Singing Our Faith

About the Book

Hymn singing is vital to both the beliefs and emotion of worship in all religions, especially Protestant Christianity. With the rising popularity of contemporary worship, traditional hymnody is in danger of being lost to Christian memory. This book reflects the intellectual excellence, the religious devotion, and the widespread influence of over two hundred hymns. Many have very poignant life situations which prompted the writing of hymns or poems that musicians composed to enhance the singability or the majesty of the lyrics. Haynes has done careful research into the life and specific occasions when inspiration led to the gift of a hymn to posterity. These vignettes are meaningful for private devotional use and in worship bulletins to make hymn singing more meaningful.

About the Author

Donald W. Haynes is a retired United Methodist clergyman of sixty years who also taught sixteen years at Hood Theological Seminary after retirement. As a pastor and conference official, he selected and wrote hymns weekly. His wife was a pianist, organist, and a lover of music. At the seminary, his curriculum included hymn stories and hymn selections for worship. He is a graduate and lifelong trustee of High Point University, a graduate of Duke Divinity School, and has an honorary doctorate from Pfeiffer University. This is his sixth published book. Others have included volumes on the Old Testament, Methodist history and doctrine. He is widowed and father of three children, seven grandchildren, and five great grandchildren and is a resident of Salisbury, North Carolina, and continues to teach at Hood Theological Seminary, an AMEZ school.