Church in the Wildwood Collage

Every Sunday we all went to church, With mother and dad, who seemed to search For meaning to lives that sometimes seemed rather drab.

We listened to sermons about heaven and hell, Got all disturbed when the preacher would tell All that would happen to us if we didn't live like he thought we should.

The amen corner was where the old men sat Looking stern and grim and knowing that Sin was lurking around every bend and they were holding it at bay.

Singing songs was the very best part; We sang real loud and we sang from the heart, And of all things that we did in church, I remember that as being the greatest blessing.

"Amazing Grace", how sweet the sound, I was lost, but now I'm found, And forever more, this song lives deep within my very being.

Assurance was given, but how could it be That He would save a wretch like me? And we would sing, "Blessed Assurance" and joy would fill my heart.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine; How those words would roll out of my mouth; how great to be a Christian.

At the end of the sermon, when the song leader rose, With "Softly and Tenderly" the song that he chose, Some penitent soul would make the way down the aisle asking for prayer.

Or some might go forward to be baptized, From the Bible call to arise And have their sins washed away, calling on the name of the Lord.

We all went home feeling free from guilt; The load was lifted that sin had built And we felt brand new and could face life in peace and with hope.

But life was hard and our faith was tried; Temptation came and we tried to hide, But we knew all the time that the Almighty had His eye on us.

Behind the plow we often sang, As we geed and hawd and pulled the reins, And "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" was a favorite song to sing.

With strength renewed we would stand up straight And march along at a faster gait Singing: "Onward, Christian Soldiers" and our zeal grew ever more with that song.

What we sang, as the words came out Made us lift our voices, almost shout About the battle of the Lord in which we were fully engaged.

We saw ourselves as a soldier might, But walked by faith and not by sight; We couldn't control our own destiny, but believed in a God that could and would.

But the passing years brought us all to know That the day was coming when we had to go, And a new song about Jesus had Him saying, "Come Unto Me".

He calls His children from the other side; He calls us home where we'll abide With Him in heaven when the trumpet sounds at the end of time.

But there's a song of joy when the end begins, Singing, "When the Saints Go Marching In". And, yes, we want to be in that number when the Saints do go marching in.