As we grow in our faith, we have so many ways to express this. We might read books from our favorite authors, we may have a favorite study from the Bible or listen to our pastor. Other times, our faith comes to us in ways we never would have expected.
My faith came to me in an unexpected way. Alice Tunnell was working at Your Neighbor’s House, and someone handed her a Methodist Hymnal from 1964 presented by Phillpa Miller Methodist Church unknown. Alice was kind enough to give the hymnal to me and, honestly, this was the first time I ever took the time to really read and study a hymnal.
I got a hymnal from the sanctuary to compare. This hymnal was from 1996 and was presented by Bernice Maloney. There was a song on page 138 entitled, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” that caught my eye.
This hymn, with lyrics by Henry W. Baker and set to an Irish melody, is rooted in Psalm 23, reflecting a Welsh interpretation of the psalm, penned in 1868.
The words are very poetic and the sixth verse was very comparable to the thoughts of my days.
Baker was a distinguished Anglican priest and hymnologist. Serving as a parish priest in Monkland, Essex, he made significant contributions to hymnology.
He was knighted as Sir Henry W. Bak er, 3rd Baronet, and it is said that his final words on earth were from this beloved hymn.
I have been able to spend time with Gwen Grady visiting about what I found in the two hymnals and discovered there was a great deal of reading you can find in these books.
I’ve discovered that the study of the Bible and hymnal is deeply intertwined, as many of our hymns are grounded in Scripture.
I can’t sing a note, but I find great comfort in the words of these pieces of music. I encourage you to spend some time reading these books and finding a song that will lift you up. I believe the words will guide you in your faith.
The next time you step foot in the sanctuary, spend some time looking at the hymnal in the back of the pews.
Tom Leach lives in Whitesboro and is an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Whitesboro.