What do you think?
Hymns of Grace
Hymns of Grace is a project of Grace Community Church & The Master's Seminary. This collection of approximately 355 titles features current standard hymns (some rearranged musically), old hymns that have fallen out of use, many wonderful new hymns, and more than 90 responsive Scripture readings (ESV).
524 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2015
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 4, 2022
It is my habit to sing a few hymns every morning. I start on page 1 of a hymnbook and sing until I've finished. Here are my thoughts after 18 months with Hymns of Grace. This will be long, primarily for my own review when I'm asked a question later.
In this era of singing from a screen with a worship band, it is a courageous act of faith on the part of The Master's Seminary Press to publish a hymnbook. I applaud them.
My random reactions:
~ The typeface is large and helpful to those among us needing reading glasses. There is the tiniest margin. I have a hymnbook collection; this is the easiest on the eyes.
~ This could be called the "Getty/Townend hymnal". There are several living composers included: Chris Anderson, Matt Boswell, Bob Kauflin, and Matt Papa are a few. But predominantly the new songs are by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend. I see this as a good thing for the pianists from small churches who prefer playing normal hymn notation than playing from lead sheets.
~ One of the features is an optional last verse reharmonizations on selected well-known hymns. This is something better known in more liturgical churches with organs. The last verse has an interlude before it which transposes the key up a half step or a whole step. The congregation is expected to sing the melody in unison because the chords, well, the chords are simply delicious! They have glorious diminished and augmented notes (changing the third in the chord) and take scenic byways that would clash with the original harmonies. I'm a HUGE fan of reharmonizations but find the "choral" endings in this book a little over the top. You know when the choir sings "Amen. Amen. AMEN!" going up a half note for each syllable and ending higher than the heavens, molto crescendo? Yeah, that. This hymnal seems geared toward churches that have the large choir, wearing robes, singing anthems.
~ I was pleasantly surprised to see the expansion of hymns earlier than Fanny Crosby; I Greet Thee Who My Sure Redeemer Art from the Genevan Psalter, Of the Father's Love Begotten plainsong, and Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation from the 7th century, are a few that come to mind.
~ Included among the hymns are many scripture readings designed for responsive reading.
~ My favorite of the entire collection is Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed? to an Irish Tune. When I taught it to my church a friend recognized the tune as the same on The Foggy Dew as performed by Sinéad O'Connor and The Chieftains. You can here the hymn here.
~ This is a Baptistic hymnal with a broad appeal to nondenominational churches. Although I fit more comfortably in a Presbyterian or Reformed setting, I could happily use this hymnal for worship.
In this era of singing from a screen with a worship band, it is a courageous act of faith on the part of The Master's Seminary Press to publish a hymnbook. I applaud them.
My random reactions:
~ The typeface is large and helpful to those among us needing reading glasses. There is the tiniest margin. I have a hymnbook collection; this is the easiest on the eyes.
~ This could be called the "Getty/Townend hymnal". There are several living composers included: Chris Anderson, Matt Boswell, Bob Kauflin, and Matt Papa are a few. But predominantly the new songs are by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend. I see this as a good thing for the pianists from small churches who prefer playing normal hymn notation than playing from lead sheets.
~ One of the features is an optional last verse reharmonizations on selected well-known hymns. This is something better known in more liturgical churches with organs. The last verse has an interlude before it which transposes the key up a half step or a whole step. The congregation is expected to sing the melody in unison because the chords, well, the chords are simply delicious! They have glorious diminished and augmented notes (changing the third in the chord) and take scenic byways that would clash with the original harmonies. I'm a HUGE fan of reharmonizations but find the "choral" endings in this book a little over the top. You know when the choir sings "Amen. Amen. AMEN!" going up a half note for each syllable and ending higher than the heavens, molto crescendo? Yeah, that. This hymnal seems geared toward churches that have the large choir, wearing robes, singing anthems.
~ I was pleasantly surprised to see the expansion of hymns earlier than Fanny Crosby; I Greet Thee Who My Sure Redeemer Art from the Genevan Psalter, Of the Father's Love Begotten plainsong, and Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation from the 7th century, are a few that come to mind.
~ Included among the hymns are many scripture readings designed for responsive reading.
~ My favorite of the entire collection is Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed? to an Irish Tune. When I taught it to my church a friend recognized the tune as the same on The Foggy Dew as performed by Sinéad O'Connor and The Chieftains. You can here the hymn here.
~ This is a Baptistic hymnal with a broad appeal to nondenominational churches. Although I fit more comfortably in a Presbyterian or Reformed setting, I could happily use this hymnal for worship.
March 17, 2026
Reading the words and singing each night a few hymns before bed was recommended by one of my daughters. I have found this a wonderful way to end my day over the last year and made the songs a Spotify Playlist. If not this hymnal, pick one and worship the Lord in songs, hymns & spiritual songs giving thanks to God for your day and everything.
December 28, 2023
A great hymnal. Excellent formatting. Good organization. Its greatest weakness is also its greatest strength—the large number of modern hymns.
January 1, 2023
Has been an excellent companion to daily devotion.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews