You may have noticed that hymns are not very popular in many of our churches. To preserve these musical statements of faith, we need to pass them on. That is what I am trying to do with PraiseNotes.com, as well as in my own local church.

That is why I started a new practice in my children’s choir this year. I am asking our pastors and elders to share their favorite hymn. Last Sunday, one of our pastors shared his favorite hymn, “Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands,” an Easter hymn written by Martin Luther.

Our pastor explained the definitions of certain words from the hymn that would be difficult for children to understand and told them why this was his favorite hymn. He told the children about his daily devotional routine–every morning after he gets his cup of coffee, he begins by singing one hymn from the Trinity Hymnal. What a wonderful example for all of us to follow – daily hymn singing, prayer and Bible reading!

If we are to see I hope that, if your church is not familiar with this Easter hymn, that you might consider learning and singing it this year.