Through The Hymnbook

Guest (Female): Welcome, welcome. We invite you to come in, climb right up into the organ loft to enjoy Through the Hymnbook. For many years, Reverend Bert Jones shared his music with you and still, even though he is with the Lord, the music continues to be a blessing.

In this edition of Through the Hymnbook, it's very different because Bert is going to go through a number of different books looking for songs that use the word Father in the title and usually this will be referring to our heavenly Father. You'll be interested in the collection.

Reverend Bert Jones: First we find the great hymn written for the 100th anniversary of the United States of America: "God of Our Fathers." That's right, it was written for the 1876 anniversary. Many of us remember the 200th anniversary, but I don't think any of us remember the one for which this hymn was written. It begins with a great trumpet fanfare as it refers to God of our fathers, by whose almighty power we have come to this very hour.

Going through the hymnbook looking for songs that include the word Father in the title. Here is a rather new song. Well, it's probably 30 years old, but it's new as songs about the Father go, and it is called "Father I Adore Thee." Actually, this is a three-part round and it can be very, very beautiful when it is sung in the parts of a three-part round.

It says, "Father, I adore you, lay my life before you, how I love you. Father I adore you, Father I adore you." And so in the three-part round, you see you hear one group singing, "Father, I adore you," and then you hear the next group singing, "Father, I adore you," while the first group says, "lay my life before you." Well, it's a beautiful song and used many, many times, and it refers to our heavenly Father.

It's rather difficult to play a round on the organ, but I think we got sort of the feeling of the three parts coming in in a three-part round. It's a very nice song. Here's an old, old song: "Faith of Our Fathers Living Still." And in this hymn, the word Father refers to our earthly father, the fathers who have passed along to us the heritage of Christian faith. "Faith of our fathers living still, we will be true to thee." Listen as the diapason tones on the organ play this for us, "Faith of Our Fathers."

"Dear Lord and Father of Mankind, forgive our feverish ways." This a prayer to our heavenly Father.

"This is My Father's World" and let me ne'er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

And of course, we have to include the Lord's Prayer: "Our Father which art in heaven." And I'm going to play the Malotte Lord's Prayer, music by Malotte. It is such a favorite.

Guest (Female): What a beautiful arrangement of the Lord's Prayer. We're just pausing to let you know that you are enjoying Through the Hymnbook as we join in the organ loft to share some very special music.

And if you would like to contact us by mail, the address is post office box 575, Erie, Pennsylvania, the zip code 16512 or by email, the address is organhymns@aol.com.

Reverend Bert Jones: Another song that says, "My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me." Beautiful, beautiful song. I have no fear on the road of life because I know my heavenly Father's looking out for me.

And here's a favorite. It begins, "My Father is rich in houses and lands, He holdeth the wealth of the world in His hands." A "Child of the King." With Jesus my savior, the child of the King.

Here's a rather new song, copyrighted in the year 1959. Music by Al Pierce and words by H.H. Pierson, and it says, "My Father Planned It All." Well, that's good to know, isn't it? Good always to know that Father planned it all.

What though the way may be lonely and dark the shadows fall, I know where e'er it leadeth, my Father planned it all. And so I sing through the shade and the sunshine. I'll trust Him whatever befall. I sing for I cannot be silent. My Father planned it all.

And going through the hymnbook, we could not possibly overlook "Children of the Heavenly Father," the beautiful Swedish hymn. It is such a blessing and such a beautiful song.

Guest (Female): What a beautiful arrangement of the Lord's Prayer. We're just pausing to let you know that you are enjoying Through the Hymnbook as we join in the organ loft to share some very special music.

And if you would like to contact us by mail, the address is box 575, Erie, Pennsylvania. It would be a real blessing to know Through the Hymnbook is a joy to you. Goodbye.