Over the next couple of months the choir will be making preparation to lead in worship on Easter Sunday morning. We will be sharing the Easter worship experience, “Near The Cross” created by Dennis Allen and Nan Allen. I hope you will join us that morning and help us celebrate Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. Some of the powerful songs the choir will sing include, “Remember the Cross”, “The Power of the Cross”, and “Jesus, Keep Me Near The Cross”. The choir will also sing, “The Cross (Medley)” that includes “At the Cross”, “There is a Fountain”, and “The Wonderful Cross” as we share together in the Lord’s Supper. As the choir sings these songs and others to our Risen Savior and Lord, it is our prayer that through the message of this worship experience someone will make the most important decision of their life to place their faith in the risen Lord. It is also our prayer that those who know the Lord will take a fresh look at the Christ who gave His life on Calvary’s cross and then rose from the dead. May we be challenged to live each day in the power of His resurrection!
William R. Newell was best known as a Bible teacher and as the writer of a commentary on the book of Romans. But one day while on his way to teach a class at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, the words of the hymn “At Calvary” began to form in his mind. He didn’t want to forget these ideas, so he went into an unoccupied classroom and scribbled the words on the back of an envelope. Continuing on to his class, he met the school’s director of music, Daniel B. Towner, and gave him the envelope on which he had scribbled the words. By the time Newell finished teaching his class an hour later, Towner had finished composing the music for this beloved gospel song.
The verses of the song follow the outline of the book of Romans. The first stanza deals with our sinfulness, the second with God’s law and with the cross, the third with our salvation, and the fourth with praise to God for His goodness.
Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.
Chorus:
Mercy there was great and grace was free,
Pardon there was multiplied to me,
There my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary
By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary
Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything,
Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing
Of Calvary.
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
Oh, the grace that bro’t it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary.
