When I was an Air Force chaplain at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska for three years during the Vietnam War, I requested that my Wing chaplain give me my own worship service, and I would preach at the other Protestant Worship Services as needed. Well, my head chaplain graciously gave me the Sunday evening worship service.
The truth is that evening service on Sundays was attended by 25 people. I gladly accepted the challenge knowing from my experience as a pastor and two years of ministry at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington, that as God gives the ability to minister in the Name of Jesus Christ then the Holy Spirit will draw the people as the Gospel is preached, and the people are engaged in singing.
Melvine often sang solos, as well as the airmen, and other adults.
God blessed that service and very soon we broke the 100 mark and moved on up to 300, and we would have a 1,000 or so in the summers when we moved out to the lake on the base with what I called a Vesper Service with a cook out picnic for the families and single airmen and WAF (Women of the Air Force). Today, we call the men and women in the Air Force, Airmen.
Each Sunday night we would have a hymn sing. You could select any hymn you wanted, and we would sing it. The commander of the Military Airlift Command, Colonel Charles Clague, his wife, Jo, and daughter, Nancy were present. Colonel Clague was a Baptist, and knew every hymn. He would always select one. I enlisted various people to lead the singing, and Gordon Greer was one of those leaders. After Gordon completed his enlistment he went on to college and majored in opera and became a professional opera singer. He currently resides in Greenville, SC. He and his wife sing great Gospel songs and hymns together in concerts.
So, this morning let us sing to the glory of God and praise His Name.
The hymn I have chosen is entitled, "Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee."
Please Click Here to hear the choir, orchestra and congregation sing this great hymn of the church at Royal Albert Hall, London.
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Henry J. van Dyke, 1907
The truth is that evening service on Sundays was attended by 25 people. I gladly accepted the challenge knowing from my experience as a pastor and two years of ministry at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington, that as God gives the ability to minister in the Name of Jesus Christ then the Holy Spirit will draw the people as the Gospel is preached, and the people are engaged in singing.
Melvine often sang solos, as well as the airmen, and other adults.
God blessed that service and very soon we broke the 100 mark and moved on up to 300, and we would have a 1,000 or so in the summers when we moved out to the lake on the base with what I called a Vesper Service with a cook out picnic for the families and single airmen and WAF (Women of the Air Force). Today, we call the men and women in the Air Force, Airmen.
Each Sunday night we would have a hymn sing. You could select any hymn you wanted, and we would sing it. The commander of the Military Airlift Command, Colonel Charles Clague, his wife, Jo, and daughter, Nancy were present. Colonel Clague was a Baptist, and knew every hymn. He would always select one. I enlisted various people to lead the singing, and Gordon Greer was one of those leaders. After Gordon completed his enlistment he went on to college and majored in opera and became a professional opera singer. He currently resides in Greenville, SC. He and his wife sing great Gospel songs and hymns together in concerts.
So, this morning let us sing to the glory of God and praise His Name.
The hymn I have chosen is entitled, "Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee."
Please Click Here to hear the choir, orchestra and congregation sing this great hymn of the church at Royal Albert Hall, London.
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Henry J. van Dyke, 1907
- Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee,
Op’ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day! - All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain
Call us to rejoice in Thee. - Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine. - Mortals, join the happy chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us,
Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward
In the triumph song of life.