My name is Ginger and I am a Hymn Nerd.

Hymns were my lifeblood as I grew up. I loved everything about them: the words, the tunes, the sound of the congregation singing, watching the hand of the song leader, learning to read the notes, and the way the hymns looked on the page. The songs required my eyes, my ears, and my voice, and they wrote themselves onto my heart. They became a part of my very being.

Sometimes the song leader opened up the song service to requests from the audience. Someone always wanted to sing “Wonderful Grace of Jesus,” with its strong counter part in the chorus. Years later, the organist at our church in Seattle gave occasional concerts, and toward the end of the evening she’d ask us to request songs that she could play. Rather than play one song at a time, though, she wove them into a marvelous medley, with plenty of modulation and strong, rumbling notes and powerful chords coming from that pipe organ.

But even more than the sounds of the music, I was trained by the words. Hymns tell the story of God and his grace. They teach the theology of the Church. From Miriam’s song after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea to the songs of the redeemed in Revelation, the hymns are based on the Scriptures and are an integral part of the life of God’s people. Not unlike the Bible itself, hymns can remind us of the depth of God’s mercy, his power and holiness, his love for all people, and his arm outstretched to deliver us from peril. They help us identify with other believers—both those who composed the hymns and those who sing them with us. Many of the songs in our hymnals are hundreds of years old, and they still speaks today.

This month we’ll talk about hymns and how they have impacted us. We’ll look at hymns from ancient times and some that we sang growing up. And we’ll look at some musicians who are writing hymns today or sharing hymns with others.

Even if you don’t consider yourself a Hymn Nerd or even a Hymn Fan, stick around. You just might change your mind!

Here’s a fun video that gives us a look at Christian hymns over the past 1500 years. I hope you enjoy it.

 

Our theme for February 2021 is Hymns of Faith. Do you have a favorite hymn you’d like to share, or one you’d like us to feature on a  post this month? I’d love to hear from you. You can leave a comment below or email me on the Contact page with your thoughts or ideas. Thanks!

Ginger