The Fields Church: Arlington, TX

April 2024 - Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain

Click here to download and print this month's hymn, "Come Ye Faithful Raise the Strain."

Why do we sing a "Hymn of the Month?"

Paul commands the church in Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Each category of song has an intentional place in our corporate worship. We echo the words of the Holy Spirit when we sing through the Psalms (and other songs using the words of Scripture). Hymns (generally) use rigid harmony and rhythm to praise God in reflection on deep truths. Spiritual songs are no less rooted in deep truth, but (generally) use emotive melodies to passionately declare these truths across the Christian life in joy or sorrow, success or suffering, feast or famine. Again, Paul encourages us to use all three of these types of songs to teach one another the word of Christ as it dwells more richly in us.

As the decades and centuries pass, there are countless hymns and spiritual songs that have been added to the great songbook of the universal church. Along the way, several of these songs have been remembered because of their deeply gospel-centered truths and meaningful melodies. There are many examples where learning about the songwriters and stories behind these hymns can also encourage and challenge us to grow in our faith. That's why we take time not only to learn and sing these hymns of the month, but include a brief printed background and accompanying Scriptures for personal devotion and family worship.

Our goal with our Hymn of the Month is three-fold:

1) To increase our awareness of the church's songbook by learning songs song from the saints who came before us.

2) To increase our knowledge of God, memory of good theology, and ear for beautiful melodies by learning older hymns of the faith.

3) To increase our intentionality and focus on Christ during our worship gathering by singing that month's hymn every Sunday, three or four minutes before 10am.