Each week, you may find information here about the music in the traditional worship services at First United Methodist Church in Lewisville, Texas. Some of this information is original; most of it is copied from other websites such as Wikipedia, GBOD, and hymnary.org. It is my hope that this information will enhance your understanding and enrich your worship experience.
About the Organ Music:
Built on the Rock, the Church doth Stand - Bedrich Janacek
(c.1966, Oxford University Press)
Nicolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig (1783-1872) the son of a pastor, was born at Udby, in Seeland. He studied in the University of Copenhagen. H is mind was too active and his imagination too versatile to bear the restraint of the academic course. After leaving the university he devoted his attention to poetry, literature, and Northern antiquities. In 1810 he became assistant to his father in a parish in Jutland. The sermon he preached at his ordination, on the subject "Why has the Lord's word disappeared from His house," attracted much attention, which is rarely the case with "probationers'" sermons. He became chaplain of St. Saviour's church in Christianshavn. From the time of his ordination, he had been deeply impressed with Evangelical church sentiments, in opposition to the fashionable Rationalism and Erastianism of the day; and adhered to the anti-rationalist teaching of Hauge, whose death at this time (1824) seemed to be a call to Grundtvig to lift up his voice. An opportunity soon presented itself; Professor Clausen brought out a book entitled Katholicismens og Protestantismens Forfatning, Ldre, og Ritus ("The condition, teaching, and ritual of Catholicism and Protestantism"). This book was replete with the Erastian Rationalism which was so especially distasteful to Grundtvig, who forthwith, in his Kirkens Gjenmsele ("The Church's Reply," 1825), strongly opposed its teaching, and laid down truer principles of Christian belief, and sounder views of the nature of the Church. This caused a sensation: Grandtvig (who had not spared his opponent) was fined 100 rixdollars, and the songs and hymns which he had written for the coming celebration of the tenth centenary of Northern Christianity were forbidden to be used. He resigned his post at St. Saviour's, or rather was forced to quit by a sentence of suspension which was pronounced in 1826, and under which he was kept for 13 years. After this time, he was allowed to hold an afternoon service in the German church at Christianshavn. He preached there for eight years, and compiled and wrote his hymn-book, Sang-Vdrk til den Danske Kirkce ("Song-work for the Danish Church").
The tune KIRKEN DEN ER ET was composed for this text by Norwegian Ludwig M. Lindeman (1812-1887). It was published in Wilhelm A. Wexel's Christelige Psalmer (1840). KIRKEN (also called LINDEMAN) was the first hymn tune Lindeman wrote. Born into a family of musicians, Lindeman received his early organ training from his father, for whom he became a substitute organist at the age of twelve. Although he studied theology in Oslo (then called Christiana), after 1839 he turned to a career in music. He was the organist of the Church of the Savior in Oslo (1839-1887) and became a virtuoso performer. Lindeman published hymn collections and organ works as well as the influential Koralbog (1877), which contained tunes (restored to rhythmic shape) for Landstad's hymnal of 1869. He was also an excellent teacher and founded an organ school (later the Oslo Conservatory) with his son in 1883. A scholarly collector of Norwegian folk music, Lindeman traveled the country collecting folk songs, which he published in a series of volumes (1853-1867) and which influenced the works of composer Edvard Grieg.
Built on the Rock, the church shall stand even when steeples are falling;
Christ builds His church in ev'ry land; bells still are chiming and calling,
calling the young and old to rest, calling the souls of those distressed,
longing for life everlasting.
Not in a temple made with hands God the Almighty is dwelling;
high in the heav'ns His temple stands, all earthly temples excelling.
Yet He who dwells in heaven above chooses to live with us in love,
making our body His temple.
We are God's house of living stones, built for His own habitation;
He fills our hearts, His humble thrones, granting us life and salvation.
Yet to the place, an earthly frame, we come with thanks to praise His name;
God grants His people true blessing.
Thro' all the passing years, O Lord, grant that, when church bells are ringing,
many may come to hear God's Word where He the promise is bringing:
"I know My own, My own know Me, you, not the world, My face shall see;
My peace I leave with you. Amen.”
Bedřich Janáček (1920-2007 ) was a Czech organist, composer and music teacher. Janáček began training at the Prague Conservatory in 1939. In 1940 he studied in Zagreb for some time and, after returning to Prague, became a student of Bedřich Antonín Wiedermann at the local conservatory. From 1942 he taught at the conservatory. After the end of the Second World War, he worked as a teacher at the Prague City Music School until 1946 and at the same time completed an advanced training at the State Music Academy.
After making his organist debut in Prague in 1938, Janáček gave more than seventy concerts in Czechoslovakia by 1948. After the February revolution in Czechoslovakia and his emigration to Sweden, he performed in concert halls in Scandinavia, Germany, Switzerland, France, Holland, Belgium, England, Ireland and Italy and went on two concert tours through the USA (1968 and 1970). He settled in Sweden and worked as an organist at the konserterande in Western Europe with numerous appearances in radio. He served as Deputy organist at the Lund Cathedral. He graduated from the Royal College of music in Stockholm in 1961 and was a regular organist at Helgeandskyrkan. As a composer, Janacek wrote mainly for organ, but also wrote the music for organ, wind instruments and choir.
About the Piano Music:
In Times Like These - Virginia Halberg
(c.1944, Singspiration Music)
A self-taught pianist and organist, Ruth Caye (1902-1972) married Bert Jones, a pastor in Pennsylvania, and together they worked in the evangelism field. Late in 1943, Ruth, now a mother of 5 and wife of a busy pastor, was reading 2 Timothy 3:1, which says, “In the last days perilous times shall come”. As she read the Pittsburgh newspapers, and saw the World War 2 casualty lists, and heard reports of the slow progress of Allied troops moving up the boot of Italy, it seemed to her those perilous times had already come. Rationing was hitting those at home hard; discouragement was everywhere. How long could people continue to live in times like that? Ruth took out a small notepad from her apron picket and began to write down some words. A melody came to her that seemed to fit the words she wrote. She had no formal music training, but she wasn’t trying to write a song that would make her famous. She was actually just putting some thoughts on paper. But, it happened to be the right song for the right time. And, soon, people around the world were singing it.
In 1948, the Jones’ founded a radio ministry in Erie, PA, broadcasting a weekly family devotional program from their home called “A Visit with the Jones.” Years later, when she was watching a Billy Graham crusade on television, she heard George Beverly Shea sing this song… her song… and tears came to her eyes. She said, “I can’t believe I had any part in writing this song. I just feel that God gave it to me, and I gave it to the world.” As we continue to live in uncertain times, these words continue to provide comfort and guidance.
In times like these, you need a Savior, in times like these, you need an anchor;
be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
In times like these, you need the Bible, in times like these, O be not idle!
Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.
In times like these, I have a Savior, in times like these, I have an anchor;
I’m very sure, I’m very sure, my anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock.
Refrain:
The Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One. The Rock is Jesus, the only One.
Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds, and grips the Solid Rock.
Virginia (Ginny) Halberg (1928-2018) was a longtime church musician and college-level piano instructor.
About the Hymns:
This is Amazing Grace - Phil Wickham
(c.2012, Phil Wickham Music)
Phil Wickham said this about the song:
This song has actually been years in the making. I originally wrote it several years ago with a buddy of mine, Josh Farro, who was in the band Paramore at the time. He wanted to get together with me and write a worship song. He brought an idea, and I had an idea, and that became the bones for this song. We wrote the chorus, and had some verse ideas. Jeremy Riddle, who is one of the worship leaders at Bethel Church in California, asked if he could rewrite the verses. Jeremy wrote amazing lyrics about the greatness of the God who gave His life for us. We started singing it the way Bethel recorded the song, and there was more of brooding, moody, passionate vibe. We decided to make the song more of a celebration and a party.
The song is simply about the amazing grace and unfailing love that this God, this King of glory, this King above all Kings, has shown to us. The verses are all about His majesty and what He has done, how He spoke the world into existence, how He brings order to our chaos, how He has made orphans and sinners His sons and daughters! By taking our place on the Cross, He bore our sin and went to the grave so that we may be set free, so that we may be forgiven. It's an amazing thought, and the verses are saying look at this amazing God. He creates the stars, brings the chaos back into order. He shakes the whole earth with thunder. It's the story that God has written, and a story that He lets us be a part of. It's a song of celebration. Some songs have an adoration quality. Some songs are reminders. Some songs are about thankfulness. Some songs are prayers, or declarations.
Who breaks the power of sin and darkness
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger
The King of Glory, the King above all kings
Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder
Who leaves us breathless in awe and wonder
The King of Glory, the King above all kings
This is amazing grace. This is unfailing love,
That You would take my place, That You would bear my cross
You would lay down Your life That I would be set free
Jesus, I sing for All that You've done for me
Who brings our chaos back into order
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter
The King of Glory, the King above all kings
Who rules the nations with truth and justice
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance
The King of Glory, the King above all kings
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song
(c.1970, Les Petites Soeurs de Jesus, admin Augsburg Fortress)
This hymn was originally composed in French by “Les petites soeurs de Jésus” (“The Little Sisters of Jesus”), a global contemplative order that “seeks to be a sign of love to people who are rejected.” The hymn also has associations with L’Arche communities. It is both a promise to bear witness to the love of Christ, and a prayer for courage throughout life’s journey.
Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey;
I’ll tell everybody about you wherever I go:
you alone are our life and our peace and our love.
Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey.
Lord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journey.
May all of my joy be a faithful reflection of you.
May the earth and the sea and the sky join my song.
Lord Jesus, I’ll praise you as long as I journey.
As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant,
to carry your cross and to share all your burdens and tears.
For you saved me by giving your body and blood.
As long as I live, Jesus, make me your servant.
I fear in the dark and the doubt of my journey;
but courage will come with the sound of your steps by my side.
And with all of the family you saved by your love,
we’ll sing to your dawn at the end of our journey.
First United Methodist Church, Lewisville, Texas
A Community of Everyday People Learning to Love Like Jesus
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