Sunday's Hymn

For the next few weeks, I’ll use one of the congregational hymns I’ve sung in church in the morning as the Sunday hymn. Today, we didn’t sing out of the hymnal at all—that always makes me a little sad—but we did sing this song, which I’d say would hold it’s own, substance-wise and quality-wise, against any of the hymns in the hymn book. And when Stuart Townend wrote it, he was indeed intending to write a hymn.

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us 

 

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.

You can hear it sung in this video, which is one of the few versions I could find that was not sung in a breathy female voice. (There! I’ve let you in on another of my musical pet peeves.)

Other hymns, worship songs, etc. posted today:

• Trinity Sunday at Magic Statistics
• Safely Through Another Week at The Happy Wonderer
• Jesus! What a Friend for Sinner! at Hiraeth
  
• I Sing the Might Power of God at Seasoning of the Heart
• Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me at Whatever Things…
• Crown Him with Many Crowns at Field Stone Cottage
• Lord’s Day 20, 2008 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Happy the Man Whose Cautious Feet  at JoythruChrist
• Trinity Sunday at Conjubilant With Song

Have you posted a hymn today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by emailing me at the address in the sidebar and I’ll add your post to the list.

 

Update on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 5:42PM by rebecca

Kim of The Upward Call posts the words to Jesus, My Lord, My Savior.

Comments

[Karen]

Beautiful and very touching.

[Kim from Hiraeth]

Since around October, I think, I've been posting a hymn from our Sunday service. The only time I post something we didn't sing is if we sang all songs that I've already posted. That's only happened once!

Our new little church uses the Trinity Hymnal and I am being exposed to many hymns I didn't know before but are filled with wonderful theological content.

(I'm with you on the breathy singing!)

[David Kjos]

That definitely qualifies in all ways as a good hymn.

Breathy singing is only one of the many vocal crimes in pop music. Thanks for finding a nice performance.

[missmellifluous]

A great hymn. :)

[Kevin Sorensen]

Rebecca,

Thanks for your posts on psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. I pastor a small church and there are a few Sundays when we don't use the hymnal, but not many. And then, there was a Sunday two weeks ago, where all we did was use the hymnal and my wife's own comment was "It seemed a bit off today, didn't it." She loves hymns as much as I do (probably has more lyrics memorized from them than do I), but since we try to "mix" both hymns and spiritual songs together, I think she felt we were just a bit out of balance that day. By the way, every once in a great while, I'll have our worship team use a psalm out of a Scottish Psalter, just to keep us on our toes with Scripture in worship!

By the way, yesterday we used both song sheets (we don't go for the PowerPoint bit with songs yet) and the hymnal. Funny thing was, not one of the 5 songs would really count as a traditional hymn, but all choruses. Still, I trust it was a joy unto the Lord as we sang.

Thanks. Be encouraged.

[rebecca]

I really don't mind when things are mixed up a bit so that people of all sorts get to sing something they like. But for the most part, I prefer hymns to choruses, etc, even the older choruses I grew up with. Older hymns have one distinct advantage: many of the lesser quality pieces have been weeded out over time. Although there's no accounting for a few that have managed to stand the test of time. :)

And I really need that piece of paper with the notes written on it or I feel lost and my mind wanders! Boo hiss to power points and overhead projectors!

[Kristi]

I just found your blog and I am really enjoying your writing. In addition, I must agree that this is a wonderful modern hymn. I'm thrilled to hear that there are songwriters out there who still create music that can "stand against any of the hymns in the hymn book."

[rebecca]

Hello Kristi! Welcome to the blog and nice to meet you.

[WHITAKERNaomi32]

I had a dream to begin my own company, however I didn't have got enough amount of cash to do it. Thank God my close mate advised to utilize the credit loans. Hence I used the bank loan and made real my old dream.