sickness:

    “Help me Lord, my strength and rock, Lo at the door I hear death’s knock.  Lift up Your arm once pierced for me, that conquered death and rescued me. Yet if Your voice in life’s midday recalls my soul, then I obey.”

    During his illness:

    “My pains increase, haste to console; for fear and woe seize body and soul. Death is at hand, my senses fail, my tongue is dumb, now Christ prevail. He (Satan) harms me not – I fear no loss. For here I lie beneath the cross.”

    After his recovery:

    “My God! My Lord! Healed by your hand, upon the earth once more I stand. Let sin no more rule over me – my mouth shall sing alone to Thee. Though now delay, my hour will come – involved perchance in deeper gloom. BUT LET IT COME, MY JOY WILL RISE. And bear my yoke straight to the skies.”

    What a picture of handling suffering!

    Virtual Choir Project

    It’s time to get serious! Some of you have already arranged a time for Andrea Jennings to record you. If you have not set up a time with her, please make your appointment ASAP. We need to have all recordings by February 26. Also, thanks to Jonathan McPhillips for creating a score that moves forward with repeat and coda marked. This will help you to not get lost in following the arrangement. Appreciate every one of you!

  • Music Musings – Vol. 61, No. 3

    Hymns Written During Past Pandemics – Part II

    By Dr. Julie Barrier, Crosswalk.com

    We are not alone in our distress. Godly men and women throughout the ages praised God in the midst of disease and disaster.  Many great hymns of praise have been written by Christians during plagues throughout church history.

    One of these hymns is Now Thank We All Our God, composed in 1636 by pastor Martin Rinckart. Eilenberg, Germany, his tiny hometown, was ravaged by the Thirty Years War. The Swedish army set siege around the city wall.  War refugees seeking safety overran the crowded town. Soon after, the Bubonic plague erupted there and almost 5,000 people perished within a year. Rinckart was the only pastor left alive to bury the dead. He often performed 40-50 funerals per day, including the burial of his own wife. In the midst of such pestilence and heartbreak, Rindkart wrote:

    “Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things

    has done, in Whom this world rejoices. Who from our mother’s arms has blessed us

    on our way with countless gifts of love and still is ours today!”

    Come to Your Temple Here on Earth, composed by pastor Paul Gerhardt, was written about the same time as Rinckart. Europe was besieged with war and plague, yet these words of assurance came to this beloved pastor’s heart:

    “Arise and make an end of all heartache and our pain; Your wandering flock at last recall

    and grant them joy again. To peace and wealth the land restore, wasted with fire or plague

    or sword, Come to Your ruined churches, Lord, and bid them bloom once more.”

    Isaac Watts wrote When We Are raised from Deep Distress during the London cholera outbreak in 1666. Cholera outbreaks were prevalent in various parts of the British Empire, including parts of Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. In 1854, 23,000 people died from cholera in Great Britain. Here are Watts’ lyrics inspired by Psalm 89 and 90.

    “Pains of the flesh seek to abuse our minds with slavish fears; Our days are past and we shall

    lose the remnant of our years. Jehovah speaks the healing word and no disease withstands;

    fevers and plagues obey the Lord and fly at His command!”

    This great Congregational minister wrote 750 hymns!  Watts always found a reason to praise God.

    Virtual Choir Project

    Rehearsal recordings are finished and ready for you to download along with copies of the sheet music. Please contact Tara (Tara@feefeebc.org) to let us know you can participate. When you give her your contact information, you will be included in all informational emails. If you do not have a way to print the music you may pick up a copy of the choral sheet on the table by office entrance.

    Again, you do not need to be a current choir member to take part in this project. There is no age limitation. In fact, a multigenerational choir would be ideal!

    Please consider joining in this project. We have made it easier than ever!