Music Notes from Robin – September 2020

Music Notes from Robin

It seems incredible that September of 2020 has arrived, and the final four months of this challenging year remain.  Unfortunately, the situations with COVID, elections, racial unrest, and uncertainty are still very prevalent.  I am struggling with how to proceed with plans for the choirs, Advent, the Service of Lessons and Carols, and Christmas.  In faith and hope, it is my fervent prayer that, by the end of the year, life will be improving for each of us and the church.     

          I have been sharing various hymns with you in my articles.  Music always

strengthens and enables me, and the power of the texts and melodies gives me comfort and encouragement.  Please listen to the story of an old favorite hymn of both my grandmother and my mother.

          Some of the best loved hymns have come out of a sense of helplessness to what is going on in the world.  One such hymn is “In Times Like These” written by Mrs. Ruth Caye Jones in 1943 during the fearful days at the height of World War II.  The Allies were “bogged down” in Italy and other countries, and the war was going nowhere.  World economies were at breaking points with rations everywhere.

          It was at this point that a minister’s wife Ruth Caye Jones, who was inspired by Second Timothy Chapter 3 and Hebrews 6:19, wrote her hymn “In Times Like these”:

“But know this, that in the last days—perilous times will come; but we have a hope that is an anchor of the soul—both sure and steadfast”.  The message found in this hymn is so important today 77 years later. 

“In times like these, you need a Savior; in times like these, you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure…your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

This Rock is Jesus—yes, He’s the One; this rock is Jesus—the only One;
Be very sure, be very sure…your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!  

In times like these, you need the Bible; in times like these, O be not idle;
Be very sure, be very sure…your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these, I have a Savior; in times like these, I have an anchor;
I’m very sure, I’m very sure…my anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

          May we be secure in our Savior, our Rock, and our anchor.                     

Godspeed,

Robin