HOLY SPIRIT
SDAH 262
There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place,
And I know that it’s the spirit of the Lord;
For Worship Leaders
Make each hymn more meaningful with these helpful tools: Short, ready-to-use hymn introductions for church bulletins, multiple ways to introduce a hymn based on your worship theme and in-depth history and insights to enrich your song service.
Hymn Spotlight: Sweet, Sweet Spirit
Written during a prayer service, this gospel hymn flowed from Doris Akers’ personal experience of the Holy Spirit’s presence. A self-taught composer and beloved choir director, she penned many songs that have deeply moved worshippers. First published in 1965, this hymn quickly spread, especially in choral form arranged by Kurt Kaiser. Its reference to the Spirit as a dove echoes Matthew 3:16. May this hymn help us recognize and welcome the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit among us.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
Jesus did not leave us alone. He provides for us the Holy Spirit to be our comforter in our journey in this world. Jesus promise that the Holy Spirit will stay and fill us with His love. (Lesson 8, 4th Quarter 2020 – Thursday, Education in the Early Church, 11/19/2020)
An accomplished songwriter, arranger, and choir director, Doris Akers loves to help spread the gospel in song and testimony. The inspiration for this song came during a prayer service, as she had her choir felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. The reference to the Holy Spirit as a dove is found in Matthew 3: 16: “He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove.” First published as a solo by Manna Music in 1965, it was published the same year as a choral octavo piece, arranged by Kurt Kaiser.
By establishing and training choirs, Akers has been of great service to many churches throughout the country. She organized the Los Angeles Sky Pilot Choir in 1957. Her songs have been recorded by major artists in the gospel music field. On one occasion, when told that she possesses something “magic” that holds her audiences, Doris replied, “Magic, nothing—it’s just letting go and releasing the Spirit of God.”
She was born in 1922 in Brookfield, Missouri, and wrote her first gospel song when she was 10, Without formal music training, she was enthusiastically used her natural, God- given talents for the blessings of others. Her home is in Columbus, Ohio.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
There’s a sweet, sweet spirit in this place,
And I know that it’s the spirit of the Lord;
2
There are sweet expressions on each face,
And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Refrain
Sweet Holy Spirit,
Sweet Heavenly Dove,
Stay right here with us,
Filling us with Your love,
And for these blessings
We lift our hearts in praise,
Without a doubt we’ll know
That we have been revived
When we shall leave this place.
Hymn Info
Author
Doris Akers (1922-1995)
Copyright
Copyright 1965 by Manna Music, Inc., 2111 Kenmere Ave., Burbank, CA 91504. International copyright secured. Used by permission.
Metrical Number
9.11.Ref.
Composer
Doris Akers
