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Open Your Hymnals

Hymns for Worship - Irene Bennett 8 Episodes May 3, 2026

Open Your Hymnals is a podcast that explores hymns to help listeners sing with understanding and deepen their spiritual journey. Each episode looks at the lives of hymn writers and composers, examines how lyrics relate to God's Word, and considers how music carries the message effectively. The show offers practical applications for personal devotions, home worship, church life, and community ministries. It is produced by Hymns for Worship, a website dedicated to helping church members sing with spirit and understanding.

Episodes

008: Franklin E. Belden: The Adventist Hymn Writer Who Walked Away May 3, 2026 00:26:58 When we talk about Adventist hymn writers, one name is almost impossible to ignore: Franklin E. Belden.If you grew up Adventist, you have probably sung his hymns without realizing it. His words and tunes are woven deeply into our hymnody. He was gifted, prolific, practical, and remarkably tuned in to what congregations could sing.But here is where the story becomes uncomfortable.Franklin Belden wa

007: O Brother, Be Faithful: From Popular Tune to Adventist Hymn Apr 18, 2026 00:23:51 References:“Brother, Be Faithful.” Hymnary.org, https://hymnary.org/text/o_brother_be_faithful_soon_jesus_will_co. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026. “Hymns.” Encyclopedia.com, https://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-arts/performing-arts/music-theory-forms-and-instruments/hymns. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026. “O Brother, Be Faithful.” Amazing Facts Bible Universe, https://manna.amazingfacts.org/amazingfacts/websi

006: Uriah Smith: The One-Legged Pioneer God Humbled Mar 31, 2026 00:27:04 Resources:“Advent Pioneers Biographical Sketches and Pictures.” Ellen G. White Writings, m.egwwritings.org.“Battle Creek, Mich., Tuesday, March 10, 1903.” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 80, no. 10, 10 Mar. 1903, Adventist Archives.“General Conference Session of 1888.” Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, encyclopedia.adventist.org.“Pathways of the Pioneers – Uriah Smith.” Ellen G. White

005: How Far From Home: Annie Smith's Hymn That Transformed a Parlor Song Mar 15, 2026 00:26:39 In this episode, we will talk about one of the three hymns Annie Smith wrote: “How Far From Home?”

004: Annie Smith: The Young Editor Who Helped Build Adventism Feb 28, 2026 00:19:22 A spotlight on Annie Smith and the pivotal role she played in the early days of the Adventist movement.

003: The Morning Trumpet: How 'O When Shall I See Jesus' Became an Adventist Hymn - Part 2 (Almost Home Series) Jan 23, 2026 00:30:07 In Part 2, we slow down and sit with the words themselves. We’ll take a deeper dive into the hymn text—what it’s actually saying, why it resonates so powerfully with Adventist hope, and how it can be lived out in practical ways in everyday life. Then we’ll listen with fresh ears as the Almost Home piano arrangement interprets that same longing, urgency, and promise in sound—turning theology into m

002: The Morning Trumpet: How 'O When Shall I See Jesus' Became an Adventist Hymn - Part 1 (Almost Home Series) Jan 4, 2026 00:19:42 Resources Mentioned:1. - TTBB (Mack Wilberg)2. - SATB (Mark Hayes)3. -SATB (Lloyd Larson)4. - SSA (Ken Berg) 5. (Irene Bennett) 6. (JV Himes & Josiah Litch) 7. (BF White)Resources Used:1. (piano accompaniment)2. (Sofia Tsatalbasidis & Thomas Mayhew) 3. (AJ Consolacion II)Purchase Resources: (For the scores I don’t own, I receive a small commission without additional costs to you)

001: 'The Three Messages' of Revelation 14 -- An Overlooked Early Adventist Hymn (Almost Home Series) Dec 20, 2025 00:28:03 Resources mentioned:1. (Bryn Terfel)2. (Ted Wilson)3. (Oliver Jacques)4. (Ludwig van Beethoven)5. (Gustav Holst / Jean Sibelius)6. (C. Mervyn Maxwell)7. (John MacDuff)8. (WIlliam Williams)9. (Hymns for Worship)10. (Hymns for Worship)11. (Hymns for Worship) 12. 13.14. - Audio15. - Music sheetTranscript available here: https://hymnsforworship.org/the-three-messages-and-revelation-14-an-o

Open Your Hymnals

Episodes

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