1. NEARER MY GOD TO THEE Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Genesis 28:12 SARAH FLOWER ADAMS

2. It was reported that the band aboard the Titanic gallantly played “Nearer, My God, to Thee” as the great liner sank to its watery grave on April 14, 1912. A Canadian survivor told of being comforted by its strains.

3. It’s a great hymn, written by Sarah Flower Adams, an Englishwoman. Sarah grew up enjoying the spotlight with great interest in stage dreaming of being an actress. In 1837, she played “Lady MacBeth” in the Richmond Theatre in London to rave reviews.

4. Her frail health, however, hampered her career, and she found herself focusing more on her literary gifts. Among her compositions were hymns of praise to the Lord. Sarah’s sister, Eliza, a gifted musician, often wrote the music for her hymns. The two were very close.

5. One day in 1841, their pastor, Rev. William Johnson Fox of London’s South Place Unitarian Church, paid her visit. At that time, he mentioned that he was frustrated at his inability to find a hymn to go along with the upcoming Sunday’s message, which was from the story of Jacob at Bethel in Genesis 28:20-22.

6. Sarah offered to write a hymn based on those verses. For the rest of the week she poured over the passage, visualizing Jacob’s sleeping with a stone as his pillow as he dreamed of a ladder reaching to heaven. The following Sunday, South Place Unitarian Church sang Sarah’s “Nearer, My God, to Thee.”

7. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me; Still all my song would be nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

8. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, Darkness be over me, my rest a stone; Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

9. There let the way appear steps unto heav'n; All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n; Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

10. Then with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise, Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise; So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

11. Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upwards I fly, Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!