Music Notes from Denise, May 31, 2025

This Sunday we will process to the Ascension hymn, Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! Revelation 5:9 describes this eschatological scene of joy and glory: “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God members of every tribe and language and nation.’” William C. Dix wrote this text in 1866 for the celebration of the Lord’s Supper at Ascension services titled, “Redemption by the Precious Blood”. The hymn tune, Hyfrydol (meaning “tuneful” or “pleasant”) is one of the most loved Welsh hymn tunes and was composed by Rowland Hugh Prichard in 1830 when he was only 19. This hymn is a declaration of Jesus’ victory over death, and his continued presence among his people. When a friend moves away or leaves us for a long time, our first response is to feel sad and lonely. In this hymn, however, Dix reminds us that though Christ physically left earth in the ascension, he does not leave us “as orphans”, but rather remains with us always, all the while interceding for us to the Father. And so we raise our voices to cry “Alleluia!” to the ascended, yet ever-present Christ. (Hymnary.org)

Our Communion hymn will be The Church of Christ in every age, written by Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000). The name of the Rev. F. Pratt Green is one of the best-known of the contemporary school of hymnwriters in the British Isles. His name and writings appear in practically every new hymnal and "hymn supplement" wherever English is spoken and sung. Green was ordained in the British Methodist ministry and was a pastor and district superintendent in Brighton and York. He continued to write new hymns "that fill the gap between the hymns of the first part of this century and the 'far-out' compositions that have crowded into some churches in the last decade or more.” (Seven New Hymns of Hope, 1971)

St Martin’s Choir will sing our final Offertory anthem of the season, and one suggested by some of our choir members: Amazing Grace (My Chains are gone), arranged by Joel Raney (2014 Hope Publishing Co. all rights reserved) Words and Music by Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio. The added refrain is: My chains are gone, I’ve been set free. My God, my Savior has ransomed me, and like a flood, his mercy reigns; unending love, amazing grace. According to his statement on Facebook, Chris Tomlin wrote this refrain to be used in a movie about William Wilberforce (Amazing Grace filmed in 2007). When researching the story of John Newton writing the original hymn, Amazing Grace, Tomlin was struck by the idea of breaking the chains of slavery and obtaining ransom. The listener can be their own judge about the addition of this refrain to such a classic hymn, but it does bring a fresh new approach to the familiar. (Nathan Myrick; umcdiscipleship.org)   

Our final hymn will be Hail the day that sees him rise. Charles Wesley wrote this text in ten stanzas with the title “Hymn for Ascension Day.” He and his brother John published it in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739. Over the years, many substantial alterations have been made to the text. The “alleluias” were added over a century after the hymn was written – in 1852 in G. C. White's Hymns and Introits. This hymn elaborates on the royalty and sovereignty of the ascended Christ, to which Mark alluded in his gospel: “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19 ESV). The second stanza refers to one of the royal psalms: “Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in” (Psalm 24L9 ESV). (Hymnary.org) As a hymn-writer Charles Wesley was unique. He is said to have written no less than 6500 hymns, and though, of course, in so vast a number some are of unequal merit, it is perfectly marvelous how many there are which rise to the highest degree of excellence. His feelings on every occasion of importance, whether private or public, found their best expression in a hymn. His own conversion, his own marriage, the earthquake panic, the rumours of an invasion from France, the defeat of Prince Charles Edward at Culloden, the Gordon riots, every Festival of the Christian Church, every doctrine of the Christian Faith, striking scenes in Scripture history, striking scenes which came within his own view, the deaths of friends as they passed away, one by one, before him, all furnished occasions for the exercise of his divine gift. The saying that a really good hymn is as rare an appearance as that of a comet is falsified by the work of Charles Wesley; for hymns, which are really good in every respect, flowed from his pen in quick succession, and death alone stopped the course of the perennial stream. (John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology 1907)