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Download the 8:50 a.m. Service bulletin

Download the 10:50 a.m. Service bulletin

Bulletins are uploaded on the Friday before these Sunday services.

Sunday, August 10, 2026 

by Joshua L. Mazur, Director of Music 

Hymn 690: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah 

Few hymns capture the Christian pilgrimage more powerfully than "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah." Written in the eighteenth century by the great Welsh hymn writer William Williams and paired with the majestic tune CWM RHONDDA, it has become one of the Church's most beloved hymns of faith, courage, and trust in God's unfailing guidance. 

The opening petition is both simple and profound. 

"Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, 

pilgrim through this barren land." 

The Christian life is often described in Scripture as a journey. We are pilgrims, not permanent residents. Like Israel in the wilderness, we travel through a world filled with uncertainty, relying each day upon the God who leads us toward His promised inheritance. 

The hymn is rich with biblical imagery. It recalls the pillar of cloud and fire, the manna from heaven, the waters flowing from the rock, and the crossing of the Jordan into the Promised Land. These events are more than stories from Israel's history. They point to Christ, who feeds us with the Bread of Heaven, refreshes us with living water, and leads us safely through every trial. 

The stirring tune CWM RHONDDA perfectly matches the confidence of the text. Its broad phrases and noble harmonies give the congregation the sound of pilgrims marching together. Though the road may be difficult, the music never doubts the faithfulness of the One who leads. 

This hymn speaks beautifully to this Sunday's appointed lessons. In Genesis, Joseph's life is suddenly turned upside down, yet God is already working through circumstances that no one could yet understand. The Psalm celebrates God's providence throughout Joseph's story, revealing that the Lord never abandoned His servant. In the Gospel, the disciples find themselves terrified by wind and waves until Jesus comes to them across the sea, saying, "Take heart; it is I; do not be afraid." Peter steps out in faith, falters when he looks at the storm, and is immediately grasped by Christ's outstretched hand. St. Paul reminds us in Romans that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Together these readings proclaim a God who is faithful to guide, sustain, and rescue His people. 

That is precisely the confidence this hymn teaches us to sing. We do not ask God to remove every storm from our lives. We ask Him to lead us faithfully through them, trusting that His presence is sufficient and His promises are sure. 

As you sing this hymn on Sunday, notice how every petition looks beyond present circumstances toward God's enduring faithfulness. The hymn is not merely about arriving safely. It is about learning to trust the Guide who walks with us every step of the journey. 

As you sing, consider this question: 

Where is Christ asking me to trust His leading, even when I cannot yet see where the path will end?