The bells ringing — Annie Herring

Yesterday I commented on the ringing of Orthodox bells. But, that put me in mind of an old Jesus People song. The lyrics were written by Annie Herring of Second Chapter of Acts, but they were popularized by Keith Green. How many of you remember them, or maybe still play them at Easter time?

Hear the bells ringing,
They’re singing that you can be born again,
Hear the bells ringing,
They’re singing Christ is risen from the dead.
The angel up on the tombstone,
Said He has risen, just as He said,
Quickly now, go tell his disciples,
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead.

Joy to the word, He has risen, hallelujah,
He’s risen, hallelujah,
He’s risen, hallelujah.

Hear the bells ringing,
They’re singing that you can be healed right now,
Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing,
Christ, He will reveal it now,
The angels, they all surround us,
And they are ministering Jesus’ power,
Quickly now, reach out and receive it,
For this could be your glorious hour.

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah,
He’s risen, hallelujah,
He’s risen, hallelujah, hallelujah…

The angel up on the tombstone,
Said He has risen, just as He said,
Quickly now, go tell his disciples,
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead.

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah,
He’s risen, hallelujah,
He’s risen, hallelujah, hallelujah

We can argue about  the theology of the song, though I do not really wish to. It is the overwhelming joy of the song that still sticks with me over 40 years later.

But, this lets me comment on yesterday’s post that the Old Testament bells that rang to ensure that God would not kill the priest in the Holy of Holies is now the ringing of resurrection joy in the Divine Liturgy. “Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah!”