In a recent discussion with his blog team, Ed mentioned a conversation with a Baby Boomer named Amy. In an email to Ed, Amy said these words:
I grew up going to Antioch Christian Church and our church hymnal was pretty standard with Amazing Grace, Old Rugged Cross and such. My all time favorite though is “He Lives.” I really miss these old traditional songs. A hymnal would be like a daily devotional for me.
I grew up in a small United Methodist Church where the hymnal was an essential part of every service.
Now, don’t get me wrong! As a 28 year old, I would attend a rock concert over a hymn sing any day, but the thought of sitting down with an old United Methodist Hymnal early in the morning intrigues me. I would meditate on songs like:
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405: Seek Ye First
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145: Morning Has Broken
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707: Hymn of Promise
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347: Spirit Song
Like hearing an old song on the radio or finding my best friend from elementary school on Facebook, something leaps inside my soul when I hear these hymns (either in a rock concert OR on the pipe organ). Their familiar melody, their poetic verse … they are a major part of my heritage of faith, a heritage I want to pass along to my four children.
Can anyone relate? No matter what your age, certain hymns stir your soul, carrying you back to a simpler faith. Thank you Amy for sharing your story, you have inspired me to jump online and order my next devotional – a United Methodist Hymnal
Abbie Mantor works for the Aspen Group in the Marketing Department, writing case studies and white papers (among other things). As a member of the Blog Team, she helps manage the effort.. She has been married for 6 ½ years and has 4 children.
I can relate to that thought process. As much as we would sometimes like to pretend we’re hipper and cooler than hymns, when one makes a rare appearance it is exactly like greeting an old friend. And now I’ve noticed that the first wave of “Praise and Worship” songs strike me the same way: nostalgia and a great reminder of what God did in the past. Some of the old Brooklyn Tab choruses can do that to me, too.
My hubby (pianist) is going to do a hymn sing night for the older folks in our church next month. Don’t tell anyone, but I’ll secretly be in the back enjoying the night, too.
Marla,
Thanks for sharing again. I really appreciate your thought here…
And now I’ve noticed that the first wave of “Praise and Worship” songs strike me the same way: nostalgia and a great reminder of what God did in the past.
I’ve never quite thought about it as a reminder of God’s work in the past. That makes some real sense when we consider why older people struggle and often react when we leave the old songs behind.
The issue often becomes an emotional spiritual debate with too many Bible versus wrapped around it to discern the deeper issue. But your comment helps me grasp what that deeper issue, in many cases, may be. When we leave the old hymns behind they lose an important reminder and affirmation that God has been and will be a part of their life. And as I watch my 85 year old parents struggle with the discouragement of old age it’s a very important reminder
Wow, that’s a bit sobering!
I agree, Abbie! I recently bought Bart Millard’s “Hymned Again”, and it has really blessed me. I didn’t grow up in a church with hymnals. We did lots of singing and dancing to a guitar:-) But I love hymns! I have 5 or 6 different cds of hymns recorded by the artists I usually listen to.
Thanks Lisa….that’s really interesting especially considering you didn’t grow up with them.