Every time I go home to visit my parents, I attend their church where they still have a choir and sing hymns right out of the pew hymnals. In a time where most churches have progressed to more contemporary worship music (which I also love), it’s beautiful to return to these hymns that have stood the test of time! Clarence Haynes compiled an awesome list of hymns that will never get old here.
One of my favorites is Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Singing along with the congregation to “Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not” gives me chills every time! What is a hymn that will never get old, no matter how many times you hear/sing it?
I love it in four-part harmony… and I love the story behind the song- one who experienced such tragedy and loss… and still declared 'It is well with my soul."
Horatio Spafford, a successful lawyer and businessman in Chicago, had a number of traumatic experiences:
The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 damaged his property and ruined him financially
The economic downturn of 1873 further impacted his business interests
His ship, the Ville du Havre, collided with the Scottish ship, the Loch Earn, and sank in the Atlantic Ocean, killing 226 people, including all four of his daughters.
Donnie McClurkin’s rendition of “We Come This Far By Faith” resonates deeply with me, touching on the very essence of my upbringing in the Pentecostal church. Growing up in that environment, faith was not just a Sunday service experience; it was the heartbeat of our community, the rhythm of our lives.
When I hear McClurkin’s powerful voice lift that song, I am transported back to my childhood, the vibrancy of the choir, the fervor of the sermons, and the spirit of joy that swept through the congregation. His soulful delivery captures the struggles and triumphs that have accompanied my journey. The lyrics speak to the resilience and unwavering belief that defines our heritage.
