What We Sang at the 2022 G3 Regional Conference in Douglasville, GA

shallow focus photography of musical note book

As we gathered last week at Pray’s Mill Baptist Church for the first G3 Regional Conference, there were many encouraging moments. The preaching of the Word was wonderfully edifying and challenging (as it always is at any G3 conference). But another wonderful experience from last week’s conference was having around 700 people packed into our church auditorium, zealously singing the Word of God in unity. There is something remarkable about embodying the truth of God’s Word set in poetically beautiful, theologically and doxologically rich texts, set to simple, congregationally singable, and beautiful melodies. And this is the kind of singing that those at last week’s conference were able to participate in.

As we planned the hymns for this conference, we had several goals in mind. We wanted to ensure that each hymn that we sung was either something that every Christian would know or should know. We wanted a strong representation of the great hymns of our faith that span across the centuries. We also wanted to introduce some hymns that for many churches and Christians have been lost or forgotten, and we believe should be restored to every church’s hymn singing repertoire. We wanted to ensure that each of the hymns were accompanied in musically simple and beautiful ways that would in no way distract from the Word-centered nature of Christian hymnody, but rather would support and encourage the hearty participation of all who were in attendance. Finally, we wanted to ensure that all the hymns that were sung tied together the themes of each sermon, allowing us to respond in biblically faithful and doxologically rich expressions as we began applying the truths in which we were being exhorted.

Many who attended the conference have asked for a list of the hymns that we sang. I have provided that list below. May God richly bless you as you grow in your desire to sing the Word of God, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 5:18–20).

Thursday, February 10

Morning Session:

  • Be Thou My Vision
    (Words: 8th cent. Hymn; translated by Mary Elizabeth Burne, 1905; vers: Eleanor Hull, 1912; Music: SLANE, Irish Folk Melody)  

Afternoon Session:

  • And Can It Be?
    (Words: Charles Wesley, 1738, alt.; Music: SAGINA, Thomas Campbell, 1825)

Evening Session:

  • Speak, O Lord
    (Words and Music: Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, 2006)

Friday, February 11

Morning Session:

  • Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
    (Words: Joachim Neander, 1680, based on Psalm 103:1-6; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.; Music: LOBE DEN HERREN, Stralsund Gesangbuch, 1665)

Afternoon Session:

  • All Creatures of Our God and King
    (Words: Francis of Assisi, 1225, tr. William H. Draper, 1925; Music: LASST UNS ERFREUEN, Geistliche Kirchengesäng, 1623, arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906)
  • Holy, Holy, Holy
    (Words: Reginald Heber, 1826; Music: NICAEA, John B. Dykes, 1861)

Evening Session:

  • Behold Our God
    (Words and Music: Jonathan Baird, Meghan Baird, Ryan Baird, and Stephen Altrogge, 2011)

Saturday, February 12

Morning Session:

  • Crown Him with Many Crowns
    (Words: Matthew Bridges,1851, st. 1, 3–5, Godfrey Thring, st. 2, 1874; Music: DIADEMATA; George J. Elvey, 1868)
  • Depth of Mercy
    (Words: Charles Wesley, 1740; Music: Orlando Gibbons, 1623)
  • A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
    (Words: Martin Luther, 1529, based on Psalm 46, tr. Frederick H. Hedge, 1852; Music: Martin Luther, 1529; harm. Johann Sebastian Bach, 18th Century)
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