Happy New Year!

Today marks the 250th anniversary of the first performance of “Amazing Grace,” written by
pastor John Newton to accompany his sermon. It was originally written as poetry. The familiar
melody was added in 1835, though the words were sung to various traditional tunes before that.

At the time, Newton was parish priest of the Anglican church in Olney, Buckinghamshire,
England. (If you want to smile a little more today or know someone from Liberal, Kansas, click
here.)

For certain, these verses work as spoken poetry, but you won’t be able to get the tune out of your head. I can’t think of many better ways to start a new year.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.