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Over the years, two harvest hymns gradually became my favorites. In the Baptist church I was compelled to attend every Sunday for my first eighteen years, these hymns and a few others came up in the rotation every November. When golden autumn leaves began to fall and corn turned tan and dry, these hymns would ring out across the hard pews from our ancient organist on the big Allen organ. There were hymn characteristics that I came to associate with certain times of the year. Harvest and Thanksgiving hymns were in minor keys, reminding me of the approaching winter, corn in shocks, and pumpkins. Christmas hymns were sad, too, reminding us of poor people traveling to be taxed, towns so full of people that it was necessary to sleep in stables, and harsh Roman rule. In the springtime, hymns written in major keys celebrated the crucifixion and resurrection in sync with the glories of spring. There were even patriotic hymns for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

By Barbi on 2022 11 22

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come - Yes, a favorite hymn heard all my life. We have started looking at the dates on the hymns, and we are amazed at how far back in history they were composed. Yesterday we looked at one from the 1600s and thought about how that was during the times of Pilgrims. Imagine Pilgrims signing that and it has endured thru history to this moment when we were singing it. I don't suppose when they wrote it they could ever have dreamed we would still be singing it. It is a sad thing that when we have the least we seem to be happy for things the most. In our decadence we lose sight of how special simple things can be. Yet when we don't have - even a cup of soup can be a special treat. Sad that the loss of things can make us appreciate the small things, but a really good thing that we are brought back to a place where we CAN remember how precious those things can be. By the way, I had never noticed the music changing for the seasons, but now I will look forward to it.

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