General Chat

Such a lovely thread and uplifting in so many ways.

John that is such a beautiful hymn.

Emma :-)

I agree Emma that is a beautiful hymn. Thank you John.

I am now off to bed and singing words from the final verse;

Perfect submission, all is at rest.
I and my Saviour am happy and blessed,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

This is my story, this is my song.
Praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

During an interregnum our congregation often had services named
This is my story, this is my song......... always really interesting because we would volunteer to chose a hymn that was special to us and give the reason why.

kandj and Emma :-D :-D

So many lovely hymns. Difficult to pick a favourite for me.

I do like :

O the bitter shame and sorrow
That a time could ever be
When I let the Saviour's pity
Plead in vain, and proudly answered
All of self, and none of thee.

The story of "perfect submission" leads from that self-centred base in the following verses. The author was Theodore Monod (1836-1921).

He was a French pastor. By a very strange coincidence a few years ago I was looking at the Telegraph obituaries (comes with age) and there was Theodore Monod. He was a biologist ( I think) in Africa and was the great grandson of the hymnwriter.

Good morning.........and thank you everyone :-)


We seem to be in a musical mood at the moment because, as I was coming downstairs, I was thinking about that great hymn by William Williams - Cwm Rhondda.

I looked into it's history and, was interested to see that the original version was first published in 1762 in Welsh.

I'm sure it's a hymn we have all sung many times before - especially AnnC's husband who was, I believe, in a Male Voice Choir.


Enjoy!



Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
Hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more.
Feed me till I want no more.

Open thou the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream shall flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer
Be thou still my strength and shield.
Be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee.
I will ever give to thee.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3NmfmVGblw


Cx :-)

Cynthia. One of the great hymns. Really it was a hymn of revival. Born in the Great Awakening of 18th century and re-born in the 1904 revival.

Rev William Williams was from a farm called Pantycelyn - hence his name was always "Williams Pantycelyn". (Pronunciation - pant followed by an uh sound, then kellin)

His first line was Arglwydd, arwain drwy'r anialwch - Lord, lead me through the wilderness,

First verse continues

"Me, a pilgrim of poor appearance,
I don't have strength or life in me,
Like lying in the grave:
Omnipotent, Omnipotent
Is the one who brings me to the shore."

The wilderness, I believe, was Wales in 1760-1762 at the absolute height of Methodist revival. Pantycelyn saw many who loved the Lord. But he saw many who had not yet received the most precious gift, that pearl without price. And it saddened him as he rode round on horseback that he was such a useless pilgrim of Christ.

And it was the 1904 revival that brought hymn back into prominence. It was translated into English as there were so many chapelgoers who spoke English as their first language in the coal mining areas of South Wales.

First tune "Rhondda" had a connection with Capel Rhondda (half way between Porth and Pontypridd). It has a plaque on front of chapel (near Rhondda Heritage Museum with its huge chimney). Note to self - must stop and read plaque one day. I think it became "Cwm Rhondda" a couple of years later and has been a favourite ever since :-) :-)

http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2012/02/midweek-music-break-pendyrus-male-choir-cwm-rhonnda/

One of my favourite things I like to listen
to is a male voice choir and more so if Welsh..

I am getting a lesson here with who wrote the hymns
and am enjoying hearing about them.

Another beautiful one Cynthia thank you and you too
John.

I love to hear Myvanwy I know it's a song but the first
time I heard a Welsh male voice choir they were singing that
so beautiful.

Emma :-)

A little while ago Cyn mentioned the baptism service. The church I attended in my youth always sang this hymn during the service and I have always liked it

By cool Siloam’s shady rill
How fair the lily grows!
How sweet the breath, beneath the hill,
Of Sharon’s dewy rose!

Lo! such the child whose early feet
The paths of peace have trod,
Whose secret heart, with influence sweet,
Is upward drawn to God.

By cool Siloam’s shady rill
The lily must decay;
The rose that blooms beneath the hill
Must shortly fade away.

And soon, too soon, the wintry hour
Of man’s maturer age
Will shake the soul with sorrow’s power
And stormy passion’s rage.

O Thou Whose infant feet were found
Within Thy Father’s shrine,
Whose years with changeless virtue crowned,
Were all alike divine.

Dependent on Thy bounteous breath,
We seek Thy grace alone,
In childhood, manhood, age, and death
To keep us still Thine own.

By Reginald Heber

Cynthia, this hymn was one sung at our wedding and we still love it as much ever.

Thank you John, all your info is interesting and the link made for very good reading too

I agree Emma, listening to a Welsh male voice choir is just awesome whatever they sing. I find it very emotional and usually have the goosebumps!

I know that hymn is called Cwm Rhondda (Rhondda Valley). But we have two Rhondda Valleys - big and small. Cwm Rhondda Fawr and Cwm Rhondda Fach. And two world class Male Voice Choirs.

AnnCardiff's late husband Lawrence performed with the Pendyrus, which is based in Tylorstown in the Rhondda Fach (small Rhondda). Could not find Myfanwy recorded by them on you tube. But how about this link from Treorchy in the Rhondda Fawr next door?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FFaxOv3nnU

My contribution for today.
I love the simplicity of sound.

Be Thou My Vision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EYYbwEqDlg

Good morning and thank you all....it's lovely to see everyone who pops in....

Welsh voices are amazing and yes, they can give me goosebumps too.

Although the first line of the hymn mentioned by BananaNaNa is vaguely familiar, I can't say I know it. I was soon able to hum a tune to it though..... :-)


LK, that is such a lovely, lovely hymn.... :-)



A prayer for today...


I Am A Christian

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I get lost sometimes
That’s why I chose this way”

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak with human pride
I’m confessing that I stumble -
needing God to be my guide.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak
and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting that I’ve failed
and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t think I know it all
I submit to my confusion
asking humbly to be taught.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible
but God believes I’m worth it.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache
which is why I seek God’s name.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority
I only know I’m loved.

- Carol Wimmer



Now I must get on. We have three baptisms in the main service today.... :-0


Our Vicar is back from holiday and, because he has recently had a cataract operation, it is obvious that he kept his sunglasses on whilst away. He looks like a panda!!


He had a funeral on Friday and two weddings yesterday - I hope he explained his appearance to them!!


Cx

that's beautiful Cyns. <3

Thank you all for sharing.

John thank you so beautiful and I never get
fed up listening to it.

Emma :-)

There are a lot of deaths in Egypt currently, and a lot of Christians will be involved in that.

Someone on another thread has said that we Christians only seem to pray for the 2bn Christians in this world, and ignore the other 5bn plus who belong to other religions or none. Incidentally, I get the 2bn from the fact trhat the Roman Catholic Church claims it has 1.2bn worldwide who are adherents and the various other parts of Christianity cannot be that far behind.

When I lead Prayers of Intercession, I always stick to an order:
1. Those in authority. Queen, Prime Minister etc
2. People suffering in world . Egypt, Syria, Iraq. Often I concentrate on children in this intercession.
3. Church. Starting with church everywhere, and bringing it down to local church
4. Those who are sick and bereaved. Very often not regular churchgoers, but friends and neighbours.
5. Lords Prayer (sung or spoken)

I have never been in churches when they only pray for Christians. Are there such places?

"Bread of Heaven", sung at my husband's funeral by Pendyrus Choir - also sung at rugby matches!!!

Myfanwy, my favourite, sung at my son's wedding by Pendyrus nearly a year after Lawrence died - a very emotional day, but then music is very emotional

I agree Ann..and it brings a tear to my eye
every time.
Hymns, songs, National Anthems all move me to tears.

Emma

Emma. I love Scottish one. The one where you shout at the end of the line. Very stirring. And the Irish one. And the Marseillaise. And, of course, the one I blub to is Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

Best part of the rugby :-) :-)

Attended two very different services today. First sermon was about Paul landing at Miletus on his last trip and saying farewell to Ephesian elders. (Acts 20). Never fails to bring a tear.

Second was our Minister preaching on Luke 20 verse 14. We had a reading from Luke Chapter 20 and Isaiah Chapter 5 and I was very glad I did not have to preach on Luke 20 verse 14. But it was a masterful exposition and have really been fed today. And we had communion, so triply fed :-) :-) :-) Quadruply fed if I include lovely thoughts of Cynthia, and BananaNaNa and kandj. And thanks to Emma and of course AnnC :-) :-)

For Cyn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofci-jNU9cA

For Ann

http://goo.gl/S7F7je