Father In Heaven We Do Believe

Father in Heav’n, we do believe

The promise thou hast made;

Thy word with meekness we receive,

Just as thy Saints have said.

We now repent of all our sin

And come with broken heart,

And to thy covenant enter in

And choose the better part.

O Lord, accept us while we pray,

And all our sins forgive;

New life impart to us this day,

And bid the sinners live.

Humbly we take the sacrament

In Jesus’ blessed name;

Let us receive thru covenant

The Spirit’s heav’nly flame.

  - Parley P. Pratt

Piano Prelude No. 14:  Father In Heaven, We Do Believe

Terri Hutchings · Father In Heaven, We Do Believe

Click HERE to download free sheet music  

Now Thank We All Our God

Now thank we all our God

With hearts and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things hath done,

In whom his earth rejoices;

Who, from our mothers' arms,

Hath blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love

And still is ours today.

Oh, may our bounteous God

Through all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts

And blessed peace to cheer us,

And keep us in his love,

And guide us day and night,

And free us from all ills,

Protect us by his might.

Text by Martin Rinkhart

trans. by Catherine Winkworth

I give thanks for family, friends, and all that I hold most dear.

Piano Prelude No. 13:  Now Thank We All Our God

Terri Hutchings · Now Thank We All Our God

 Click HERE to download free sheet music 

Come Unto Jesus

Come unto Jesus, ye heavy laden,

Careworn and fainting, by sin oppressed.

He’ll safely guide you unto that haven

Where all who trust him may rest.

Come unto Jesus; He’ll surely hear you,

If you in meekness plead for his love.

Oh, know you not that angels are near you

From brightest mansions above?

Come unto Jesus from ev’ry nation,

From ev’ry land and isle of the sea.

Unto the high and lowly in station,

Ever he calls, “Come to me.”

-Orson Pratt Huish                        

This piece brings my prelude offerings to a cool dozen.  I have given the left hand the melody line so don’t be afraid to lean on it and let it shine.  I hope that while playing it, Christ’s peace will find a home in your heart.

“True discipleship is for volunteers only.  Only volunteers will trust the Guide sufficiently to follow Him in the dangerous ascent which only He can lead.”

-Neal A. Maxwell     

Piano Prelude No. 12:  Come Unto Jesus                    

 

Click HERE to download free sheet music

How Gentle God’s Commands

How gentle God’s commands!

How kind his precepts are!

Come, cast your burdens on the Lord

And trust his constant care.

Beneath his watchful eye,

His Saints securely dwell;

That hand which bears all nature up

Shall guard his children well.

Why should this anxious load

Press down your weary mind?

Haste to your Heav’nly Father’s throne

And sweet refreshment find.

His goodness stands approved,

Unchanged from day to day;

I’ll drop my burden at his feet

And bear a song away.

by Philip Doddridge (1702-1751)

Born in London, Philip Doddridge was the youngest of 20 children.  Even before he could read, his mother taught him stories from the Bible.  She died when he was only eight years old.  His father passed away four years later leaving him an orphan. He continued his education, all the while being drawn to the ministry.  

As a preacher he was very popular owing to his sincere and practical sermons.  He would write hymns that would summarize his sermons to reinforce and help his congregation apply the truths being taught.  

In his relatively short life, although he was known primarily as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, he was also an author, educator, philanthropist, and prolific hymn writer, writing over 400 hymns in all.

                                          Prelude No. 11:  How Gentle God's Commands 

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Come, Ye Children of the Lord

I am billing this as a prelude, but it might be better suited for postlude.   I’m finding that it is too difficult to not play it with energy and enthusiasm.

“Come, ye children of the Lord,

Let us sing with one accord.

Let us raise a joyful strain

To our Lord who soon will reign

On this earth when it shall be

Cleansed from all iniquity.

When all men from sin will cease,

And will live in love and peace.”

             - James H. Wallis

It’s beautiful to think of the world’s population singing “with one accord” in both the figurative and literal sense.  The notion of each and every voice singing in perfect harmony seems so enthralling.  Even more captivating, however, is the concept of no wars, no contentions--just one unified people living in peace.  I believe with all my heart that this will one day be a reality.  What a beautiful day it will be.

Prelude No. 10: Come, Ye Children of the Lord

Click HERE to download free sheet music

Now the Day Is Over

This offering is ninth in my series of preludes.  If ever there was a “going to sleep” hymn, this is it.  It is the prayer of a tired soul uttered in the quiet calm of the evening when the world slows down and work is done.  I tried to keep the lowest tones slipping down the keyboard like the weight of heavy eyelids struggling to stay open.  Here are a few of the verses found in the Lutheran hymnal. 

“Now the day is over;

Night is drawing nigh,

Shadows of the evening

Steal across the sky.

Now the darkness gathers,

Stars begin to peep,

Birds and beasts and flowers

Soon will be asleep.

Jesus, give the weary

Calm and sweet repose

With thy tenderest blessing

May our eyelids close.

Through the long night-watches

May Thine angels spread

Their white wings above me,

Watching round my bed.”

-Sabine Baring-Gould

Prelude No. 9: Now the Day Is Over

Click HERE to download free sheet music

    

Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King

Another favorite of mine. I have always loved this hymn and a sweet memory

associated with it.  The memory is elusive, almost like a dream and as with many of my memories this one occurred in the little chapel from my youth.

My Grandma Jennie loved music. On this occasion she organized a small group of

young girls to sing a few hymns in church. I would have been about 8 or 9 years old. I

am pretty sure that my sisters Julie and Dineen took part as well, along with a handful of others. With Hugh Dougall’s words and melody, we sang our hearts out. The

experience left me with a warm feeling inside. I am thankful for a loving grandmother

who provided us with opportunities at a young age that allowed our understanding of Jesus to grow.

Jesus of Nazareth,

Savior and King!

Triumphant over death,

Life thou didst bring,

Leaving thy Father’s throne,

On earth to live,

Thy work to do alone,

Thy life to give.

Prelude No. 8: Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King

Click HERE to download free sheet music

We’ll Sing All Hail to Jesus’ Name

The title of this hymn explains one of my motives for writing music. It brings me incredible peace to know who I am, why I’m here, and that because of Him, life goes on after this earthly experience.

Prelude No. 7: We’ll Sing All Hail to Jesus’ Name

Click HERE to download free sheet music - For Piano

O Little Town of Bethlehem

“How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is giv’n!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of his heav’n.

No ear may hear his coming;

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him, still

The dear Christ enters in.”

  - Phillips Brooks

Wishing you all the peace your heart can hold — and then some.

     Merry Christmas!!

Prelude No. 6:  O Little Town of Bethlehem

Click HERE to download free sheet music - For Piano

While of These Emblems We Partake

I love the organ.  No other instrument comes close to producing such noble and powerful sounds.  But it can be a bit of a beast to play.  I would have loved to attend one of Alexander Schreiner’s Bach recitals in the Salt Lake Tabernacle.  Nine of his hymns are included in the 1985 edition of the Latter-day Saint hymnal.  I chose one of them for my fifth prelude.   

Fun fact:  When Chuck’s Grandpa Hutchings was on his mission in Germany, he and his companion would operate the bellows of the organ while 11-year-old Alex would play.  Based on his uncle’s recollection, this was done at one of the big Lutheran churches, probably in Nuremberg.

Prelude No. 5: While of These Emblems We Partake

Click HERE to download free sheet music - For Piano

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

David O. McKay revealed a fundamental key to motivation when he observed, “What you sincerely in your heart think of Christ will determine what you are, will largely determine what your acts will be.”  And then Max Caldwell (my favorite BYU professor) went on to explain that in other words, what people do or don’t do in a situation will depend on the understanding they have of the reality and role of Christ and upon the degree of loyalty and love that they have for him.   What a great motivating factor.  I love this thought.

Personally, I don’t spend enough time in meditation.  I think it is wise to take a moment and ponder what we have come to think of Christ.  The answer is crucial.  It will shape our very lives. 

Piano Prelude No. 4:  Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

Click HERE to download free sheet music

The First Noel

“ . . . And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

          And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you:  Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger . . .”

                                                                                               Luke 2:8-12

As you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ,

may your homes be filled peace, love, and joy.

Merry Christmas!

Prelude No. 3:  The First Noel

    

Click HERE to download free sheet music