CHRISTIAN CHURCH >> COMMUNITY IN CHRIST
SDAH 350
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
Text
1
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
2
Before our Father’s throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
3
We share each other’s woes,
our mutual burdens bear;
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
4
When we asunder part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Phil 2:1, 2 (b) Heb 4:16 (c) Gal 6:2
Author
John Fawcett (1740-1817)
Year Published
1772
Hymn Tune
DENNIS
Metrical Number
S.M.
Composer
from Johann G. Naegeli (1768-1836)
Arranged
Lowell Mason (1792-1872)
Year Composed
1845
Get the hymn sheet in other keys here
Notes
Get to know the hymns a little deeper with the SDA Hymnal Companion. Use our song leader’s notes to engage your congregation in singing with understanding. Even better, involve kids in learning this hymn with our homeschooling materials.
One person reflecting the character of Christ is a miracle that sheds light, lifting up Jesus for all to see. A whole church reflecting Jesus will show the world the existence of a divine power to resist and overcome evil that cannot be denied, calling them to make their choice to accept or reject Christ’s sacrifice for their salvation. (Lesson 4, 3rd Quarter 2022 -Thursday, Character and Community, 7/21/22
The earthly comfort of the marriage and family relationship can only spring when we have first formed a saving relationship with our Lord and Savior. Only with Jesus in the family can we have a happy home. (Lesson 8, 1st Quarter 2023, Managing for the Master – Sunday, “First Things First” 3/2/23)
This hymn by John Fawcett (1740-1817; see SDAH 64) appears as No. 104 in his Hymns Adapted to the Circumstances of Public Worship and Private Devotion, published in Leeds, England, in 1782. It was entitled “Brotherly Love” and had two other stanzas. His book was written from Brearley Hall, near Halifax, where he was the pastor of a Baptist congregation at Wainsgate in 1765. He had endeared himself so greatly to his flock that when a call came to him in 1772 to accept a more auspicious appointment in London, he hesitated. However, he had a large family to support and finally decided to transfer. After his farewell sermon, his congregation begged him to remain with them. The next morning the furniture was loaded onto the wagons, but at the last moment of pleas of his flock prevailed on him and his wife to the extent that they unloaded the furniture and refused the appointment, staying on in his parish in Yorkshire.
DENNIS is an arrangement of a tune brought back from Europe by Lowell Mason (1792-1872; see Biographies), and published in his and George J. Webb’s (see SDAH 618) The Psalter, 1845. Mason credited Hans (Johann) George Naegeli, of Zurich, Switzerland, with the tune, but omitted to state the particular source. Leonard Ellinwood suggests it might have been from his Christliches Gesangbuch (Christian Hymnbook) 1828, which has a tune almost identical in the first half’ as DENNIS. Naegeli was born May 26, 1768, in Wetzikon, now a suburb of Zurich. He established a music publishing business there. He composed vocal and instrumental works and taught music according to the principles of his contemporary fellow citizen and educational reformer, Johann Pestaöozzi. Naegeli died in his hometown on December 26, 1836.
Explore more hymns: