God's Growing Garden: Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing #145

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing #145

Welcome to the 145th Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing!

I miss the old hymns that I remember from my childhood - there were no drums, no electric guitar and no mind numbing beat. It was just voices and maybe a piano or an organ. The choir led the congregation in singing - and the words of these hymns are poetic. I realize that there is a need for the modern "seeker oriented" worship music - but it is also necessary to have deeper songs (no offense intended to anyone who prefers the newer church songs).

I decided to have an "Old Fashion Sunday Hymn Sing" once a month on this blog.

I personally do NOT have a great singing voice - I used to play the guitar & piano but my voice is NOT an instrument. That's the great thing about this digital hymn sing, you can warble along without being embarrassed or without offending anyone else.

The hymns that we will be studying are taken from an old hymnal from a Baptist church that is no longer in existence - "The North American Hymnal" published in 1956 by "THE ROGER WILLIAMS PRESS"

I will also try to find a version of the featured hymn on "YouTube" to share with you each month.

Today's featured hymn is "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me" and the author is Reverend Edward Hopper. He was born in New York City. He graduated from Union Theological Seminary. He was an author and a poet and he had many books published. He was the pastor at a few churches before he found his ultimate calling - it was a church for sailors called "The Church of Sea & Land."

He passed away from a heart attack while sitting at his desk writing a poem about heaven.

I have included two lovely versions of this hymn. (videos are located below the lyrics).

Enjoy!

Turn with me to number 383 in your hymnals and let's sing:

Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

written by Edward Hopper (1818-1888) & composed by John E. Gould (1822-1875)

1. Jesus, Savior, pilot me Over life's tempestuous sea; Unknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treacherous shoal; Chart and compass come from Thee, Jesus, Savior pilot me.

2. As a mother stills her child, Thou canst hush the ocean wild; Boisterous waves obey Thy will When Thou sayest to them, "Be still!" Wonderous Sovereign of the sea, Jesus, Savior pilot me.

3. When at last I near the shore, And the fearful breakers roar 'Twixt me and the peacefull rest. Then, while leaning on Thy breast, May I hear Thee say to me, "Fear not, I will pilot thee."