Church Kid, Piano Bench, Open Hymnal: The Heart Behind This Project

“Everyone turn to hymn 282. Tonight we’ll sing all four stanzas—ladies on 1 and 3, men on 2 and 4.”

It was Sunday evening, and we stood among the wooden pews, hymnbooks in hand. My family filled an entire row, with my sister and I nestled between parents and grandparents—strategically separated to keep us from whispering or giggling. The hymnals were worn and well-used, pages soft from years of turning, corners bent, spines a little cracked. They smelled like age and reverence.

I didn’t know what theology was back then. But I knew the sound of it.

The deep baritone of the man two rows back. The sweet soprano of the woman in front. The way the voices came together—layered, steady, sure. That’s what faith sounded like to me.

🎶 Hymns That Still Sing

Some songs stood out even then.’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus stirred something in me—I didn’t yet know all the life that would test those words, but I wanted to mean them.On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand felt like a declaration, and even as a child, I could join in with confidence.

We had Sunday evening services and Wednesday night hymn sings. I sang in children’s choir and played in a bell choir. These hymns weren’t just music—they were memory. They were formation. They were worship before I knew what that word fully meant.

Now, decades later, I lead worship from the piano. Most Sundays, the songs I play are newer—modern praise and worship music that I genuinely love. But every time an old hymn slips in, something sacred awakens in me.

These songs feel like coming home.

📖 What Is Sunday Songs and Stories?

This project was born out of that longing—to revisit the hymns that shaped my heart and to share them with others who might need a reminder of their beauty, truth, and power.

Each month, I’m working my way through my church’s hymnal, one song at a time. I’ll be:

• Playing each hymn on the piano

• Sharing the backstory of the hymn and its composer

• Reflecting on scripture that ties into its message

• Posting devotionals, videos, and Instagram content around each song

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This isn’t just a walk down memory lane. It’s an act of worship. It’s a reclaiming of spiritual formation that still speaks today.

💌 Want to Follow Along?

If this resonates with you—if you grew up on pews and potlucks, or if you’re just discovering the beauty of hymns for the first time—I’d love for you to join me.

Subscribe to the email list to receive monthly hymn reflections, free downloads, and behind-the-scenes updates.[Click here to sign up] (← add your email opt-in link)

You can also follow along on Instagram @sundaysongsandstories or YouTube, where I’ll share performances and stories behind the songs.

Thank you for being here at the beginning. Let’s sing together.