Back Pew Letters Join

One hymn a month, by mail

Old hymns, real mail, and a little encouragement.

A little HymnCouragement in your mailbox.

Each month you get a letter about one hymn: where it came from, a line worth holding onto, and a story from me. Then pass the postcard on to someone who needs it.

First letters mail in November. Cancel anytime.

What comes in the envelope

A letter to keep and a card to give away

The hymn letter

One page, written to you, about this month's hymn.

  • The hymn and the line that sticks with you
  • Where it came from and who wrote it
  • A story from my own life

The pass-it-on postcard

A stained-glass postcard with a line from the hymn. Write a note on the back, add a stamp, and mail it to someone who could use some encouragement.

Some months the postcard comes as line art for you to color in first.

A look at the first letter

It Is Well with My Soul

Words
Horatio G. Spafford, 1873
Music
Philip P. Bliss, 1876

In 1873, Chicago lawyer Horatio Spafford sent his wife, Anna, and their four daughters ahead of him to Europe. Their ship, the Ville du Havre, collided with another vessel in the Atlantic and sank, and all four girls were lost. Anna survived and sent her husband a two-word telegram: “Saved alone.” As Spafford sailed to meet her, he is said to have written the words to this hymn. Three years later, Philip Bliss set them to music and named the tune after the ship.

“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

Who's writing

Hi, I'm Ryan!

I'm a school teacher who grew up in the church. Many of the first songs I learned on the guitar were hymns. Although many years have passed since these hymns were written, they are full of truth and encouragement for our lives today!

Membership

Less than a cup of coffee a month

Monthly

$4 / month

A new hymn letter and postcard every month. Cancel anytime.

Join monthly

Yearly

$40 / year

Twelve letters for the price of ten.

Join yearly

Give one

Gift

Send the letters to a parent, grandparent or friend from church. Great for homebound members, too.

Give a year

Churches and homebound ministries: bundles are coming. Email backpewletters@gmail.com and I'll reach out.

Save a seat on the back pew.

Join now and your first letter goes out in November.