"Very fond of classical poetry . . . Some of the greatest,
not yet mined and appreciated, "classical" poetry is the lyrics of hymns
more than 100 years old.  "



My favourite devotional book is 365 DAYS OF HYMNS.  Words  on the
right; an exceptionally well-written story of the hymn and Bible verse on
the left.   

This Sunday, for example, we will be singing:

1) a 15th century Latin poem: titled: JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, but better
known by its first line: O LOVE, HOW DEEP, HOW BROAD, HOW HIGH;

2) The oldest American hymn still in common use: Title: 'The Church',
better known by its first line: I LOVE THY KINGDOM, LORD.  
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/l/ilovethy.htm

Psalm 137.5-6 (BCP)
'If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget its skill.
Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jersulam above my highest joy."

The lyrist: Timothy Dwight (1725-1817) "was a man for all sea­sons: an
or­dained Con­gre­ga­tion­al min­is­ter, grand­son of preach­er
Jon­a­than Ed­wards, per­son­al friend of Amer­i­can Pres­i­dent George
Wash­ing­ton, and Ar­my chap­lain. He be­gan read­ing the Bi­ble at age four,
and se­cret­ly learned La­tin de­spite his fa­ther’s pro­hi­bition."
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/d/w/dwight_t.htm

3)An American folk melody, 'Land of Rest,' adapted and harmonized: I
COME WITH JOY TO MEET MY LORD.

4. ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS. Arthur. This hymn by Sabine Baring-
Gould
(1834-1924)http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/b/a/r/baring-gould_s.htm is
sung at the end of 1942 Academy Award Winner: 'Mrs. Miniver.'
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/n/onwardcs.htm

Arthur S. Sullivan (1842-1900) composed the music. "In ad­di­tion to
hymn tunes, Sul­li­van wrote a great deal of pop­u­lar mu­sic as part of
the team of Gil­bert and Sul­li­van
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/u/sullivan_as.htm

We will be also singing songs from the African-American hymnal: LIFT
EVERY VOICE AND SING II
http://www.churchpublishing.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Product&productid=104
Jesus Christ is my LORD.
That would be rather dull and boring.
Miriam Llewellyn