Singing through the Hymnal: week 47!

The Bible has its own hymnal: the Psalms. I thought it fitting to meditate on a hymn of thanksgiving from the Psalms this week. This is one of the first passages my children memorized. We love saying it together at the breakfast table every morning. 

Psalm 100 

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

Serve the LORD with gladness!

Come into His presence with singing!

Know that the LORD, He is God!

It is He who made us, and we are His;

we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter HIs gates with thanksgiving, 

and His courts with praise!

Give thanks to Him; bless His name!

For the LORD is good;

His steadfast love endures forever,

and His faithfulness to all generations.

There are a host of songs you could sing this week - here are a few that you can look at or listen to:

• Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
• For the Beauty of the Earth or check out this beautiful setting.
• Let all Things Now Living
• My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness
• We Gather Together

 This week, we will focus on the hymn - Now Thank We all Our God. This hymn was written during great adversity and by an incredibly brave and loving man. He was willing to risk all for others and served when no one else would. How could he give thanks in the midst of sorrow and suffering? Not because of his own strength and goodness, but because of the wondrous things God has done! No matter what we are going through, we are called to give thanks. Many times that seems like an impossible task...and it is on our own. We give thanks, not because we feel like it, but because God is worthy. We give thanks even when we don't understand. Giving thanks helps us realign our vision to see who God is and what He has done for us! 

 I have been working on teaching my children how to pray different kinds of prayers. Recently, we have been focusing on how to pray a prayer of praise/thanksgiving. We thank God for who He is and for His marvelous attributes. This has been a great discipline for my children, but it has also been feeding my soul to stop and praise the Lord each day. 

If you'd like to go with something more simple for the week, the Doxology would be a perfect choice!

                                                                  Fun Facts

Text: Martin Rinkart (1586-1649)

• Lutheran minister during the Thirty Years' War. 
• His city, Eilenberg, was a haven for refugees but became overcrowded with those suffering from the plague.
• Rinkart alone survived and stayed in the city.
• He performed as many as 50 funerals per day and cared for the sick
• In one year, he buried 4500 people (family and friends included).
• Twice, he took great risk to be a mediator and make peace with the enemy.
• He died less than one year after the war ended
• He is known as one of the most respected hymn writers of all time. He wrote during great hardship.
• Catherine Winkworth translated this hymn - a difficult thing to translate poetry from one language to another. 

Tune: Johann Cruger (1598-1662)

• German composer of the early Baroque period known for hymn tunes
• "Nun Danket" are the first words of the hymn and consequently the name of the tune.

To Think About....

• Can you, as an adult, imagine what it would be like to bury 50 people in one day? My dad has buried 3 people in one day. It was one of the most draining days of his entire life. This might be a difficult concept for children, but don't stray away from this idea of hardship and death. 
• You can hear the sadness in the second stanza "guide us when perplexed and free us from all ills..."
• In the midst of death, he wrote so many words of thanksgiving and praise. Encourage your children to give thanks in disappointments and difficulties this week. 1 Thessalonians 5:16,18

Ask for a hymnal for Christmas this year! Here is the hymnal we have been using this year!

Advent Resource Corner

Here is a resource that I just got from my mom that I am really excited about. I will be coming out with another post this week on Advent preparations, since it is quickly coming upon us. If you have never anticipated Christmas by celebrated Advent with your family, I highly recommend doing it!