Every Sunday, for YEARS, this was the first hymn of every Sunday service. It got to be kind of a joke among some of us, and it certainly got so familiar as to lose all meaning to me.
Yesterday, we sang this at church and I realized how much I'd been missing for all these years.
I think that a case could be made that every worship service should start with this hymn as it absolutely sets a framework for the rest of the service (I don't think there was a lot of thought about this back in the day, but who knows). It establishes the position and nature of YHWH, and acknowledges His absolute holiness. It points out our inability to fully see and comprehend the fullness of YHWH's love, power, and purity yet we praise Him out of that inability. Finally, it establishes that all of Creation praises Him in one way or another, and the we have the privilege of joining Creation in praise.
I get that, just like The Lord's Prayer, repetition can dull the impact rather than sharpen it. But that doesn't diminish that this Hymn is an appropriate way to begin a service.
Verse 1
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, Holy, Holy, Merciful and Mighty!
God in three Persons, Blessèd Trinity!
Verse 2
Holy, Holy, Holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden Crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who wert, and art, And evermore shalt be.
Verse 3
Holy, Holy, Holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; There is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, In love, and purity.
Verse 4
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name,
In earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, Holy, Holy; Merciful and Mighty!
God in three Persons, Blessèd Trinity!
6 comments:
It's one of my favorites and one of the first I transcribed to bagpipes.
Just this past Sunday, when there was additional Independence Day additions to our service, there was a hymn, which I think the choir performed (they always do one each service) which struck me in a similar way, and I don't remember if I had ever heard it before. I wish I could remember what it was now. Perhaps I can find it on YouTube.
If they live stream, you could probably go back and watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAPJIfAzNvM
Above is the service in question, and the song comes between the 28-29 minute mark. I'm not a fan of the lead singer, though I heard he leads a choir or did at one time and took over for our choir leader last week, which was the first time I laid eyes on him. The song itself isn't quite what I remembered it being, though I think what it was regarded the creed-like chorus...which at the time I first heard it, I thought it was most appropriate for a Christ-following group.
The entire service was a good celebration of our nation and our military members and to watch the whole thing wouldn't hurt. The choir does some great work as always. Obviously, it's not a typical service and our pastor Randy steps aside to allow the officer to give a sermon (of sorts) which is a departure from the series from which Randy's been preaching from 1 Kings. We're very happy to call this our church home and my wife and I became full-fledged members on this past Easter Sunday, when we were baptized at the start of service (9:30 service, if anyone cares to search it out on YouTube). There was also a wonderful Easter presentation from the previous Wed or Thurs (I think it was) worthy of a look. Still looking to see where I can help out, considering joining the choir myself.
America The Beautiful is another good one on the pipes.
Art, I think the song you were referring to was a few minutes past that mark because that mark had America the Beautiful. The next song with the choir and the lead singer with the patriotic tie was one I've never heard of but I thought it was a good cross between patriotism and the Christian faith.
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