March 23, 2021

EASTER HALLELUJAH by Joylene M Bailey

 

Image by Ken Haines from Pixabay 


When I think back to Easters of my childhood, what stands out the most are the hymns we sang on Easter Sunday morning. As a little girl, I couldn't have explained why I loved them so much but now when I look back, I understand that it was the pure joy of the moment. 

The songs of Good Friday were beautiful and appropriately solemn, but on Easter Sunday everyone sang with gusto. Who could somberly mumble Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! ?

No, we were celebrating our risen Lord and we couldn't keep quiet about it. I get excited just thinking about those old Easter hymns. 

I wonder if some of the hymns of my childhood will be familiar to you. I dare you to hum through these lines in my Easter Hallelujah and see if you don't continue singing one or two of them for the rest of the day. 

~~~~~

Hosanna, loud hosanna The little children sang;
Through pillared court and temple The lovely anthem rang;

Alas! and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head For sinners such as I?

Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!

Easter Song: Hear the bells ringing, they're singing 
That you can be born again.

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus, my Saviour!
Waiting the coming day, Jesus, my Lord!

Up from the grave He arose, 
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes;

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;

Awake, my soul, and sing Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King Through all eternity.

How marvelous! how wonderful! And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! how wonderful Is my Saviour's love for me!



We serve a risen Saviour. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

~~~~~





Joy will be singing with gusto from her family room couch this Easter Sunday, along with The Cowboy and Babe. Check out more of her writing at Scraps of Joy.





Hymns:
Hosanna, Loud Hosanna                    Jennette Threlfall, 1873
Alas! And Did My Saviour Bleed?        Isaac Watts, 1707
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross    Isaac Watts, 1701
Christ the Lord is Risen Today            Charles Wesley, 1739
Easter Song                                      Keith Green, 1977
Low in the Grave He Lay                    Robert Lowry, 1874
Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun    Isaac Watts, 1719
Crown Him With Many Crowns           Matthew Bridges, 1851
I Stand Amazed in the Presence         Charles H. Gabriel, 1905



17 comments:

  1. Sweet songs Joy! At the church I went to as a child we didn't sing with 'gusto' but the memories from words sung low yet powerful still remain. Thank you for sharing all these songs and bringing back Easter Sunday memories.

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    1. Words sung low yet powerful. There’s passion in that kind of singing too. 😊

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  2. My absolute fave is the one with "Up from the grave He arose!" I love the way it goes from slow and solemn and then suddenly the chorus hits! Up from the grave he arose!!!

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    1. Funny story about that one: a good friend of ours grew up singing what he thought were the words, “Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty cry for His clothes.” Since he told us that story I have to check myself for the right words every time I sing it.

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    2. Joy, your friend's little anecdote is hilarious, so apropos!

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  3. I recognize almost all and miss hearing them! Great post.

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    1. Oh I miss hearing them too, Gloria. Always feel a little let down when we don’t sing at least one of them on Easter Sunday.

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  4. Well, this post certainly brings with it a flood of memories singing these wonderful old songs. Now I've got Keith Green's Easter Song thrumming in my mind...

    Thanks, Joy, for this great musical hallelujah post!

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    1. A very catchy tune indeed. 😊

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  5. I knew them all except the first one. Huh.
    And our church STILL sings some of these and that always makes me happy!
    Thanks for the reminder.

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    1. I'm glad some churches are still singing them. I think the church I grew up in is too.

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  6. Oh wow, so many memories of singing in a choir and men's quartette from years ago. Thank you Joy! An overabundance of CoVid noise, I mean, news, is being replaced by Easter hymns going through my mind. The only thing is, they all want to sing at once. :)

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  7. Oh yes, Alan, Easter hymns are much nicer than Covid news. Pick one and sing away!

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  8. The only one I don’t recall is “Hear the bells ringing.” I’m sure it is inspirational and uplifting like all the rest. I have so many memories of singing in choir or a music team. I need to schedule more music into my day and I can start with Easter hymns. Thanks, Joy!

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  9. What a wonderful abundance of joy in these songs. Wonderful memories too. Thanks, Joy.

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  10. Oh definitely the songs came through - thanks Joy - we've been having Church services at home and the one thing that seems to be missing, well in addition to the larger circle of people, is the Music!! We started out okay, but we're not really strong singers - although we have a couple of good musicians in our small home church... the big music - the worship that grounds your spirit and lifts it at the same time - that has been missing. I appreciate your post!

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