God's Growing Garden: Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing #125

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Old Fashioned Sunday Hymn Sing #125

Welcome to the 125th 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 " 'Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer" written by Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1914) & composed by William H. Doane (1832-1915). Last month I featured one of Fanny Crosby's hymns but God guided me to another one of her works for today's post. As previously stated - The author of this hymn is probably one of the most well known hymn writers - she wrote about 8,000 poems total (many of which were set to music). When she was only 6 weeks old she became blind but this did not deter her from living her life for God.

Prayer was very important to Fanny Crosby - this is what she said about her writing:

"It may seem a little old-fashioned, always to begin one’s work in prayer: but I never undertake a hymn without first asking the good Lord to be my inspiration in the work that I am about to do."

Also, her prayer life started at a young age because of the divine guidance from her grandmother - this is another quote from Fanny:

"My grandmother was a woman of exemplary piety; and from her I learned many useful and abiding lessons. She was a firm believer in prayer; and, when I was very young, taught me to believe that our Father in Heaven will always give us whatever is for our good; and therefore that we should be careful not to ask Him anything that is not consistent with His Holy Will. At evening-time she used to call me to her dear old rocking chair; then we would kneel down together and repeat some simple petition."

I have included 2 videos below the lyrics.

Enjoy!

Turn with me to number 301 in your hymnals and let's sing:

'Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer

written by Fanny J. Crosby(1820-1915) & composed by William H. Doane (1832-1915)

1. 'Tis the blessed hour of pray'r, when our hearts lowly bend, And we gather to Jesus our Savior and Friend; If we come to Him in faith, His protection to share, What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!

CHORUS

2. 'Tis the blessed hour of pray'r, when the Savior draws near, With a tender compassion His children to hear; When He tells us we may cast at His feet every care, What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!

CHORUS

3. 'Tis the blessed hour of pray'r, when the tempted and tried To the Savior who loves them their sorrows confide; With a sympathizing heart He removes every care; What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!

CHORUS

4. 'Tis the blessed hour of pray'r, trusting Him, we believe That the blessing we're needing we'll surely receive; In the fullness of this trust we shall lose every care; What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!

CHORUS

Chorus

Blessed hour of pray'r, blessed hour of pray'r;

What a balm for the weary! O how sweet to be there!