Ecumenically-rich hymns in “Hymns of the Spirit”

Sixty-eight of the 150 hymns selected by the late-1970s (perhaps early 80s?) Consultation on Ecumenical Hymnody were present in the 1937 (in print until 1981) joint Unitarian and Universalist Hymns of the Spirit, which despite its age is still used in a number of Unitarian Universalist churches, and especially the Christian ones. There are some odd omissions of common hymns that I well recall having to tip-in the order of service, like “We gather together” and “All honor, laud and glory”. But on the whole it holds up. And with some additions, would be a core of a modern if traditionally minded rational-reformed Christian church. (I’ve written about what some of these additions might be.)

For the record, here is the list of the 150 hymns, keyed to those that are in Hymns of the Spirit. Please send corrections. Below the fold.

Hymn HotS
A Mighty Fortress 304
Abide with Me 127
Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended?
All Creatures of Our God and King 198
All Glory, Laud and Honor
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
All My Heart This Night Rejoices
All People That on Earth Do Dwell 496
All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night 110
All Things Are Thine, No Gift Have We 460
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Angels We Have Heard on High 175
As with Gladness Men of Old 153
At Even, Ere the Sun Was Set
At the Name of Jesus
Away in a Manger
Before Jehovah’s Awful Throne
Blessed Jesus, At Your Word
Blest Are the Pure in Heart
Bread of the World, in Mercy Broken
Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light 492
Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning
Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation
Come Down, O Love Divine
Come Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire
Come, Thou Almighty King 10
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come 141
Come, Ye Thankful, Raise the Strain
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind 250
Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness 494
Eternal Father, Strong to Save
Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds
Eternal Ruler of the Ceaseless Round 349
Fairest Lord Jesus 483
Faith of Our Fathers 546
Father Eternal, Ruler of Creation
Father, We Praise Thee Now the Night Is Over
Fight the Good Fight
For All the Saints 428
For the Beauty of the Earth 32
From All Who Dwell below the Skies 498
From Heaven Above to Earth I Come
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken 393
Go to Dark Gethsemane
God Moves in a Mysterious Way 244
God of Grace and God of Glory 345
God of Our Fathers 376
God the Omnipotent
Good Christian Men, Rejoice 177
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
Hail Thee, Festival Day
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed 151
Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing 170
Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face
Holy God, We Praise Thy Name
Holy, Holy, Holy 17
How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise 30
In Christ There Is No East or West 413
In Heavenly Love Abiding 249
In the Bleak Mid-winter
In the Cross of Christ I Glory 190
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today Not to be confused with the Charles Wesley hymn, Christ the Lord is Risen Today (192)
Jesus Shall Reign
Jesus, Priceless Treasure
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee 205
Joy to the World 163
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee 42
Judge Eternal, Throned in Splendor 323
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Let All the World in Every Corner Sing
Let Us with a Gladsome Mind
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates! 179
Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Look Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious
Lord Jesus, Think on Me
Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing 470
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling 50
Make Me a Captive, Lord
May the Grace of Christ Our Savior
New Every Morning Is the Love 98
Not Alone for Mighty Empire 373
Now Thank We All Our God 262
O Come, All Ye Faithful 156
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 150
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
O Gladsome Light
O God of Earth and Altar 381
O God, Our Help in Ages Past 145
O Holy City Seen of John
O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts
O Little Town of Bethlehem 165
O Lord of Heaven and Earth and Sea
O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
O Perfect Love, All Human Thought Transcending 453
O Sacred Head Surrounded 191
O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright
O Worship the King
O, Ye Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing
Of the Father’s Love Begotten
On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
Open Now the Gates of Beauty
Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow 499
Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens 2
Praise to the Living God 1
Praise to the Lord 7
Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
Ride On, Ride On in Majesty 182
Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name
Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless
Silent Night 167/168
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above
Son of God, Eternal Savior
Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayer 55
Strong Son of God, Immortal Love 204
Sun of My Soul 108 As ‘Tis gone, that bright and orbed blaze
Take My Life and Let It Be 277
The Church’s One Foundation
The Day of Resurrection
The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended 120
The Duteous Day Now Closeth 112
The First Nowell 174
The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns
The King of Love My Shepherd Is 87
The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns
The Lord Will Come and Not Be Slow
The Strife Is O’er
There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy
This Is My Father’s World
Thou Art the Way, to Thee Alone
Thou Whose Almighty Word
Through All the Changing Scenes of Life
Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying
Watchman, Tell Us of the Night 154
We Gather Together
We Plow the Fields and Scatter 142
Were You There?
What Child Is This?
When All Thy Mercies, O My God 225
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
When Morning Gilds the Skies 92
Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life 218
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks 155
Ye Servants of God
Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones

By Scott Wells

Scott Wells, 46, is a Universalist Christian minister doing Universalist theology and church administration hacks in Washington, D.C.

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