To God be the Glory Great things He has done

8.    HOLY COMMUNION

9.    NOTICES, TITHES AND OTHER OFFERINGS

10.  VOTE OF THANKS

11.  CUTTING OF THE CAKE AND TRADITIONAL BIRTHDAY SONG

12.  TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE

Author: Frances Jane Van Alstyne (1820-1915)

Presenter: Sis. Ilobi Blessing

Frances Jane Van Alstyne (1820-1915), better known as Fanny Crosby ranks among the Church’s greatest writer of Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Over the course of her more than 90 years of life. She composed more than 8,000 texts, many of which have been set to music and are today our favourite hymns of this faith. This prodigious output is made more remarkable still with the realization that Crosby was totally blind from six years of age; she praised the creator and Light of the world for more than 80 years without actually seeing the work of His hands.

“To God be the Glory” is well recognized as a wonderful hymn of praise and adoration of God. Written and first published in 1875, it was used by Ira Sankey in the British editions of his famous Song Books. However, it was not included in the U.S. editions, and so was practically unknown in North America until it was first used by Cliff Barrows in a Billy Graham Crusade in Nashville in 1954. Since that time, it has become one of the most well known and loved of songs.

Several aspects of this beloved composition set it forth not only as a hymn of praise, but also as a hymn of grace. From the outsets, it is clear that Fanny Crosby ascribes all credit to God for His work (Great things He has done), with no role for man’s efforts in God’s great plan. In the first stanza, it is Jesus alone who opens the life gate of salvation, so that all have the opportunity to be saved.

This is a clear message of grace, in contrast to the idea that man must prove his worth before eternal life is granted.

However, it is in the second stanza that Crosby most clearly sets forth the conditions for entrance through this gate – faith, and faith alone. Note that redemption is promised to “every believer” (John 3:16), and that regardless of the magnitude of one’s sins, even “the vilest offender” who puts his or her faith in Christ, such as the criminal crucified with Christ (Luke 23:43) or Saul of Tarsus (I Tim. 1:15) will immediately receive pardon from Jesus. The third stanza and chorus continue to bring this point of grace home, proclaiming that it is God who has done great things, and the one to whom praise and adoration belong. As is evident here as well as in her other hymns, Fanny Crosby was a great woman of God who clearly understood the importance of God’s marvellous grace in salvation.

The tune “To God be the Glory” to which this hymn was set, was composed by William H. Doane (1832-1915), a frequent collaborator with Ms. Crosby in the production of spiritual songs. In his lifetime, Doane composed more than 2,000 tunes, many of which

Are still in common use today.

Members of the household of God, let us indeed rejoice in our salvation provided so freely by Christ Jesus!.

 EMHB 313

1.         To God be the glory! Great things He hath done!

            So loved He the world that He gave us His son;

            Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

            And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Chorus:           Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord

                        Let the earth hear His voice

                        Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord

                        Let the people rejoice!

                        O come to the Father through Jesus the Son

                        And give Him the glory!

                        Great things He hath done!

2.         O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!

            To every believer the promise of God;

            The vilest offender who truly believes

            That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

3.         Great things He hath taught us, Great things He hath done,

            And great our rejoicing through Jesus the son,

            But purer, and higher, and greater will be

            Our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see.

13.  PRAYER AND BENEDICTION

14.  REFRESHMENT

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY CELEBRANTS

1.    Taiwo Fasesin                                               -           5^th

2.    Kehinde Fasesin                                           -           5^th

3.    Durojaiye Oyewole                                       -           6^th

4.    Oluwatosin Oyewole                                   -           10^th

5.    Sis. A. A. Adesina                                         -           14^th

6.    Sis. Ilobi Blessing                                         -           14^th

7.    Sis. V. O. Odunayo                                       -           15^th

8.    Sis. M. W. Oladele                                         -           22^nd

Adesegun Akitoye

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