Jubal’s Jottings

A few months ago I posted a small article about John P. Rees, who wrote the stanza of Amazing Grace that begins…”When we’ve been there…” My writing attributed that verse to John P. Rees, 1780. One of our astute readers picked up an apparent error in that entry. So, back to my sources I went. And there is in fact a problem. Several hymnals attribute that verse to “anonymous.” Other hymnals list John P. Rees, but with no date of authorship. In looking for John P. Rees, it doesn’t take much to discover that he was an American who lived between 1828-1900, which would make it difficult to write that verse in 1780. 1780 is also the year after the Olney Hymns of Newton/Cowper were published, which also makes it a difficult connection as well. I did, however, find my source for writing that information originally. There is one hymnal, The Covenant Hymnal, which does list the author as John P. Rees, 1780. So, it was not a typo on my part, though with the close proximity to the original publication date, I should have known better! My bad, as they say! Now the question seems to linger about what the real date was. Perhaps The Covenant Hymnal had the typo and it should have been 1870. That would work!

Speaking of the Evangelical Covenant denomination, they are great people. I was born in Swedish Covenant Hospital, my first church music position was at a Covenant church, and the guy who has an office next to me is Covenant…so Covenant are good, but we found an error in their hymnal. I’ll let them trace down the true answer!

So, Jubal, see how easy things were before anything was published?

Today is Ash Wednesday. It may be a shock to some, but this is the first time in my life - 50+ years - that I have ever “celebrated” Ash Wednesday! As a good Baptist boy, I recall my Catholic friends coming to school with this weird marking on their foreheads. Ash Wednesday was a “Catholic” thing! So today at our seminary Chapel, Ash Wednesday was celebrated with an opportunity to have the sign of the cross placed on our heads with ashes to remind ourselves of the season of Lent that begins today. I thought, “Well, why wouldn’t I do this?” So, here I am with all my Baptist background wearing the sign of the cross made with ashes on my head. It gives focus to the impending season that Jesus went through on His way to the cross…not a bad thing for any of us - Baptist or not - to recall. I’d have to look a long way to find better symbols than ashes and the sign of the cross to be that reminder. I find that it also makes a great community reminder as we walk past others with that same sign throughout the day - a belonging to a family who carry the message of the Gospel represented by the cross. I wear it proudly - wondering a little what my now-in-heaven Dad would say if he saw me today. O my!

Jubal, I know the cross was after your time, so this cross talk may be a little strange to you, I know! It’s OK!

I had a eerie experience a few days ago. I was driving to work VERY early in the morning. I was on my normal stretch of the 210 freeway - sometimes known as the 210 parking lot! (By the way, you KNOW you’re in California when the carpool lane is as slow as all the other lanes!!!) Anyway, in the twilight of the morning I noticed that I had the fading moon visible on the horizon in front of me and the brightening sun in my rear view mirror. It was a strange sight. To cap off the sensation was the fact that I was listening to a new CD by Keith and Kristyn Getty…and the song that was on was entitled “See, What a Morning!” It definitely added to the view as I listened to the words of the Easter Hymn…”See, what a morning, gloriously bright, with the dawning of hope in Jerusalem:…” The sight and sounds gave me a nice moment of renewed faith and hope, and a good reminder that “Christ is risen from the dead!”

If you’re not acquainted with the music of Keith and Kristyn Getty, please look at their website and maybe get a copy of thier new CD. You can find it at http://www.gettymusic.com.

Jubal, did you know that Keith and Kristyn are Irish? That’s a long way from the hillsides where you played your instruments!!!