I'll Be a Sunbeam I'll Be a Sunbeam "I'll Be a Sunbeam" (also called "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam") is a popular children's Christian hymn composed by Nellie Talbot; it is sung to music composed in 1900 by Edwin O. Excell. Due to its age, the hymn has entered the public domain in the United States. Published in Chicago by Excell as hymn number 137 in his "Praises" in 1905, the words and music were anthologized at least three more times in other hymnals before 1923. Virtually nothing is known about lyricist Nellie Talbot; attempts to search census records suggest that she may
What Wondrous Love Is This of his "American Hymnsong Suite" (2003) for concert band. In 1966, the United Methodist "Book of Hymns" became the first standard hymnal to incorporate "What Wondrous Love Is This". "What Wondrous Love Is This" is now a widely known hymn and is included in many major hymnals, including the "Baptist Hymnal", "Book of Praise" (Presbyterian), "Chalice Hymnal" (Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)), "Common Praise" (Anglican), "The Hymnal 1982" (Episcopalian), "Lutheran Book of Worship", "New Century Hymnal" (United Church of Christ), "Presbyterian Hymnal", "Voices United" (United Church of Canada), "The Worshipping Church" (interdenominational), "Worship" (Roman Catholic), and "Singing the Living Tradition"