Today’s Bible Verse
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” –Matthew 5:11-12
Posted by MaryO on October 1, 2026 in Bible Verse, Books of The Bible, The Holy Bible, Today's Bible Verse, Videos
Tags: Gospel According to Matthew, Matthew, Matthew 5:11-12, Today's Bible Verse, video
Today’s Bible Verse
Posted by MaryO on September 27, 2026 in Books of The Bible, The Holy Bible, Today's Bible Verse
Tags: Gospel According to Matthew, Matthew, Matthew 6:33, Today's Bible Verse
“His Eye Is On The Sparrow” was the postlude at Pender’s 9:00 am Traditional Service on September 3, 2023. It was played on piano by Heidi Jacobs.
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
Civilla Martin
The Faith We Sing, page No. 2146
“Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home?
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he;
His eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.”
Civilla Durfee Martin (1866-1948) was born in Nova Scotia and died in Atlanta, Ga. In “His eye is on the sparrow” (1905), she has provided one of the most influential and often-recorded gospel hymns of the 20th century.
Notable versions include recordings by Shirley Ceasar, Marvin Gaye, Kirk Franklin & the Family, Mahalia Jackson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Dottie West and Barbara Mandrell.
Jessica Simpson included this song in her album Irresistible (2001). The most stirring renditions of this song are associated for many with actress-singer Ethel Waters, who loved this it so much that it became the title of her autobiography (1950).
Martin was the daughter of James N. and Irene Harding Holden, and was a schoolteacher with modest musical training. Together with her husband, Walter (1862-1935), they often wrote gospel songs for revival meetings. “Be not dismayed” (UM Hymnal, No. 130) is an example of their collaboration.
Walter Stillman Martin was a Baptist minister who received his education at Harvard. He later became a member of the Disciples of Christ, teaching at Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson, N.C., before moving to Atlanta in 1919, a location that became the base for revivals that he held throughout the U.S.
The song was obviously inspired by Matthew 6:26: “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Later in Matthew (10:29-31), the Gospel writer continues on this theme: “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Similar thoughts are cited in Luke 12:6-7. Stanza two quotes part of John 14:1 directly, “Let not your heart be troubled…”
Civilla Martin describes the context out of which the hymn was born: “Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheelchair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s response was simple: ‘His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.’ The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn ‘His Eye Is on the Sparrow’ was the outcome of that experience.”
The next day she mailed the poem to Charles Gabriel, a famous composer of gospel songs, who wrote a tune for it.
The themes of solace in spite of sorrow, and a profound sense of being under the watch-care of Jesus, who is a “constant friend,” offered the African-American community comfort during the Civil Rights movement. The refrain seals the theme by offering an apology for singing—“I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free”—words that would speak to everyone, but especially African Americans.
There is no doubt that African American gospel artist Kirk Franklin was influenced by Martin’s song when he composed “Why we sing” (The Faith We Sing, No. 2144).
Adapted from https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-his-eye-is-on-the-sparrow
Posted by MaryO on September 18, 2026 in Hymn History, hymns, Ministries, Music, Music Ministry, Pender UMC, Videos
Tags: autobiography, Barbara Mandrell, Civilla Martin, Dottie West, Ethel Waters, Gospel, Heidi Jacobs, His Eye Is On The Sparrow, John 14:1, Kirk Franklin & the Family, Luke 12:6-7, Mahalia Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Matthew, Matthew 10:29-31, Matthew 6:26, Pender UMC, pianist, piano, Shirley Ceasar, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the faith we sing, traditional service
Today’s Bible Verse
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” –Matthew 28:18-20
Posted by MaryO on September 28, 2021 in Books of The Bible, Get Involved!, Missions, The Holy Bible, Today's Bible Verse
Tags: authority, baptize, disciples, earth, Father, Gospel According to Matthew, heaven, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Matthew, Matthew 28:18-20, nation, Son, The Great Commission, Today's Bible Verse
Sing ‘n Celebrate Celebration of Children at October 1 at 5:00
Save this date for your family’s opportunity to hear Pender kids sharing about the beautiful story of “Good Good Father” — which will leave your children with a greater understanding of who God is and of who they are because they are loved by Him.
We read in Matthew 7:12 – “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you”, which is commonly known as the Golden Rule.
This statement, as Jesus formulated it, is the foundation of active goodness and mercy — the kind of love God shows to us every day.
We have a special opportunity next Sunday to be witness to our children and grandchildren demonstrating in words and acting this type of love.
Posted by MaryO on September 26, 2017 in Books of The Bible, Get Involved!, Music, Pender UMC, The Holy Bible
Tags: celebration, children, families, Golden Rule, Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus, love, Matthew, Matthew 7:12, Sing 'n Celebrate, witness
