‘How Great Thou Art’

We get a very necessary reminder with Psalm 127, that our comfort in Christ is only complete when it is backed by the knowledge of the Father’s eternal care, loving purpose and support that we find in the Scriptures of the Old Testament.

Two assessments of The Servant King, from different standpoints, are completely complementary and give it the respect that it rightly earns.

A loving analysis of For Everyone Born a Place at the Table brings tears to my eyes.

And How Great Thou Art, responding to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, reminds me of other tears, of joy and thankfulness. Michael Allardice says: “when I was asked to write this piece, I had already chosen it for worship that week.”

Cartoon: Bill McArthur

After I retired I went to Glenmore Lodge, to learn to climb and descend safely. I learned to climb with ropes then became a scrambler, climbing solo on short routes graded difficult for roped climbers.

Over on Arran I stayed a weekend in Lochranza Youth Hostel, heading for a middle grade scramble Cioch na h’Oighe.

Hard searching got me onto the ridge then lots of scrambling got me to the top and along to Mullach Buidhe. I sat looking down at the fearsome steep-sided crest and on down to the beauty of Sannox Bay, and my soul burst out with “O Lord my God”.

Next morning I joined the service in the church in Lochranza and the first hymn was How Great Thou Art.

Later, on a free weekend at Glenmore Lodge, I scrambled Afterthought Arete, graded a severe scrambling route. It was early September but cold, my fingers became frozen and I got to the top in a brief hail shower. I looked back down at what I had achieved and I burst out with “O Lord my God.”

Next morning I joined the wee church in Rothiemurchus. The first hymn was How Great Thou Art.

Guy Hansford, Troon