Pastor Tom’s Message
Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
1 Chronicles 16:22-24
I’ve been having a lot of fun tabulating your hymn and song requests for the Harrisburg Top 40. You still have a month or so to get your votes in, but I thought you might like an interim report.
Way out ahead in first place – at least for now – with more than twice as many votes as its runner up, is In the Garden.
This Easter hymn was written from the perspective of Mary Magdalene, who went to the garden tomb early on Easter morning to grieve her crucified Jesus and was met instead by her Resurrected Lord.
We’ve sung it once. If it continues in first place, we’ll sing it 12 more times in the coming year.
In second place is Santo! Santo! Santo! – the Spanish version of Holy! Holy! Holy! – which is also
currently on the Harrisburg Top 40, but further down the list (see below).
We will probably sing them both on the same Sunday, alternating between English and Spanish.
It’ll sound like Pentecost!
Tied for 3rd are Because He Lives & Blessed Assurance. No surprise there.
Tied for 4th place are Amazing Grace & How Great Thou Art. Ditto.
5th is Here I Am, Lord; followed by It is Well with My Soul in 6th.
Majesty, Worship His Majesty and Trust and Obey are tied for 7th.
There’s a three-way tie for 8th: Holy! Holy! Holy! (in English), Jesus is All the World to Me, & What A Friend We Have in Jesus.
Five songs are tied for 9th: He Lives, I’ll Fly Away, Lord of the Dance, Morning Has Broken, & This is the Day.
Without giving away the entire list – which still subject to change due to ongoing voting – there are currently 6 contemporary songs, 2 patriotic songs, and 1 children’s song in top 40, along with a very diverse list of traditional favorites not mentioned above.
Y’all have good taste! See this spot next month for the final and official list. Until then …
God bless you and see you in church!
Pastor Tom