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 Choral Music:
Down to the River to Pray – Sheldon Curry
(c.2002, Hal Leonard Corp.)
"Down in the River to Pray" (also known as "Down to the River to Pray," "Down in the Valley to Pray," "The Good Old Way," and "Come, Let Us All Go Down") is a traditional American song variously described as a Christian folk hymn, an African-American spiritual, an Appalachian song, and a gospel song. It gained popularity in 2000 after Alison Krauss performed it for the soundtrack of the Coen Brothers film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?. The exact origin of the song is unknown. Research suggests that it was composed by an African-American slave. The earliest known version of the song, titled "The Good Old Way," was published in Slave Songs of the United States in 1867. The song is credited to "Mr. G. H. Allan" of Nashville, Tennessee, who was likely the transcriber rather than the author. In some versions, "in the river" is replaced by "to the river." The phrase "in the river" is significant, for two reasons. The more obvious reason is that the song has often been sung at outdoor baptisms. Another reason is that many slave songs contained coded messages for escaping. When the slaves escaped, they would walk in the river because the water would cover their scent from the bounty-hunters' dogs. Similarly, the "starry crown" could refer to navigating their escape by the stars. And "Good Lord, show me the way" could be a prayer for God's guidance to find the escape route, commonly known as "the Underground Railroad."
As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ole way
And who shall wear the starry crown, good Lord, show me the way.
O sisters, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down.
O sisters, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.
As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ole way
And who shall wear the starry crown, good Lord, show me the way.
O brothers, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down.
Come on brothers, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.
As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ole way
And who shall wear the starry crown, good Lord, show me the way.
O fathers, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down.
O fathers, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.
As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ole way
And who shall wear the starry crown, good Lord, show me the way.
O mothers, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down, don’t-cha wanna go down.
Come on mothers, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.
As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ole way
And who shall wear the starry crown, good Lord, show me the way.
O sinners, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down.
O sinners, let’s go down, down to the river to pray.
As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ole way
And who shall wear the starry crown, good Lord, show me the way.
About the Hymns:
Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
(c.1961, Oxford Univ. Press; harm. c. 1978, Lutheran Book of Worship)
Albert F. Bayly (1901-1984) was educated at London University and Mansfield College, Oxford. Beginning in the late 1920’s, he served at four Congregational churches in Northumberland, Lancashire and East Yorkshire; in 1962, he became pastor in Thaxted, Essex. After retiring in 1971, he moved to Springfield, Chelmsford, and was active in the local United Reformed Church. He wrote several pageants on mission themes, and librettos for cantatas by W. L. Lloyd Webber (father of Andrew).
Bayly wrote this text in response to a Hymn Society of America search for new hymns on social welfare. It was chosen as the theme hymn for the Second National Conference on the Churches and Social Welfare held in Cleveland, Ohio, October 23-27, 1961. The Hymn Society published the text in Seven New Social Welfare Hymns (1961).
The tune “Beach Spring” is attributed to Benjamin Franklin White, who with the help of Elisha J. King, published The Sacred Harp (Philadelphia, 1844), where it was sung with the text of “Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched.” Named after the Beech Spring Baptist Church in Harris County, Georgia, the church was given its name because of its close proximity to two beech trees at a spring. Although the original spelling of the name should be “Beech,” White’s misspelling “Beach,” has stuck with the hymn throughout the ages. White was mostly a self-taught singing school teacher from South Carolina. Eventually he moved to Hamilton in Harris County, Georgia, where he worked at many different vocations, including a stint in the Georgia Militia. Eventually White married Thurza Golightly, and together the two had 14 children (the same number of children that White’s parents had). At some point along the timeline of Benjamin Franklin White’s history, a rumor was started that he worked closely with William Walker (who was his brother-in-law) to publish Southern Harmonies, but this rumor was probably not true. The two books were wildly popular in the south, but both contained the same southern white spirituals which were popular in the more rural areas. In the 20th century, the tunes from The Sacred Harp, and Southern Harmonies entered into more denominational hymnals and inspired many different composers to arrange the melodies in various ways. The Sacred Harp is one of the most used books in the four-shape notation, and has gone through numerous editions that have been published throughout the years, and even to the present days.
Lord, whose love through humble service Bore the weight of human need,
Who upon the cross, forsaken, Offered mercy’s perfect deed,
We, Your servants, bring the worship Not of voice alone, but heart,
Consecrating to Your purpose Ev’ry gift that you impart.
Still Your children wander homeless; Still the hungry cry for bread;
Still the captives long for freedom; Still in grief we mourn our dead.
As, O Lord, Your deep compassion Healed the sick and freed the soul,
Use the love Your Spirit kindles Still to save and make us whole.
As we worship, grant us vision, Till Your love’s revealing light
In its height and depth and greatness, Dawns upon our quickened sight,
Making known the needs and burdens Your compassion bids us bear,
Stirring us to tireless striving, Your abundant life to share.
Called by worship to Your service, Forth in Your dear name we go,
To the child, the youth, the aged, Love in living deeds to show;
Hope and health, goodwill and comfort, Counsel, aid, and peace we give,
That Your servants, Lord, in freedom May Your mercy know and live.
About the Modern Band Music:
Trust In God - Brandon Lake, Chris Brown, Mitch Wong, and Steven Furtick
(c.2023, Essential Music Publishing)
"Trust in God" by Elevation Worship (featuring Chris Brown) was released on April 28, 2023, as part of their live album Can You Imagine?. The song is heavily inspired by Psalm 125 and Psalm 34:4–8, focusing on God's protection, unshakable consistency, and faithfulness through modern hardships and personal struggles. It weaves in lyrics and melody from the classic 1873 hymn "Blessed Assurance"(written by Fanny Crosby and Phoebe Knapp), blending traditional hymnody with modern worship. The chorus repeats "I trust in God, He will never fail me," reflecting a biblical anchor in the character of Jesus. Lyrics draw on biblical imagery (like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3), celebrating God's presence in the middle of trials rather than an immediate escape from them. The bridge ("I sought the Lord, and He heard, and He answered") emphasizes sharing personal stories of God's faithfulness to encourage believers facing weariness or doubt
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine He's been my fourth man in the fire
Time after time Born of His Spirit Washed in His blood
And what He did for me on Calvary Is more than enough
I trust in God My Savior
The One who will never fail He will never fail
Perfect submission All is at rest I know the author of tomorrow
Has ordered my steps So this is my story And this is my song
I’m praising my risen King and Savior All the day long
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
I sought the Lord and He heard and He answered
That’s why I trust Him That’s why (I trust Him)
First United Methodist Church, Lewisville, Texas
A Community of Everyday People Learning to Love Like Jesus
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