On September 21st, our team did an off-campus Hymn Sing at Wiley Christian Homes, NJ. We had over 110 guests attend, and it was just a fun Hymn Sing.
For an hour and fifteen minutes, we sang the top 25 Hymns of America. Lifeway Publications has been taking an annual survey for a number of years, and it was cool seeing how many of the 25 hymns have been on the list year after year.
I had the joy to be reunited with our friend, Clarence Gravatt. This year, he turned 107!!!
His granddaughter wheeled him over to see us. He loves to sing hymns, and in fact, he had his hymnal with him in his wheelchair. She said he loves to sing hymns every day.
As I thought about Clarence, I could n
ot help but think about the lyrics to Thomas Chisholm’s hymn, Great is Thy Faithfulness:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father!
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not:
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided —
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Can you imagine what it must be like to live 107 years committed to loving and serving Jesus?
What is your favorite hymn, and why? I’d love to hear from you. bwelte@americaskeswick.org
Anchored to the Rock,
Bill Welte, President/CEO
America’s Keswick
