Hymn 207
Choosing hymns is a pleasant little task, but one needs to be a bit careful. 
We like singing  them, or humming along if  not too confident that we will hit the right note. 
But congregations ( and organists) want a hymn whose tune is well known and if possible relates to the season in the Christian calendar, not always easy to find that combination. 
To-day I’ve tried to play safe by choosing an old  favourite which fulfils one of those criteria, that of  being well known. 
 “ Praise to the Lord, The Almighty, the King of Creation…….”
Its music dates from the time of Johann Sebastian Bach and the words, so familiar to all of us I imagine,  She seems to have spent most of her life on the continent looking for and translating hymns  were translated from the original  German  by a remarkable Victorian lady Catherine Winkworth who my researches show was a highly prolific translator.  This hymn, and that other old favourite  “Now Thank we All Our God…” are the best known.  Some however  exude a Victorian  air of gloom and doom not much to modern taste. 
“Who knows how near my end might be?
“Zion Mourns in fear and anguish”
“When O’er my sins I sorrow”
I notice that the Hymn I have does not include these offering. 
Praising our creator is a cheerful thing to do. And When we come to church we are here for worship and praise, not matter what Sunday it is.  It’s a theme that continues throughout the Christian year. 
I’m not so sure however about the theme of the second verse. “Has thou not seen how thy heart’s wishes have been granted in what he ordaineth?”    What we want is not necessarily what God wants for us.  But we can as the third verse says, ponder anew what the Almighty can do” for each of us if we put our faith in him.
