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"More love to Thee"The History Behind the Hymn
Elizabeth Payson Prentiss came from a family steeped in faith. Her father, Edward Payson, was a famous and beloved Congregational minister. Her husband was a Presbyterian minister and seminary professor.
Elizabeth struggled with insomnia and severe headaches for her entire life. After the loss of two children in short succession, Elizabeth’s frail health was nearly broken and she cried out in her distress “Our home is broken up, our lives wrecked, our hopes shattered, our dreams dissolved, I don’t think I can stand living for another moment.” (Peterson, William J. and Ardythe. The Complete Book of Hymns: Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2006. page: 348)
It was during this time of tremendous emotional suffering that Elizabeth wrote the lyrics that eventually became the hymn, More Love to Thee, O Christ. The words that Elizabeth wrote joyously proclaim the Christian’s desire to love their Savior more everyday. However, Elizabeth did not finish her poem.
Thirteen years later, she found the unfinished poem. She would have left it unfinished but for her husband’s encouragement. Her husband printed several copies, one of which found its way to William Howard Doane, a musician in Cincinnati. He set the words to music and published the hymn in his Songs of Devotion.
Click here to listen to this song:
"My God Lives"
This song is from the Fellowship Church recording "My God Lives"This song is on "Songs from the Key of Life" the worship recording from First Hurst or you can click if you are interested in purchasing a recording of the song
"Jerusalem, with The Holy city"
Click here for an arrangement by the Hoppers:
"Prepare Ye the Way"
This song was written by Michael W. Smith, check it out here:
"Stronger"
Click here to worship along with the Hillsongs church:
There is love that came for us
Humbled to a sinner's cross
You broke my shame and sinfuless
You rose again victorious
Faithfulness none can deny
Through the storm and through the fire
There is truth that sets me free
Jesus Christ who lives in me
You are stronger you are stronger
Sin is broken you have saved me
It is written Christ is risen
Jesus you are Lord of all
No beginning and no end
You're my hope and my defence
You came to seek and save the lost
You paid it all upon the cross
So let your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher be lifted higher
"Have thine Own Way"
The words to this hymn of surrender were written by Adelaide A. Pollard in 1907.Pollard believed the Lord wanted her in Africa as a missionary, but she was unable to raise funds to go. In an uncertain state of mind, she attended a prayer meeting, where she heard an elderly woman pray, “It’s all right, Lord. It doesn’t matter what You bring into our lives, just have Your own way with us.” At home that night, much encouraged, she wrote this hymn.
Click here to listen to Jim Reeves (Gomer Pyles' version)
Click here for a gospel arrangement:
"You're Worthy of My Praise"
This song was written by David Ruis. David is a well-respected worship leader, songwriter and speaker. Together with his wife Anita, he is also known as a church planter and pastor having established churches in Canada and the US within the Association of Vineyard Churches. David has also been instrumental in seeing Christian communities developed in Nepal and India within the Vineyard movement. Much of his focus tends to be in indigenous settings working amongst the poor, as well as facilitating leadership development and the fostering of originality in song writing and the arts in various cultural settings.David has several worship songs published that are standards in Church worship, most notably "You're Worthy of My Praise" and "Every Move I Make". He recently released his latest CD, “When Justice Shines” through ION Records (ionworship.org). David has also authored two books with Regal Publishing - "The Worship God Is Seeking" and more recently "The Justice God Is Seeking".At this point David is giving significant focus to music and the creative aspects of his calling, which involve music production, writing, and composition. David continues to travel internationally both speaking and leading worship. A burning passion for the Ruis family is the discovery of the practical and theological integration of creative worship expression within community that is engaged in a lifestyle that interfaces with the issues of poverty and social injustice.David, his wife Anita and their four children currently reside in the Los Angeles area.
Click here to listen to David share about how the song came about:
Click here to worship along with the Vineyard worship team:
Click here to worship along with Jeremy:
"Sweet Hour of Prayer"
First Hurst Handbells:
Words: William Walford, 1845; appeared in The New York Observer, September 13, 1845, accompanied by the following, written by Thomas Salmon:
During my residence at Coleshill, Warwickshire, England, I became acquainted with W. W. Walford, the blind preacher, a man of obscure birth and connections and no education, but of strong mind and most retentive memory. In the pulpit he never failed to select a lesson well adapted to his subject, giving chapter and verse with unerring precision and scarcely ever misplacing a word in his repetition of the Psalms, every part of the New Testament, the prophecies, and some of the histories, so as to have the reputation of “knowing the whole Bible by heart.” He actually sat in the chimney corner, employing his mind in composing a sermon or two for Sabbath delivery, and his hands in cutting, shaping and polishing bones for shoe horns and other little useful implements. At intervals he attempted poetry. On one occasion, paying him a visit, he repeated two or three pieces which he had composed, and having no friend at home to commit them to paper, he had laid them up in the storehouse within. “How will this do?” asked he, as he repeated the following lines, with a complacent smile touched with some light lines of fear lest he subject himself to criticism. I rapidly copied the lines with my pencil, as he uttered them, and sent them for insertion in the Observer, if you should think them worthy of preservation.
Click here to listen to the various arrangements of "Sweet Hour of Prayer"
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