CHRISTIAN LIFE >> Guidance
SDAH 542
Jesus, Friend, so kind and gentle,
Little ones we bring to Thee:
Grant to them Thy dearest blessing,
Let Thine arms around them be;
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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.
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
Born in 1886 in London, England, Philip Edwin Gregory graduated from London City College. He was ordained in 1909 and moved to the United States, where he served as pastor of churches in Wisconsin and Illinois. The Congregational church near the University of Minnesota was where he began holding services in a small house and later in an art his flock for 17 years. In 1946 he was called to Laguna Beach, California, gallery. He led out in the building of the Neighborhood Congregational Church, Laguna Beach. After retirement in 1956 at age 70, he was not ready yet to succumb to the rocking chair so he accepted interim pastoral assignments in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska; Salt Lake City, Utah; Tucson, Arizona; and Palos Verdes, California.
Active all his life in community service, he served as chairman of the committee that established South Coast Community Hospital, was a 50-year member of the Boy Scouts, and was president of the local Red Cross. He died in 1974.
A member of the Hymn Society of America, Gregory wrote many hymns. This one was created to meet a need for a hymn to be sung at baby dedication services. The first stanza brings the children to Jesus, much the same as mothers did in Mark 10:13-16 and Matthew 18:2-4.
Stanza 2 is a prayer for parents and those who will guide them into useful lives. In the Topical Index of SDAH there are two hymns under “Child Dedication.” This one, although in the “Guidance” section, could be appropriately used for this service by singing the first stanza as the parents bring the child to the front, and the second at the conclusion, as they are returning to their seats.
This text was sent out by the hymnal committee with a number of others to 30 or more SDA composers, asking for submission of new tunes. Wayne Hooper’s (1920-; see Biographies) TENDER SONG was selected. He says the name was chosen to reflect the tenderness in Jesus’ heart as He lovingly received the little ones into His arms and remonstrated with those who would drive the children away.
📖 Reference: Companion to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal by Wayne Hooper and Edward E. White. Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1988.
Text
1
Jesus, Friend, so kind and gentle,
Little ones we bring to Thee:
Grant to them Thy dearest blessing,
Let Thine arms around them be;
Now enfold them in Thy goodness,
From all danger keep them free.
2
Thou who did receive the children
To Thyself so tenderly,
Give to all who teach and guide them
Wisdom and humility.
Vision true to keep them noble,
Love to serve them faithfully.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Mark 10:13, 16 (b) Mark 10:14
Author
Philip E. Gregory (1886-1974)
Copyright
Words by permission of Denalde M. Gregory; Music copyright 1984 by Wayne Hooper.
Hymn Tune
TENDER SONG
Metrical Number
8.7.8.7.8.7.
Composer
Wayner Hooper (1920-)
Year Composed
1984
