CBC Update
Dear Church,
We recently had the privilege of seeing the movie/documentary The First Hymn by John Dickson. It tells the story of ancient papyrus fragments discovered in Egypt in the early 20th century, dating back to the 2nd century AD. These fragments were taken to Oxford University and stored for 100 years. When analysed, one scrap was found to contain both the words and music of what is now known as The First Hymn. You can read more about it here: thefirsthymnmovie.com
Some of the original words say:
Might, praise and glory forever, to God,
the only giver of all good gifts,
Amen, Amen.
What’s remarkable about this song—beyond being the oldest known Christian hymn with music—is that it shows worship has always been central to Christian life. Even Jesus and the disciples sang hymns together (Matthew 26:30).
Even more striking than the hymn itself is the context in which it was found. In the same region, the early church faced persecution and martyrdom. Many believers were forced to the margins or killed for their faith.
It’s easy to praise God when life is going well. But can we worship Him in hardship, uncertainty, and loss?
Scripture shows that worship in difficulty is not only possible—it’s often the most powerful kind. Take the prophet Habakkuk, living in the 7th century BC as Babylon overran Israel. In the midst of devastation, he declared:
Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Saviour.
—Habakkuk 3:17–18
Habakkuk describes complete economic and social collapse—yet still says, “I will rejoice in the Lord.” Why? The next verse tells us:
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.
—Habakkuk 3:19
If worship is just a feeling, we’ll struggle to praise God in difficult times. But if it flows from who God is and what He has done—when we recall His love and grace—we can worship regardless of our circumstances.
Let’s join the voices of the early church:
Might, praise and glory forever, to God,
the only giver of all good gifts,
Amen, Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Ian