COME , THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING , TUNE MY HEART TO SING THY GRACE ;
streams of mercy ,
NEVER CEASING , CALL FOR SONGS OF LOUDEST PRAISE .
Teach a specific hymn correlating with a certain season . For example , teach “ Jesus Paid It All ” in the weeks leading up to Easter by playing and singing it with greater frequency .
Learn a hymn per week , month , or year — whatever time frame is comfortable for your family . Study the composer , the history of the time the hymn was written , scriptural parallels , and application for today . Listen and sing together !
If your church is more contemporary in its worship style , kindly ask your pastor to consider incorporating hymns into the weekly Sunday gatherings . Many hymns translate well into contemporary styles and blend easily with a wide variety of music .
THE LORD HATH PROMISED GOOD TO ME ,
His Word my hope secures ;
HE WILL MY SHIELD AND PORTION BE AS LONG AS LIFE ENDURES .
Host or attend a hymn sing with friends and family at your home or church . Select 10-15 hymns to sing during your time together . Your song selections may be themebased , such as Christmas or Easter hymns , songs about the character of God , or adoration and praise . If possible , provide copies of the music and lyrics for each participant .
When gathered , sing joyfully , without worry about musical perfection . Hearing the voices of those singing around you provides a sharp contrast to only being able to hear the worship leader , as is common in large worship services today . Singing in unison with others requires vulnerability , but it is a beautiful display of Psalm 150 , which instructs us to “ Let everything that has breath praise the Lord .”
Utilize books to read about hymn writers , the historical context , and theological implications . Reading will surely make hymns come alive ! Excellent resources include Then Sings My Soul by Robert J . Morgan , the Hymns for a Kid ’ s Heart series by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada , and Great Christian Hymn Writers by Jane Stuart Smith and Betty Carlson .
For those of us who grew up in the church , there is a warmth , familiarity , and comfort that comes from singing hymns . Some of my fondest memories from childhood are singing hymns in corporate worship with my parents and grandparents on Sunday mornings , and it is a joy to sing these same songs with my own children today . Teaching and passing on the tradition of singing hymns is giving a spiritual treasure to the next generation of worshippers , which will be a blessing for many generations to come . ■
Jen Mulvihill is a veteran educator and mom to five children . She is married to Josh , and together they are passionate about training children and families to know and love Jesus Christ . Jen has a degree in music education and has taught music for twenty years , most recently launching The Wings Homeschool Bands . Jen is the co-author of two books : Discipling Your Grandchildren and 50 Things Your Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home .
12 THE RENEWANATION REVIEW