Hymn of the Week – Amazing Grace

  Posted on May 24, 2016  by spiritofjoy  No comments

Each week I will feature one of the hymns for the upcoming Sunday worship service.  I hope to give you a bit of background information on the hymn and composer so that on Sunday morning you can make a deeper connection into what we are singing.

This week’s hymn is “Amazing Grace”.  Probably the most well known hymn of all time, it was written in 1773 and published in 1779.  The words were written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton.  John grew up as an atheist and was involved in the Atlantic slave trade.  During a violent storm and his vessel being severely battered, he called out to God for mercy, a moment that marked his spiritual conversion.  He then entered into studying Christian theology and was ordained in the Church of England in 1764.  “Amazing Grace” was written to illustrate a sermon on New Year’s Day of 1773.  It is unknown if there was any music accompanying the verses; it may have simply been chanted by the congregation.  It has been associated with more than 20 different melodies, but in 1835 it was joined to the tune “New Britain” that we know it as today.  With the message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of sins committed and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, “Amazing Grace” is one of the most recognizable songs in the English speaking world.

God’s peace to you!

Jon Mattheis