Psalter Hymnal (Gray) ‎#284

284. Father, I Adore You

Text Information

• First Line: Father, I adore you
• Title: Father, I Adore You
• Author: Terrye Coelho (1972)
• Meter: 664
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Topic: Commitment & Dedication; Love: Our Love to God; Praise & Adoration; Songs for Children: Hymns; Word of God; Offering; Trinity
• Copyright: Text and music © 1972, Maranatha! Music. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.
• CCLI Number: 26557

Tune Information

• Name: MARANATHA
• Composer: Terrye Coelho (1972)
• Meter: 664
• Key: F Major
• Copyright: Text and music © 1972, Maranatha! Music. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.

Text Information:

“Father, I Adore You” is one of the more enduring praise choruses of the latter part of the twentieth century, partly because it's a humble and simple text and partly because it’s enjoyable to sing as a round. The text expresses praise, subjection, and love to the triune God. Out of the oral tradition in which choruses like this one prevail, the song's trinitarian text has prompted an additional, concluding stanza: “Three-in-One, I adore you.” Some hymnals use the plural form, "Father, we adore you."

Terrye Coelho (b. Camp Roberts, CA, 1952) states that she composed both text and tune for this hymn in 1972 "while driving a car and worshiping God." The song was first performed, published, and recorded at Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, California, in 1972. In 1971 Coelho was converted to Christianity, joined Calvary Chapel, and became a singer for Maranatha! Music. Educated at Arizona State University and at a medical assistant's program in Anaheim, California, Coelho is a songwriter and homemaker. She has written many lyrics, most of which are unpublished.

Liturgical Use:
Offering of gifts; adult baptism; profession of faith; ordination; commissioning; Lord's Supper; many other occasions in Christian worship.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

The tune title MARANATHA is an Aramaic expression meaning "Come, O Lord!" or "Our Lord has come." "Maranatha!" became an acclamation in the early church (see 1 Cor. 16:22; Rev. 22:20) and is also part of the name of the Christian music publisher Maranatha! Music, which began as a ministry of Calvary Chapel.

Sing this hymn in three stanzas, or preferably as a three-part round. Use very light registration, just strong enough to provide a steady tempo, and maintain the pulse between stanzas. Guitars are appropriate, with perhaps flute or other melody instruments improvising a descant by playing the alto or tenor part an octave higher.

Because the song is so simple, people can divide into groups to sing it as a round; to avoid the distraction of spoken directions, the song leader can simply gesture to signal when each group should begin. Try singing stanza 1 together; then continue with stanzas 2 and 3 in a round.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook