Father, long before creation

Every meeting has an opening, and there are hymns for this purpose. Selecting a hymn for opening the meeting requires careful consideration. We not only need to know the hymns according to their categories, but we also must learn to touch the feeling of the hymns. Hymns are refined utterances, and they convey a feeling. They are expressions of human sentiments. It is hard for a person who is unrefined to sing with much feeling. We must learn to taste the different hymns, because each one has its particular feeling and taste. Hymns, #127, "Hark! Ten thousand voices crying," is majestic and powerful. Hymns, #95, "O Head once full of bruises" and Hymns, #101, "When we survey the wondrous cross," are both on the Lord's suffering, and their feeling is fine. The chorus of Hymns, #513, "All in all forever," written by A. B. Simpson, expresses the feeling in the brothers and sisters in exalting Christ. Hymns, #33, "Father, long before creation"; Hymns, #47, "Father, Thy name our souls would bless"; and Hymns, #52, "Father, to Thee a joyful song we raise," are all superb hymns of praise to the Father from His many sons. After singing these hymns, it is difficult to follow with another one. The best thing to do is turn the hymns into prayer as a conclusion to the meeting. Only by identifying the feeling and flavor of the hymns can we use them at the suitable time.

Sending off is derived from Genesis 18 where Abraham sent Jehovah off. Sending off expresses the lingering riches of a meeting. There is the need of sending off when a rich meeting produces a lingering atmosphere. For example, when we sense such a lingering atmosphere, we can stand up and share a few words, even though a brother has already ended the meeting with prayer. This kind of sending off leaves the saints full of a pleasant taste. Instead of speaking a word, we may offer another prayer. Seemingly this is repetitious, but it is not. This is sending off, which strengthens the lingering air of a meeting.

It is also appropriate to send off with a short hymn. For example, after the bread-breaking meeting has ended, we may still sing the last stanza of Hymns, #33, "Loving Father, now before Thee / We will ever praise Thy love." This is a sending off.

In order to have a good meeting, we need to learn how to meet, practice to meet, and know the sections of the meeting. According to our experience, a bread-breaking meeting can include eight sections. The first section is the opening. For the opening of the meeting, we need to seek what hymns to sing and what prayers to offer. The second section is introducing the subject. Every meeting has a purpose and center. The subject and the center need to be introduced at the beginning of the meeting. The third section is the strengthening. Sometimes the subject has been introduced, but the atmosphere is not strong. If the spirit is not high, there needs to be strengthening. The fourth section is uplifting the spirit. The fifth section is maintaining the spirit. The sixth section is filling up the time. The seventh section is the conclusion. The eighth section is the sending off. All these sections can be supported by hymns that reflect the emphasis of each section. For example, when we worship the Father, we might first sing "Father, to Thee a joyful song we raise" (Hymns, #52) and follow this with several strong prayers. Then we might sing "Father, long before creation" (Hymns, #33) and have more good prayers. If the feeling continues to linger, we can sing a stanza of this hymn again. If there is still a lingering feeling, we can have more prayer. This is the situation when the meeting is rich. If the meeting is poor, there will not be much prayer.

When the praises reach a climax, we can give thanks and bless the bread and cup. After the breaking and partaking of bread, we can begin to worship the Father in the same way and turn our hymns to prayer. We may choose to sing "By Thee, O God, invited, / We look unto the Son" (Hymns, #42). Stanzas 1 through 3 bring our heart to His Son, whereas stanza 4 is the thanksgiving and praise offered by us, the prodigal sons, who have returned home. We may choose to sing "Father, long before creation" (Hymns, #33). We can turn this hymn into prayer, praising the Father for all that He has done in us (stanzas 1 and 2) and worshipping and appreciating Him because of His mercy and lovingkindness (stanzas 3 and 4).

The fifth step is the turning. For example, after the remembrance of the Lord, we need to turn to worship the Father. Sometimes the Lord's table has not reached the point of worshipping the Father, but a brother selects Hymns, #33; sometimes a brother selects Hymns, #101 immediately after the bread and the cup have been passed. Both are inappropriate. Hence, there is the need of a sixth step for correction. Sometimes a meeting may be quite long. For example, when a great number of saints gather together, it may take a longer time for the bread and the cup to be passed. If this is the case, there may be the need to maintain the spirit through a hymn or some prayers. This is the seventh step, maintaining the spirit for the meeting. Even though we use hymns and prayers to maintain the spirit, there may still be the need to fill up the time with more prayers and singing. This is the eighth step. Then toward the end of the meeting comes the ninth step to sing a concluding hymn. Sometimes even though the meeting has ended, there is still a lingering air; thus, we may select another hymn to send the saints off. This is the tenth step. This can be compared to sending off a friend who has visited you by walking a distance with him.