10 Oct 2025, 12:31Blandine DamtseGlasgow, Glasgow City, Scotland, United Kingdom
Worship Reimagined During a Hymnal Sabbath in Glasgow
Glasgow Church celebrated a Hymnal Sabbath filled with historic hymns, orchestral music, and a musical sermon, inspiring spiritual renewal and reflection on Adventist heritage.
On 27 September, Glasgow Church hosted a special Hymnal Sabbath, organised by the Praise and Worship team. The day centred on reconnecting with the spiritual and historical significance of hymns, featuring uplifting music, orchestral performances, and personal testimonies. A highlight was the unique musical sermon titled Worship Re-imagined, which traced the journey of Adventist hymnology and history through song.
In the lead-up to the day, Praise and Worship leader Ebube Nwarunma invited members to submit their favourite old hymns, encouraging full participation. The church was filled with members and visitors, united by music, the universal language of worship. The Glasgow Chorale, soloists, praise teams, and other singing groups performed in various languages. A highlight was the Glasgow Orchestra’s performance of I Surrender All and You Raise Me Up, adding a classical touch to the service.
Using melodies and hymns to narrate the history of the Adventist Church, Pastor Claudiu Popescu delivered the unique and uplifting musical sermon titled Worship Re-imagined, featuring nine ancient hymns. Each song was introduced with its historical background, songwriter, and message, bringing the Church’s history to life through music.
The first four hymns captured the early struggles and enduring faith of the Adventist pioneers. There Is No Rest conveyed the sorrow and hope that followed the Great Disappointment in October 1844. After this event, Annie Smith, a Millerite, lost her faith but later returned to Christ and became one of the most prolific hymn writers in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As members sang two of the hymns she wrote, I’m a Pilgrim and How Far From Home, they were reminded of spiritual longing, perseverance, and the hope of our Heavenly Home. The fourth hymn, Long Upon the Mountain, was used as the opening song at the first General Conference session in 1860, where the name “Seventh-day Adventist” was officially adopted. Both a lament and a call to spiritual revival, the hymn was sung a cappella, just as it was on that historic occasion, without any instrumental accompaniment.
The next set of hymns marked the identity of the early Adventist Church as they reflect its key beliefs, such as the Sabbath and health reform. On this note, a soloist beautifully interpreted Safely Through Another Week, a hymn written by John Newton in 1774, which became a beloved tradition for welcoming the Sabbath, a practice also kept in Ellen G White’s home, as recalled by her grandchildren. Dare to Be a Daniel highlighted the health message and the importance of courage and discipline among youth, inspired by the temperance movement in the 19th century.
Pastor Popescu reflected on Ellen White’s visions of angelic choirs as he introduced What Heavenly Music, emphasising the importance of order and harmony in worship, and how music connects with heaven. Revive Us Again stirred a renewed spirit in the congregation as the pastor recalled the 1867 crisis in the New Hampshire church, where 60 of 70 members left. Through prayer and study led by Ellen and James White, all returned—along with new members. This crisis marked the beginning of revival meetings in the Seventh-day Adventist Church's history.
The service concluded with Sweet By and By, a hymn closely associated with Ellen G White, who softly sang it on her final Sabbath in 1915, expressing her steadfast hope in eternal life. Pastor Popescu closed with a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of music, asking that the hymns revive hearts and renew our focus on the heavenly pilgrimage.
The Hymnal Sabbath also marked the welcoming of a new member and the farewell of another. Grace, attending her first Sabbath service in the UK, described the historical approach of the day as ‘mind-blowing and uplifting.’ Lonje, a member of the Glasgow Orchestra, shared a powerful farewell testimony of how God answers prayers. She also expressed gratitude to the church for helping her reconnect with her musical gift.
Members left feeling spiritually renewed. The service sparked increased interest in Church at Study, a gathering held on Fridays at 7:30 pm for the past two years. Under Pastor Popescu's guidance, attendees explore Adventist history through the book Lest We Forget by George R. Knight, using discussion and Bible study to deepen their faith.
Glasgow Church celebrated a Hymnal Sabbath filled with historic hymns, orchestral music, and a musical sermon, inspiring spiritual renewal and reflection on Adventist heritage.
On 27 September, Glasgow Church hosted a special Hymnal Sabbath, organised by the Praise and Worship team. The day centred on reconnecting with the spiritual and historical significance of hymns, featuring uplifting music, orchestral performances, and personal testimonies. A highlight was the unique musical sermon titled Worship Re-imagined, which traced the journey of Adventist hymnology and history through song.
In the lead-up to the day, Praise and Worship leader Ebube Nwarunma invited members to submit their favourite old hymns, encouraging full participation. The church was filled with members and visitors, united by music, the universal language of worship. The Glasgow Chorale, soloists, praise teams, and other singing groups performed in various languages. A highlight was the Glasgow Orchestra’s performance of I Surrender All and You Raise Me Up, adding a classical touch to the service.
Using melodies and hymns to narrate the history of the Adventist Church, Pastor Claudiu Popescu delivered the unique and uplifting musical sermon titled Worship Re-imagined, featuring nine ancient hymns. Each song was introduced with its historical background, songwriter, and message, bringing the Church’s history to life through music.
The first four hymns captured the early struggles and enduring faith of the Adventist pioneers. There Is No Rest conveyed the sorrow and hope that followed the Great Disappointment in October 1844. After this event, Annie Smith, a Millerite, lost her faith but later returned to Christ and became one of the most prolific hymn writers in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As members sang two of the hymns she wrote, I’m a Pilgrim and How Far From Home, they were reminded of spiritual longing, perseverance, and the hope of our Heavenly Home. The fourth hymn, Long Upon the Mountain, was used as the opening song at the first General Conference session in 1860, where the name “Seventh-day Adventist” was officially adopted. Both a lament and a call to spiritual revival, the hymn was sung a cappella, just as it was on that historic occasion, without any instrumental accompaniment.
The next set of hymns marked the identity of the early Adventist Church as they reflect its key beliefs, such as the Sabbath and health reform. On this note, a soloist beautifully interpreted Safely Through Another Week, a hymn written by John Newton in 1774, which became a beloved tradition for welcoming the Sabbath, a practice also kept in Ellen G White’s home, as recalled by her grandchildren. Dare to Be a Daniel highlighted the health message and the importance of courage and discipline among youth, inspired by the temperance movement in the 19th century.
Pastor Popescu reflected on Ellen White’s visions of angelic choirs as he introduced What Heavenly Music, emphasising the importance of order and harmony in worship, and how music connects with heaven. Revive Us Again stirred a renewed spirit in the congregation as the pastor recalled the 1867 crisis in the New Hampshire church, where 60 of 70 members left. Through prayer and study led by Ellen and James White, all returned—along with new members. This crisis marked the beginning of revival meetings in the Seventh-day Adventist Church's history.
The service concluded with Sweet By and By, a hymn closely associated with Ellen G White, who softly sang it on her final Sabbath in 1915, expressing her steadfast hope in eternal life. Pastor Popescu closed with a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of music, asking that the hymns revive hearts and renew our focus on the heavenly pilgrimage.
The Hymnal Sabbath also marked the welcoming of a new member and the farewell of another. Grace, attending her first Sabbath service in the UK, described the historical approach of the day as ‘mind-blowing and uplifting.’ Lonje, a member of the Glasgow Orchestra, shared a powerful farewell testimony of how God answers prayers. She also expressed gratitude to the church for helping her reconnect with her musical gift.
Members left feeling spiritually renewed. The service sparked increased interest in Church at Study, a gathering held on Fridays at 7:30 pm for the past two years. Under Pastor Popescu's guidance, attendees explore Adventist history through the book Lest We Forget by George R. Knight, using discussion and Bible study to deepen their faith.
