Hymn of the Month

What Wondrous Love Is This

Author - Anonymous
Written: Published in 1811

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

This hymn with its plaintive sound, is one of the best known of our authentic American folk hymns. Like all true folk music, we have few clues as to the author and composer of this profound hymn of wonder at the love of Jesus for all humanity. It simply is the product of people who reflect on the sacrificial gift of God’s Son and respond spontaneously with amazed adoration for this “wondrous love’.

“What Wondrous Love Is This” captures our attention right from the beginning with its simplicity and persistence – “What wondrous love is this” is sung three times. This repetition is not the sign of a weak poet who has a narrow range of expression, but a fellow traveler who has experienced profoundly the sacrificial love of Christ and can only express again and again –”What wondrous love is this.” It is the kind of repetition that sounds trite when spoken yet gains strength and power through singing. These are not the carefully crafted words of a theologian, but utterances directly from the heart or, even more profoundly from the soul. Depending on how one reads the first stanza, it is either a statement of pure awe or a profound question.

One typical folk hymn characteristic found in these words is the repetition of key phrases such as “O my soul” and “I’ll sing on.” Since folk music is generally learned aurally, without the assistance of the printed page or musical notation, such repetition is necessary. Six stanzas were originally written but some hymnals only include four of them. The song of the lone singer takes on cosmic proportions in stanza three as “millions join the theme.” In stanza four, we find that this is an unending song of praise as “through eternity, we’ll sing on.”

The text was first published in 1811, during the Second Great Awakening, which was a revival in the United States from 1795 to 1835. Its melody was derived from a popular English ballad. The hymn’s lyrics were first published in Lynchburg, Virginia in the 1811 camp meeting songbook “A General selection of the Newest and Most Admired Hymns and Spiritual Songs Now in Use”. The lyrics may also have been printed, in a slightly different form, in the 1811 book Hymns and Spiritual Songs published in Lexington, Kentucky. It also appeared in 1835 in a collection titled Southern Harmony by William Walker.

“What Wondrous Love Is this” is now a widely known hymn and is included in many major hymnals.

Used by permission from “History of Hymns” by Dr. C. Michael Hawn, Director of the Sacred Music Program and Distinguished Professor, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

Like A River Glorious

Author: Frances Ridley Havergal (1836 - 1879) / Composer: James Mountain (1844 - 1933)
Written: Written in 1876

. James Mountain

Tune Name – “Austrian Hymn”
Scripture Reference – Isaiah 66:12 and Isaiah 26:3

…I will extend peace to her like a river…Isaiah 66:12

Frances was born December 14,1836 in Astley, Worcestershire, England. She was reading by age four and began writing verse at age seven. She learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and memorized the Psalms, the book of Isaiah and most of the New Testament.

In 1876, while vacationing in the south of Wales, Frances caught a severe cold and suffered inflammation of the lungs. Told she might die, her response was: “If I am really going, it is too good to be true.” Her friends were amazed at how peacefully she faced the prospect of dying. She survived the illness and later that year, she wrote the hymn:

Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace,

Over all victorious, in its bright increase;

Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,

Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest

Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Frances echoed Isaiah in “Like a River Glorious” in which God promises “peace like a river.” She also incorporated Isaiah 26:3, which states “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” The hymn paints the picture of this peace.

Frances died three years later, on June 3, 1879, at the age of 42. Her tombstone includes the Scripture verse she claimed: The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. I John 1:7

The hymn was first published in its present form with the name “Perfect Peace” in Hymns of Consecration and Faith complied by the composer, James Mountain.

James Mountain was born in 1844 in England, He pastored a church at Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire. He left the field due to ill health, but then conducted evangelism campaigns in Britain from 1874 to 1884 and then worldwide from 1882 to 1889. James Mountain also composed the tunes for “I Am His and He Is Mine”, and “Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting (January 2022 Hymn of the Month).

The First Noel

Author: unknown / Arranger: John Stainer (1840 - 1901)
Written: Published in 1833

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (Luke 2:8)

No Christmas season would be complete without the singing of this carol, but very little is known about its origin. It is believed to have had its rise in France during the fifteenth century and is thought to have been brought across the channel to England by the wandering troubadours.

Historically, carols such as this were still thought of as popular religious songs and were meant to be sung outside the church rather than within. They were sung at gatherings and were spread through oral tradition. The carols would have been ways of preserving and spreading biblical narratives among those who were not literate. The First Noel became a great favorite for Christmas Eve festivities, especially in western England when the entire village gathered to sing and celebrate the bringing in of the Yule log. Telling the story of the birth of Christ in song has been an important tradition, especially in the Western Church.

This carol raises several questions. First, “What is a carol?” While most carols are associated with Christmas, the folk carol tradition was employed at other high seasons of the Christian year, including Holy Week and Easter. Although Christmas carols are found throughout the world, their origin is largely European. In most cases, the composers of these carols have long been lost in time, partly a function of their oral tradition. Carols existed in oral forms long before being published in collections.

The second question is, “What does ‘noel’ mean?” Noel (spelled noël in French) is a word originating in Latin meaning, “birthday”, a joyous expression of greeting to celebrate the birth of the Christ child. “The First Noel” portrays in vivid narrative style the story of Christ’s birth, with all six verses needed to complete the entire event. Though the angels’ appearance to the shepherds (Luke 2:1-20) is the subject of the first stanza, most of the carol focuses on the journey of the magi (Matthew 2:1-12), giving the carol an Epiphany focus. The sixth stanza urges us to join to sing praises to God for the marvels of His creation and for the salvation provided through Christ’s shed blood. The repetition of the joyous “noel” in the refrain is equivalent to our singing “happy birthday” to someone.

The carol first appeared in published form in Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern in 1833. The harmonization of this tune was done by John Stainer, a noted English composer of sacred music.

It is interesting to observe that the “King of Israel” was first announced to “certain poor shepherds” only but in the final stanza the phrases “let us all” and “mankind hath brought” remind us that Christ came to redeem the whole world.

Used by permission from “History of Hymns” by Dr. C. Michael Hawn, Director of the Sacred Music Program and Distinguished Professor, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

Now Thank We All Our God

Author: Martin Rinkart (1586-1649) / English Translation: Catherine Winkworth (1827- 1878) / Music: Johann Crüger, 1598-1662
Written: 1636

Catherine Winkworth

. Johan Cruger

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving… Psalm 147:7 (NASB)

Upon hearing the hymn, one would never realize that this paean of praise was forged during times of tragic experiences. From some of the most severe human hardships imaginable during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) came this stately hymn.

Martin Rinkart, born on April 23, 1586, in Eilenberg, Saxony, Germany was the son of a poor coppersmith. He worked his way through the University of Leipzig and was ordained to the ministry. At the age of 31, he was called to be the pastor in his native town of Eilenberg. He arrived there just when the dreadful bloodshed was starting. Throughout these war years several waves of deadly pestilence and famine swept the city. The Rinkart home served as a refuge for the afflicted victims. The plague of 1637 was particularly server. At its height Rinkart was the only remaining minister. Yet, amazingly enough, he was a prolific writer of seven different dramatic productions on the events of the Reformation as well as a total of 66 hymns.

No hymn, with the exception of Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” has been used more widely in German churches than this hymn. The fine English translation by Catherine Winkworth in 1858 has aided its popularity in the English-speaking countries as well as in Germany. Catherine is also the translator of “Praise Ye the Lord, The Almighty” (July 2014 Hymn of the Month). The majestic tune was written by one of Germany’s finest and most prolific composers, Johann Crüger. This tune with Rinkart’s text first appeared in the 1647 edition of Crüger’s hymnal.

The first stanza of this hymn is a general expression of gratitude to God for His “countless gifts of Love”. The second verse is a petition for God’s continued care and keeping, with perhaps just a suggested hint of Rinkart’s own personal hardships. The final stanza is a grand doxology of praise to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

Author: Henry F. Lyte (1793 - 1847) / Composer: John Goss (1800 - 1880)
Written: 1834

Henry F. Lyte

John Goss

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Psalm 103:1 (NASB)

Henry F. Lyte was born in Scotland on June 1, 1793. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland and graduated in 1814. At one time he had intended to study medicine, but he chose to become a pastor and was ordained in 1815. Throughout his lifetime he was known as a man frail in body but strong in faith and spirit. Despite his physical frailties he was a tireless worker with an established reputation as a poet, musician, and minister. He coined the phrase, “It is better to wear out than to rust out.”

For the last twenty-three years of his life, Henry pastored a parish church in the fishing village of Lower Brixham, Devonshire, England. Lyte and his wife Anne, lived in an elegant estate that was most likely provided for them by the King of England in appreciation of Lyte’s ministry. The estate was at the water’s edge, and there in the tranquility of that house and grounds he wrote most of his sermons, poems, and hymns.

Despite frail health and weak lungs, Lyte established a Sunday school of eight hundred children in Brixham. In addition to preaching and tending his flock, he ministered to sailors on the docks. In 1834, he published a small book, The Spirit of the Psalms that included the now-famous hymn, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven” based on Psalm 103.

The hymn emphasizes God’s providence and includes a sense of jubilation. English literary scholar J. R. Watson notes that the poet “consistently emphasizes the reliability of God.”

In stanza two, God’s “grace and favor to all people in distress” is praised. Later in the same stanza, God is exalted as the One who is “the same as ever, slow to chide, and swift to bless.“ The popularity of this hymn has been greatly aided by LAUDA ANIMA, John Goss‘ tune written in 1869 for this text.

The hymn was chosen by Princess Elizabeth, who became Queen Elizabeth II, for her wedding hymn in Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947 –the one hundredth anniversary of Lyte’s death.

Suffering from chronic asthma and tuberculosis, he retired from his parish at age 54 in September 1847. That afternoon after walking along the coast in pensive prayer, he retired to his room, emerging an hour later with the hymn “Abide With Me” (September 2020 Hymn of the Month). Shortly afterward he departed for a better climate in Italy. He died November 20,1847 in Nice, France, on his way to Rome.

Henry Lyte also authored the hymns “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” and “God of Mercy, God of Grace”.

Used by permission from “History of Hymns” by Dr. C. Michael Hawn, Director of the Sacred Music Program and Distinguished Professor, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

Calvary Covers It All

Ethelwyn Robinson Taylor
Written: 1934

Walter Grand Taylor and his wife Ethelwyn, were the directors of the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago from 1918 to 1936. They were affectionately known as Pa and Ma Taylor.

One night in the early 1930’s, a dancer named Walter “Happy Mac” MacDonald, stumbled into a meeting at the Pacific Garden Mission. Comedian, Eddie Cantor, said MacDonald had the fastest feet in the world. Mac was talented, but he was also in bondage to sin, and addicted to alcohol. When an invitation was given for those present to trust in Christ as Savior, Mac did not respond. But, as he returned, night after night, workers gradually came to know more about him.

Ethelwyn Taylor watched Mac, and her heart went out to him. She prayed, “Dear Lord, please help us say and do the right things, so that we may win Mac to Thee.” Finally, MacDonald did seek counseling, and Ma Taylor listened as he struggled with his past. “You don’t understand,” he prayed. “You don’t know how bad I am, Lord. Really, I’m the worst man in the world. You can’t save me; I’m too bad.”

Mrs. Taylor recalled a message she had heard weeks before. Evangelist Percy Crawford had been a rebel in his youth. But one day he accepted Christ as his Savior. The theme of Crawford’s testimony was, “Calvary covers it all,” and Taylor shared those words with MacDonald.

He asked her to repeat them, and suddenly the light dawned. “Oh! Mrs. Taylor, I’m so glad it’s true, and you told me. Calvary does cover it all! My whole past of sin and shame.” The former entertainer trusted in the Savior that night in 1934 and lived to become an outstanding servant of Christ.

A few days later, Taylor went into the mission chapel, sat down at the piano, and created the words and music of a gospel song.

Far dearer than all that the world can impart
Was the message that came to my heart;
How that Jesus alone for my sin did atone,
And Calvary covers it all.
Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My guilt and despair
Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.

We see this principle of a “covering” in operation in the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. The offering of a sheep or some other animal on an alter couldn’t really pay for the sins of a human being (Hebrews 10:4). It was only a temporary covering. Each of the thousands of sacrifices offered was an enactment of the principle of substitution—of the innocent dying in place of the guilty. And each one pointed forward to the final great sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

When a person laid his hand in faith upon the slain animal on the altar, it was “accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him” (Leviticus 1:4), as though it had died in his place. No wonder David cries, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered…to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity” (Psalm 32:1,2). Forgiveness was granted in anticipation of what Christ would do one day, when He offered Himself as God’s Lamb, dying for the sins of the world (John 1:29). The final provision for our sins and our reconciliation came at Calvary. Calvary covers it all!

Taken from wordwisehymns.com by Robert Cottrill., June 2013 Used by permission.

I Will Sing of My Redeemer

Author: Philip P. Bliss, 1838 - 1876
Composer: James McGranahan, 1840 - 1907
Written: 1876

For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. -I Corinthians 6:20

Philip P. Bliss was born in a Pennsylvania log cabin in 1838 where his father led in daily prayer and where music was the primary entertainment. As a result, he found himself drawn to both the Lord Jesus and to music at an early age. He left home as a young boy to make a living by working on farms and in lumber camps, all while trying to continue his schooling. He was converted at a revival meeting at age twelve. Bliss became an itinerant music teacher in 1860, sometimes traveling on horseback, while continuing his studies at the Normal Academy of Music in Genesco, NY. He worked for four years as a staff composer and editor of gospel song collections. His first song was published in 1864. His career direction became clearer in 1868 when he and his wife Lucy became associated with Chicago evangelist Dwight L. Moody who encouraged Bliss and Lucy to become evangelistic singers as members of Moody’s revival singing team. Bliss and Moody’s famous musician, Ira D. Sankey published a popular series of hymn collections in 1875 and 1876. For the last two years of his life Bliss traveled with evangelist Major D. W. Whittle and led the music at revival meetings in the Midwest and Southern United States.

Bliss and his wife, Lucy died in a bridge-failed train wreck near Ashtabula, Ohio in December,1876, en route to sing for a revival led by Whittle in Chicago at the Moody Tabernacle. He was thirty-eight.

Bliss’ trunk finally arrived in Chicago safely. In it were found the words to the last hymns he had written, one of which was:

I will sing of my Redeemer;
And His wondrous love for me;
On the cruel cross he suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

James McGranahan, composer of the hymn, loved music and his father let him attend singing school. He became a noted musician and hymns composer. He and Phillip Bliss were friends and shortly before he died, Bliss encouraged McGranahan to use his voice to serve God in ministry. McGranahan traveled to Ashtabula, OH after the train accident and met Major Whittle for the first time in person. Whittle thought upon meeting McGranahan that here is the man Bliss has chosen to replace him in evangelism. The men returned to Chicago and prayed about the matter. McGranahan gave up his post office job and served the next 11 years with Whittle evangelizing in the United States, Great Britain and Ireland.

Bliss was a prolific writer of gospel songs throughout his brief lifetime. His songs are strong in emotional appeal with tunes that are easily learned and sung. Other hymns by Bliss include “Jesus Loves Even Me”, “I Gave My Life for Thee”, “Dare to Be a Daniel,” and “Hallelujah! What A Savior” (Hymn of the Month April 2022). He also composed the tune for “It Is Well With My Soul.” (Hymn of the Month January 2016)

Nearer, My God, to Thee

Author: Sarah F. Adams, 1805 - 1848
Composer: Lowell Mason, 1792 - 1872
Written: 1841

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. -James 4:8a

Sarah Flower Adams was born in Harlow, England on February 22, 1805. She died at the early age of forty-three. In this brief lifetime, however, she lived a full and productive life.

Sarah grew up enjoying the spotlight. She showed great interest in the stage and dreamed of being an actress. In 1834, she married William Bridges Adams, a civil engineer. The couple lived in London where Sarah could be near the great theaters. In 1837, she played “Lady MacBeth” in the Richmond Theater in London to rave reviews.

Her frail health hampered her career, however, and she found herself focusing more on her literary gifts. Among her compositions were hymns of praise to the Lord. Sarah’s sister, Eliza, a gifted musician, often wrote the music for her hymns. The two were very close.

One day in 1841, their pastor paid a visit. He was compiling a church hymnbook and he wanted to include some of their hymns. He also mentioned that he was frustrated at his inability to find a hymn to go along with the upcoming Sunday’s message from Genesis 28:11 – 22. It was the story of Jacob and the dream he had in the desert when he was fleeing from his brother Esau. Sarah offered to write a hymn based on those verses. For the rest of the week, she studied the passage, visualizing Jacob sleeping with a stone for his pillow as he dreamed of a ladder reaching to Heaven. She began to write and soon told the complete Biblical story in the five stanzas still in use today. The following Sunday, the church sang “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” In addition to this hymn, the sisters contributed thirteen texts and sixty-two new tunes for the new hymnal published in 1841.

The hymn was introduced in America three years later in 1844. It did not gain real popularity for twelve years until it was wedded with the present tune, “Bethany”, composed especially for the text by Lowell Mason, often known as the father of American church and school music. Other hymn tunes by Mason include “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (April 2014, Hymn of the Month), “Joy to the World”, (December 2020, Hymn of the Month) and “My Faith Looks Up To Thee”, (August, 2020 Hymn of the Month).

Eliza, who was suffering from tuberculosis, died in 1846. Sarah had faithfully cared for her sister during the illness, but by the time Eliza died, Sarah, too, was showing signs of consumption. She passed away on August 14, 1848, at age 43.

This hymn is associated with two presidents. The hymn was played as President James Garfield’s body was interred in 1881. President William McKinley claimed this was his favorite hymn. The hymn was widely sung and played at his funeral and at memorial services held throughout our land in 1901.

“Nearer, My God, to Thee” has been used to bring spiritual comfort and blessing to many as it expresses the common yearning of people to know God and to experience His nearness and victory.

Taken from Then Sings My Soul Keepsake Edition by Robert J. Morgan Copyright © 2011 Robert J. Morgan. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson.
Taken from 101 Hymn Stories Copyright © 1982, 2012 by Kenneth W. Osbeck. Published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Haldor Lillenas, 1885 - 1959
Written: 1918

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.
– II Corinthians 8:9

Haldor Lillenas was born on the Island of Stord in the fjord district of Norway in 1885. He immigrated to the United States as a child and lived with his family in South Dakota for two years before settling in Oregon. In 1906 he became saved and soon felt the call to preach and write songs that would touch the hearts of people. After attending Pacific Bible College in Los Angeles (later renamed Pasadena College), he married Bertha Mae Wilson, who was also a songwriter. For the next several years, they traveled extensively throughout this country, conducting evangelistic meetings as well as furnishing songs and choir music for many of the foremost song leaders of that era.

During this period, Lillenas also served short pastorates in churches in California, Texas, Indiana and Illinois. It was while he was pastoring in Illinois that he wrote “Wonderful Grace of Jesus”. It is the best known of his 4,000 hymns. He later gave this following account of how it came to be composed:

In 1917, Mrs. Lilllenas and I built our first little home in the town of Olivet, Illinois. Upon its completion, we had scarcely any money left to furnish the little home. Having no piano at the time, and needing an instrument of some kind, I managed to find, at one of the neighbor’s home, a little wheezy organ which I purchased for $5.00. With the aid of this instrument, a number of my songs were written which are now popular, including, “Wonderful Grace of Jesus.” It was sung by the great chorus in 1918, at the Northfield, Massachusetts Bible Conference, being introduced for the first time by Homer Hammontree.

The hymn was first published in 1922 and he was paid $5.00—just enough to pay for the organ on which it was composed. Although we generally sing this hymn with a brisk tempo, Lillenas often complained that most congregations sang the hymn too fast. “A song should be performed in such a fashion that the words can be comfortably pronounced without undue haste,” he often said.

In 1924, Lillenas founded the Lillenas Music Company in Indianapolis, Indiana, which was later merged with the Nazarene Publishing Company in 1930. Lillenas remained with this company as music editor until he retired in 1950 and then served in an advisory capacity until his death in 1959. Today Lillenas Publishing Company is one of the largest church music publishers in the world, owning more than 20,000 song copyrights.

Taken from 101 More Hymn Stories Copyright © 1985, 2013 by Kenneth W. Osbeck. Published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Taken from Then Sings My Soul Keepsake Edition by Robert J. Morgan Copyright © 2011 Robert J. Morgan. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson

Hallelujah! What a Savior

Philip P. Bliss, 1838 – 1876
Written: 1876

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;…He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. -Isaiah 53:3

Philip P. Bliss was born in Clearfield County in Pennsylvania in 1838. He left home as a young boy to make a living by working on farms and in lumber camps, all while trying to continue his schooling. He was converted at a revival meeting at age twelve. Bliss became an itinerant music teacher in 1860, sometimes traveling on horseback, while continuing his studies at the Normal Academy of Music in Genesco, NY. He worked for four years as a staff composer and editor of gospel song collections.

His first song was published in 1864. His career direction became clearer in 1868 when he and his wife Lucy became associated with Chicago evangelist Dwight L. Moody who encouraged both of them to become evangelistic singers as members of Moody’s revival singing team. Bliss and Moody’s famous musician, Ira D. Sankey published a popular series of hymn collections in 1875 and 1876. For the last two years of his life Bliss traveled with Major D. W. Whittle and led the music at revival meetings in the Midwest and Southern United States.

“Hallelujah, What a Savior” is one of the most enduring of the songs produced by Bliss. It is said that the word “hallelujah” is basically the same in all languages. He uses the word to tie the cross with the triumph of the risen and reigning Lord. The first four verses tell the crucifixion story, that Jesus, the “spotless Lamb of God” stood condemned in our place. He took on our sins, the “guilty, vile and helpless.”. Completing each stanza, is the response of praise, “Hallelujah, what a Savior!” The last stanza “When He comes…” is in an entirely different mood, joyful and triumphant in its anticipation of the praise that will continue throughout eternity.

Ira D. Sankey provides the following account of the composition of this hymn:

Written in 1876, shortly before his death, this was the last hymn I heard Mr. Bliss sing. It was at a meeting in the Farwell Hall in Chicago, conducted by the English evangelist, Henry Moorhouse. A few weeks before his death Mr. Bliss visited the State prison at Jackson, Michigan, conducting a service for the 800 inmates. After a very touching address on “The Man of Sorrows,” he sang this hymn with great effect. Many of the prisoners dated their conversion from that day.

Bliss and his wife died in a train crash near Ashtabula, Ohio in December,1876, en route to sing for a revival led by evangelist Daniel Webster Whittle in Chicago at the Moody Tabernacle.

Bliss was a prolific writer of gospel songs throughout his brief lifetime. His songs are strong in emotional appeal with tunes that are easily learned and sung. Other hymns by Bliss include “Jesus Loves Even Me” and “I Gave My Life for Thee.” He also composed the tune for “It Is Well With My Soul.” (Hymn of the Month January 2016)

Hymn of the Month

When We All Get to Heaven

Previous Months

February

Author - Anonymous

January

Author: Frances Ridley Havergal (1836 - 1879) / Composer: James Mountain (1844 - 1933)

December

Author: unknown / Arranger: John Stainer (1840 - 1901)

November

Author: Martin Rinkart (1586-1649) / English Translation: Catherine Winkworth (1827- 1878) / Music: Johann Crüger, 1598-1662

October

Author: Henry F. Lyte (1793 - 1847) / Composer: John Goss (1800 - 1880)

September

Ethelwyn Robinson Taylor

August

Author: Philip P. Bliss, 1838 - 1876
Composer: James McGranahan, 1840 - 1907

July

Author: Sarah F. Adams, 1805 - 1848
Composer: Lowell Mason, 1792 - 1872

June

Charles Weigle, 1871 - 1966

May

Haldor Lillenas, 1885 - 1959

April

Philip P. Bliss, 1838 – 1876

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Hymn of the Month

When We All Get to Heaven

Previous Months

February

Author - Anonymous

January

Author: Frances Ridley Havergal (1836 - 1879) / Composer: James Mountain (1844 - 1933)

December

Author: unknown / Arranger: John Stainer (1840 - 1901)

November

Author: Martin Rinkart (1586-1649) / English Translation: Catherine Winkworth (1827- 1878) / Music: Johann Crüger, 1598-1662

October

Author: Henry F. Lyte (1793 - 1847) / Composer: John Goss (1800 - 1880)

September

Ethelwyn Robinson Taylor

August

Author: Philip P. Bliss, 1838 - 1876Composer: James McGranahan, 1840 - 1907

July

Author: Sarah F. Adams, 1805 - 1848Composer: Lowell Mason, 1792 - 1872

June

Charles Weigle, 1871 - 1966

May

Haldor Lillenas, 1885 - 1959

April

Philip P. Bliss, 1838 – 1876

Author: Philip P. Bliss, 1838 - 1876
Composer: James McGranahan, 1840 - 1907

Author: Sarah F. Adams, 1805 - 1848
Composer: Lowell Mason, 1792 - 1872