Through The Hymnbook

Reverend Bert Jones: Welcome to the organ loft for a special time of music that we entitle Through the Hymnbook. You are going to enjoy some very special songs in this edition. The title of the book that Reverend Bert Jones will be using is called The Hymnbook from the Garden Tomb.

In just a few moments, Bert will give you a few more details about the book, but let me say that we're going to dedicate the entire edition of Through the Hymnbook to all of our friends who have ever visited in the Holy Land. This particular edition will have special memories for each one of you.

This small paperback songbook containing 72 songs and choruses appropriate for use at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. Let me play for you song number two in the book. It's a very beautiful song and most appropriate for the groups that visit the Garden Tomb, Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

This interesting songbook, Hymns and Choruses for Use at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, has been sponsored by the Garden Tomb Jerusalem Association, established in 1893. Apparently, this is the group that receives visitors and takes them on tours of the Garden Tomb, and this is the group that holds services for groups that want to hold a service at the Garden Tomb.

It's nice that they have this songbook. This particular songbook was brought home to me from the Holy Land by Mrs. Lillian Carlson of Jamestown, New York, who appreciated visiting the Garden Tomb and the many other things she saw in the Holy Land. Thinking of Through the Hymnbook, she thought that would be a different book for Bert Jones to have in his Through the Hymnbook library.

Our thanks to Lillian Carlson for bringing us this most interesting book. Here is the chorus, Because He Lives, I Can Face Tomorrow. How appropriate that they've included a rather new song like that in this book of songs for use at the Garden Tomb.

There is a vast variety of numbers in this book because all types of denominations and all emphases would come to the Garden Tomb. Sometimes there would be groups that would want entirely liturgical music, and then sometimes there would be groups that would want nothing but gospel songs.

They have a very interesting selection among the 72 songs here. For instance, here's the great Wesley hymn, and how beautiful to sing this at the Garden Tomb, And Can It Be That I Should Gain an Interest in the Savior's Blood? Died He for me who caused His pain? For me who Him to death pursued? Amazing love, how can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Hymns in a hymnbook prepared for use at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. Here is the beautiful song, Break Thou the Bread of Life, Dear Lord to me, as thou didst break the bread beside the sea.

I can imagine that if I had been among those visiting the Garden Tomb and if I had been privileged to be part of a service there, this hymnbook would be a very precious remembrance of that time. It's number 14 in the book, Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken, Zion City of our God, written by John Newton, the same man who wrote Amazing Grace.

How lovely they included here in this book Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of All Nature. O thou of God and man the son, thee will I cherish, thee will I honor, thou my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

As I am playing from this book of songs, 72 choruses, hymns, and gospel songs prepared for use at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, I cannot help but wonder how many of you listening right now have been privileged to go on a tour to the Holy Land and you have visited the Garden Tomb.

I'd be very interested in knowing if you were there. Drop me a line and say that songbook had special meaning to me. Here's an interesting song found here, Be Thou My Vision, O Lord of My Heart. Be all else to me naught, save that thou art. An ancient Irish hymn.

Our thanks to Mrs. Lillian Carlson of Jamestown, New York for remembering Through the Hymnbook as she visited the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem and she said to herself, that would be a nice hymnbook to take home so Bert can play from it on Through the Hymnbook.

Here is the little chorus of recent origin and it's found right here, He Is Lord, He Is Lord, He Has Risen From the Dead and He Is Lord. How appropriate to sing at the Garden Tomb.

The great hymn by Samuel Medley in the 18th century, I Know That My Redeemer Lives, what comfort this sweet assurance gives. He lives, He lives, who once was dead. He lives, my everlasting head. He lives triumphant from the grave. He lives eternally to save. He lives all glorious in the sky. He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to bless me with His love and still He pleads for me above. He lives to raise me from the grave and me eternally to save. He lives my mansion to prepare and He will bring me safely there. He lives all glory to His name, Jesus unchangeably the same.

If I were to visit the Garden Tomb and if I were privileged to give a request for something to be sung there, certainly this would be one of the songs that I would ask them to sing at the Garden Tomb. I know that my redeemer lives.

Of course, this is found here. We would expect it, wouldn't we? Low in the Grave He Lay, Jesus My Savior, waiting the coming day, Jesus My Lord. Up from the grave He arose, triumphant o'er His foes.

And here's an interesting song to sing at the graveside, there at the tomb where Jesus was supposedly buried in the garden, Now Thank We All Our God, with hearts and hands and voices. It's here in the book.

As we close this delightful songbook from the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, my wish for all of you who have not been there yet is that sometime you will get to go to that Garden Tomb and you will get to sing out of this book. Until next time, goodbye, keep singing.