Ring Out the Old, Ring In the New
The New Year is a wonderful time to both reflect on the past, and also to look ahead to the future. Laurie Gauger's hymn text "Ring Out the Old, Ring in the New" does both masterfully. Ringing out the old means acknowledging our sinfulness and our unworthiness of God's great blessings. But ringing in the new means praising God for his grace and relying on him for the strength to live a new life, guided by the Holy Spirit.
Note that this text is closely modeled on “Ring Out, Wild Bells,” one of the poems in Tennyson’s In Memoriam, 1850.
Sarah's soothing melody to this beautiful new hymn highlights the peace that governs the Christian's life--it's the peace of knowing the forgiveness and eternal life that Christ has won for us.
Selected verses:
Ring out the old, ring in the new! The hour is late; the night is cold.
God give us faith and help us make the new year better than the old.
Ring out the old year's weeping ache for those we love gone to the grave.
Ring in the soothing peace that knows that Christ has come, that they are safe.
Ring out the broken family bonds, hard words and harder mute neglect.
Ring in a hope to reunite to turn, seek peace, forgive forget.
Ring out the old, ring in the new. Give both to Christ, for he alone
Turns old to new, and dark to dawn, and lights the road that takes us home.
Included in your purchase: PDF of Piano Accompaniment and Guitar Chords and Congregation Bulletin TIFF files in 2 sizes. Also included are two MP3 files -- one instrumental and the other including vocals.
Suggested donation: $15
Purchase of this song includes permission to copy and use the music freely within an individual congregation. Purchases may not be transferred to or used in other congregations. If you have questions about this, please contact me.
