Do you have a favorite hymn?

[Smid]

I really loved this thread. I'm bumping it. After I play computer for a few hours, I'm going to post the words to another of my favourite songs, which we sang in church this morning. It's not a hymn, but it has the strong theology and "verse, verse, verse, verse" (no verse, verse, chorus, verse, bridge, coda, back to the verse, repeat the third line six times... style that many choruses today have...), so it's kind of a modern hymn...

[Smid]

In Christ Alone
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

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Apart from the rock solid theology, and the beautiful Irish melody (it always reminds me of Be Thou My Vision or How Deep the Father's Love For Us), the words have been so well written in terms of artistic merit (in my opinion). I love the extreme comparisons, the coupling of opposites:

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died/The wrath of God was satisfied
Here in the death of Christ I live
Light of the world by darkness slain
No guilt in life, no fear in death
From life's first cry to final breath

I love how it couples those opposites. It always reminds me of that verse from Isaiah:

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Again, the couplings of opposites...
He was pierced for our transgressions...
He was crushed for our iniquities...
His punishment = our peace...
His wounds = our healing.

Anyway, that's what that song always makes me think of.

You've probably heard it before, but in case you haven't, here's one version on YouTube. I prefer it slightly slower to how the Newsboys do it, and slightly more folksey, but nonetheless it's a beautiful song:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=FsgwfliQoqg&feature=related

[JSojourner]

Excellent, Smid.  Just excellent.  Thanks for sharing that.

I needed this thread to be bumped.  Today, we observed All Saints Day.  Unfortunately, the new priest opted for "When the Saints Go Marchin' In" over "For All The Saints".  UGH.

I don't know what's worse...

A room full of white people trying to sing a rousing spiritual.  Or not singing a "once a year" hymn that was tailor-made for a specific day. 

[Smid]

Excellent, Smid.  Just excellent.  Thanks for sharing that.

I needed this thread to be bumped.  Today, we observed All Saints Day.  Unfortunately, the new priest opted for "When the Saints Go Marchin' In" over "For All The Saints".  UGH.

I don't know what's worse...

A room full of white people trying to sing a rousing spiritual.  Or not singing a "once a year" hymn that was tailor-made for a specific day. 

I must admit I don't know that hymn, but I know what you mean - I used to love singing "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" on Easter Sunday, and I would always be disappointed if it wasn't included in the service. ( http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=PMsaMMmMKuI&feature=related )

[Dr. Cynic]

I love Amazing Grace no matter my lack of religion. It's beautiful, and it's a song I love playing on keyboard.