Music Box

February 19, 2023

Jubal Joslyn, tenor

Cathryn Wilkinson, organ

Prelude

Now Thank We All Our God……arr. David Cherwien
Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation……arr. Richard Proulx
O Light of Life……arr. Mack Wilberg

Offertory

Sure on this shining night……Samuel Barber

Postlude

Christ Is the World’s Light……arr. J. Bert Carlson

 

 

Story of a Hymn Writer

John Newton, the author of today’s opening hymn, was born into a Christian home. He is best known for writing another beloved hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Newton’s mother died when he was seven and he joined his father at sea when he was eleven. His tumul­tuous sailing life included a flogging for attempted desertion from the Royal Navy. He later became the captain of a slave ship. Several factors contributed to Newton’s conversion to Christianity: a near-drowning in 1748, the piety of his friend Mary Catlett, whom he eventually married, and his reading of Thomas à Kempis’ Imitation of Christ. In 1754 he gave up the slave trade and eventually came under the influence of theologians George Whitefield and John and Charles Wesley. He studied for the ministry and was ordained in the Church of England. Newton served parishes in London and collaborated with his friend William Cowper to publish 280 of his texts in Olney Hymns in 1779.
Excerpts from Bert Polman, www.hymnary.org