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So far Dick Donovan has created 4002 blog entries.
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The First Noel

Hymn Story The First Noel Hymn Lists by book of Bible The title of the hymn is "The First Noel." We sing it every year at Christmastime, but I suspect that not many of us know what a Noel is.  Noel is a French word that come from the Latin word natalis, which means "birth."  [...]

2016-05-19T07:03:07-07:00Hymn Stories|

Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying

Hymn Story Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying Hymn lists by book of Bible Many songs have been inspired by happy times, but this hymn was inspired by the worst of times.  Philip Nicolai was a Lutheran pastor in Unna, a small town near Dortmund, Germany when the plague did its terrible work during the [...]

2016-05-19T07:01:40-07:00Hymn Stories|

The Day of Resurrection

Hymn Story The Day of Resurrection Hymn Lists by book of Bible "The Day of Resurrection" is one of the oldest hymns in our hymnal.  The words were written by St. John of Damascus of the Greek Orthodox Church.  John was born in Damascus in the 8th century, and was engaged in secular work for [...]

2016-05-19T06:59:55-07:00Hymn Stories|

Sweet Hour of Prayer

Hymn Story Sweet Hour of Prayer Hymn lists by book of Bible Rev. Thomas Salmon (1800-1854), a Congregational clergyman, served as the pastor of the Congregational Church in Coleshill, Warwickshire, England from 1838 to 1842.  Upon his return to New York, he submitted the words to "Sweet Hour of Prayer" to The New York Observer [...]

2016-05-19T06:56:42-07:00Hymn Stories|

Tell Me the Old, Old Story

Hymn Story Tell Me the Old, Old Story Hymn Lists by book of Bible Arabella Katherine Hankey (1834-1911) was born into a family both devout and prosperous.  As to religion, they were Anglicans of the Clapham Sect—a group of Christians under the influence of William Wilberforce, one of England's leading abolitionists and proponents of missionary [...]

2016-05-19T06:52:49-07:00Hymn Stories|

Take Time to Be Holy

Hymn Story Take Time to Be Holy Hymn Lists by book of Bible This hymn is a good example of the Lord making more of our work than we could have expected. The man who wrote the words to "Take Time to Be Holy" was neither a pastor nor a songwriter.  William Longstaff was an [...]

2016-05-19T06:49:19-07:00Hymn Stories|

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

Hymn Story Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus Hymn lists by book of Bible Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus Dudley Tyng was a young up-and-coming Episcopal priest in Philadelphia—until he started preaching against slavery.  Facing serious opposition in his congregation, he resigned and started the Church of the Covenant.  A talented young man, full of [...]

2016-05-19T06:46:12-07:00Hymn Stories|

Take the Name of Jesus with You

Hymn Story Take the Name of Jesus with You (Precious Name) Hymn Lists by book of Bible Take the Name of Jesus with You (Precious Name) Names were important in the Bible.  When God called Abram, he changed Abram's name to Abraham, because "You will be the father of a multitude of nations" (Genesis 17:4).  [...]

2016-05-19T06:45:42-07:00Hymn Stories|
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