For All the Saints

We bless your holy name, O God,
for all your servants who,
having finished their course,
now rest from their labors.

Give us grace to follow the example
of their steadfastness and faithfulness,
to your honor and glory;
through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

(UM Book of Worship, 415)

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For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

(United Methodist Hymnal, 711)

Merry Christmas to all

Eternal God,
by the birth of Jesus Christ you gave yourself to the world.
Grant that, being born in our hearts,
he may save us from all our sins,
and restore within us the image and likeness of our Creator,
to whom be everlasting praise and glory,
world without end. Amen.

(from the United Methodist Hymnal, 231)

Top United Methodist Hymns

Here's a really interesting story. Dean McIntyre, Director of Music Resources at the General Board of Discipleship, has compiled a list of the favorite United Methodist hymns and worship songs. In this article, he compares the list he compiled in 2000 with one he did in 2006. There are some changes between the two, including a greater prevalence of both praise & worship songs and Charles Wesley hymns in the 2006 edition.

From my experience as a local church pastor, I can second pretty much all of the ones on this list. Interestingly, at my church we never really sang, "In the Garden," although other favorites of the Greatest Generation crowd like "Old Rugged Cross" and "How Great Thou Art" got plenty of play-time. As an associate pastor, I went to 3 worship services every Sunday: a contemporary service, a traditional service, and a Sunday evening service with a "hymn sing" that featured lots of selections from the Cokesbury hymnal. One of the things I really grew to appreciate was how nice it is to sing a wide selection of praises to God - from praise & worship, to classical, to old time gospel.

Here is the top 10 from the 2006 list:

1. Amazing Grace
2. Here I Am, Lord
3. How Great Thou Art
4. O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
5. Hymn of Promise
6. In the Garden
7. Great is Thy Faithfulness
8. Holy, Holy, Holy
9. Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
10. Spirit Song / Blessed Assurance (tie)

There were more praise & worship songs in #'s10-20. It is interesting that most of the praise & worship songs that made the list are older. That is, they aren't exactly what I would call "cutting edge" in contemporary worship music.

So what is your favorite hymn?