This Sunday we enter Jacob's staircase dream sequence.
If we were to begin an interpretation of this account,
you would still be reading at worship time Sunday morning.
Instead, we will focus on the hymn that will bookend our worship experience,
the beloved
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,
sung to two of the usual tunes
Warrenton and
Nettleton.
The text is appropriate this week for several reasons,
one of which is that, as in the Jacob account, a stone to mark the spot
is placed as a reminder of an encounter with God.
Such a stone is called an
Ebenezer -
a stone of help. Jacob called his stone
Beth-el
- beth (house) ... el (one of the Hebrew names for God) -
During one of your moments of devotion this week,
I encourage you to utilize the below video of
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
singing one of many beautiful arrangements of Mac Wilberg.
For the human story behind this hymn
Come thou fount of every blessing; Tune my heart to sing thy grace.
Streams of mercy never ceasing; Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet; Sung by flaming tongues above.
I'll praise the mount I'm fixed upon it; Mount of thy redeeming love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer; Hither by thy help I come.
And I hope by thy good pleasure; Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger; Wondering from the fold of God.
He, to rescue me from danger; Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor; daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
Pastor of Worship, Communication & Liturgical Arts
