Hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
How Can We Sing a Joyful Song?
O WALY WALY 8.8.8.8 (Though I May Speak)
How can we sing a joyful song?
O God, our sorrows hem us in.
When pain and grief seem all too strong,
How can we sing a joyful hymn?
The world around finds songs to sing
Of laughter, mirth and happiness,
But these sound false and even sting
When what we feel is deep distress.
And yet, O God, we dare to sing
For in our grief, we're not alone.
You love this world and entered in
By sending us your only Son.
You sent us hope — Emmanuel!
O God-with-us, you bore our pain.
And so we sing, for all is well!
In Christ, we will be whole again.
- Related Hymns
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How Can We Sing a Joyful Song?
O WALY WALY (8.8.8.8) (Though I May Speak)
A hymn for a Blue Christmas service.
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God, Your Blessings Overflow!
DIX (7.7.7.7.7.7) (For the Beauty of the Earth)
A Thanksgiving hymn (useable any time of year) that celebrates our many blessings, but also God's comfort for those who are grieving during the holidays.
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Lord, Let Your Servant Go in Peace
ST. PETER (8.6.8.6) (In Christ There is No East or West)
This hymn, inspired by Simeon's canticle rejoicing in the infant Jesus (Luke 2:29-32), celebrates God's providence in the light of human suffering death; the final verse is:
"Lord, let your servants daily know
That we are not alone;
And may we find, where'er we go,
You'll lead us safely home."
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Come and Join the Celebration!
ANN'S TUNE (8.7.8.7 D) (Newly composed by Hal Hopson)
NETTLETON (8.7.8.7 D) (Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing)
This hymn celebrates Christian hope found in Easter with references to Romans 8:26-39.
"God, we sing, for there is nothing that can keep your love away --
Not oppression, hardship, famine, things to come or things today.
Heights and depths cannot defeat us; death will never be the same.
Christ is risen! So you promise: we have life in Jesus' name."
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How Can We Sing a Joyful Song?
Resources for grief and depression
- A Decembered Grief: Living with Loss While Others are Celebrating by Harold Ivan Smith gives practical suggestions in short, easy-to-read chapters on dealing with grief during the holidays.
- What Shall We Say?: Evil, Suffering, and the Crisis of Faith by Thomas G. Long prompted John Buchanan, Pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago and Editor of The Christian Century magazine, to write a short review posted on Amazon: "Out of his extensive experience as pastor, preacher, teacher, and mature scholar, Thomas Long has written a superb book addressing the question that lies deep in the human heart: 'If God is good, why is there evil and innocent suffering in the world?' Exploring the historical responses of philosophers and theologians, Long pushes beyond the conventional notion of God's presence in the midst of suffering to a startling concept of God as warrior, going to combat with evil and suffering. This helpful book should be read by every pastor who lives daily with the mystery of theodicy — and by anyone who has ever pondered and asked 'Why?'"
- Healing Your Holiday Grief: 100 Practical Ideas for Blending Mourning and Celebration During the Holiday Season by Alan D. Wolfelt realizes that different people grieve different deaths in different ways, resulting in varied ideas designed to comfort and guide the grieving during a difficult time of year.
- A Sorrow Shared: A Combined Edition of the Nouwen Classics "In Memoriam" and "A Letter of Consolation" by Henri J. M. Nouwen shares the very personal reflections on loss and grief of a popular writer on spirituality.
- Psalms of Lament by Ann Weems. The gifted poet wrote this book after her son was killed "less than an hour after his twenty-first birthday." Her 50 poems are modeled after the Bible's Psalms of lament moving the reader from the range of emotions that comes with grief (pain, anger, helplessness) to a faithful trust in God who brings all hope.
- Kneeling in Bethlehem, also by Ann Weems, celebrates the mystery and joy of Christmas.
- Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church by N. T. Wright is a noted biblical scholar's reflections on the everlasting life and its implications for faithful living now.
Like This Hymn?
- Check out the rest of this web site for other wonderful hymns.
- Consider buying Carolyn's two books of hymns that give permission to use the book's hymns in a local church: Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today's Worship by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Geneva Press, 2000) and Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Upper Room Books, 2009)
- Share the hymn and her hymns web site with people in your church and other online friends in other churches.
- Check out A Dozen Ways to Support Carolyn's Hymn-writing (including hymn use permission).