This Fall, we will begin featuring hymn stories about some of the hymns being shared in our hymnsing. Each week will have a different hymn story about the song’s composition and the author. We hope you enjoy learning more about these songs of our faith!

Psalm 37:23-24 – “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

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A Prayer of Faith:

(Feel free to say each line and have your child repeat what you say or say it as you pray together.)

Dear God,
Help me to always remember that no matter
how sad or scared I am You love me very, very much.
You gave Your only Son to be my friend.
I will NEVER be alone. You are ALWAYS with me. Amen

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For “littles” and “young at heart”
Kum Ba Yah (“Come By Here”)

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Precious Name

Music by William H. Doane; Text by Lydia Baxter

Hymn Background:

Despite being a bed-ridden invaliid for much of her life, Lydia Baxter was known as a zealous Christian worker. She and her sister were personally responsible for establishing a Baptist Church in her home town of Petersburg, New York. Her home was known as a gathering place for preachers, evangelists, and Christian workers, who came to her for inspiration and advice. Her friends used to say that a visit to her sickroom was not so much to give her encouragement and comfort as to receive some buoyancy for their own spirits.

Lydia was an avid student of the Bible and loved to discuss the significance of scriptural names with her friends. She would inform them that Samuel means “asked of God,” Hannah “grace”, Sarah “princess,” and Naomi “pleasantness.” But the name that meant everything to her was “Jesus”. Whenever she was questioned about her cheery disposition despite her physical difficulties, she would reply, “I have a very special amour. I have the name of Jesus. When the tempter tries to make me blue or despondent, I mention the name of Jesus, and he can’t get through to me anymore. The name Jesus means ‘Savior’ and it comes from the same Hebrew root from which the names of Joshua and Joash come.”

This beloved hymn was written from her sickbed 4 years prior to her death in 1874. Although she wrote many other gospel texts, this is her only hymn still in common usage. Combined with the music from Doane this hymn was widely used during evangelistic campaigns and became popular in congregations everywhere.