FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT, LAETARE SUNDAY
A selection of traditional and modern hymns. In today's programme we have some communion hymns, there's a psalm paraphrase from the Scottish Psalter, and we'll hear from some hymn writers who prove that age is no barrier to trying something new.
Detail of altar frontal (antependium), France or Italy, 1730-1740. Photo: PKM, Creative Commons
SONG: PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY
Artist: Choir of the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick
Words/Music: Neander trans Winkworth/Anon
Recording: Priory 706
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation.
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation:
All ye who hear,
brothers and sisters draw near,
praise him in glad adoration.
Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth
shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth:
hast thou not seen
all that his people have been
granted in what he ordaineth?
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee:
ponder anew
what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
biddeth them cease,
turneth their fury to peace,
whirlwinds and waters assuaging.
Praise to the Lord, who when darkness of sin is abounding,
who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
sheddeth his light,
chaseth the horrors of night,
saints with his mercy surrounding.
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath come now with praises before him!
Let the Amen
sound from his people again:
gladly for aye we adore him.
SONG: PRAISE GOD, FOR HE IS KIND
Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers, Ian McCrorie (dir), John Langdon (organ)
Words/Music: Psalm 136/Croft
Recording: Abbey 282830
Praise God, for he is kind:
His mercy lasts for aye.
Give thanks with heart and mind
To God of gods alway:
Refrain:
For certainly
His mercies dure
Most firm and sure
Eternally.
The Lord of lords praise ye,
Whose mercies still endure.
Great wonders only he
Doth work by his great pow’r
Refrain:
Which God omnipotent,
By might and wisdom high,
The heav’n and firmament
Did frame, as we may see:
Refrain:
Who hath remembered
Us in our low estate;
And us delivered
From foes which did us hate:
Refrain:
SONG: IT IS A THING MOST WONDERFUL
Artist: Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge/Richard Marlow
Words/Music: How/Trad arr Vaughan Williams
Recording: Conifer 75605-51248
It is a thing most wonderful,
Almost too wonderful to be,
That God’s own Son should come from Heav’n,
And die to save a child like me.
And yet I know that it is true;
He chose a poor and humble lot,
And wept, and toiled, and mourned, and died,
For love of those who loved Him not.
But even could I see Him die,
I could but see a little part
Of that great love, which, like a fire,
Is always burning in His heart.
It is most wonderful to know
His love for me so free and sure;
But ’tis more wonderful to see
My love for Him so faint and poor.
And yet I want to love Thee, Lord;
Oh, light the flame within my heart,
And I will love Thee more and more,
Until I see Thee as Thou art.
SONG: AN UPPER ROOM
Artist: Timothy Newton (baritone), Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne, Michael Leighton Jones (dir)
Words/Music: Faber/Stainer
Recording: Priory PRCD 722
An upper room did our Lord prepare
for those he loved until the end:
and his disciples still gather there
to celebrate their risen friend.
A lasting gift Jesus gave his own:
to share his bread, his loving cup.
Whatever burdens may bow us down,
he by his cross shall lift us up.
And after supper he washed their feet,
for service, too, is sacrament.
In Christ our joy shall be made complete:
sent out to serve, as he was sent.
No end there is! We depart in peace.
He loves beyond our uttermost:
in every room in our Father's house
Christ will be there, as Lord and Host.
SONG: GOD EVERLASTING, WONDERFUL AND HOLY
Artist: Newcastle Cathedral Choir, Scott Farrell (dir), Michael Dutton (organ)
Words/Music: Riley/Riley
Recording: Priory PRCD 720
God everlasting, wonderful and holy,
Father most gracious, we who stand before thee,
here at thine altar, as the Son has taught us,
come to adore thee.
Countless the mercies thou has lavished on us,
source of all blessing to all creatures living,
to thee we render, for thy love o’erflowing,
humble thanksgiving.
Now in remembrance of our great Redeemer,
dying on Calvary, rising and ascending,
through him we offer what he ever offers,
sinners befriending.
Strength to the living, rest to the departed,
grant, Holy Father, through this pure oblation;
may the life-giving Bread for ever bring us
health and salvation.
SONG: KING OF GLORY, KING OF PEACE
Artist: Choir of All Saints Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills
Words/Music: Herbert/Walker
Recording: Gothic 349074
King of glory, King of peace,
I will love thee;
and that love may never cease,
I will move thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
thou hast heard me;
thou didst note my working breast,
thou hast spared me.
Wherefore with my utmost art
I will sing thee,
and the cream of all my heart
I will bring thee.
Though my sins against me cried,
thou didst clear me;
and alone, when they replied,
thou didst hear me.
Seven whole days, not one in seven,
I will praise thee;
in my heart, though not in heaven,
I can raise thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort
to enroll thee;
e'en eternity's too short
to extol thee.
SONG: I WILL SING THE WONDROUS STORY
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry, Paul Leddington Wright (dir), xxx (organ)
Words/Music: Rowley/Prichard
Recording: Integrity 2011
I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me.
How He left the realms of glory
For the cross of Calvary.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me
Sing it with His saints in glory
Gathered by the crystal sea.
Days of darkness still may meet me
Sorrow’s paths I oft may tread.
But His presence still is with me
By His guiding hand I’m led.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me
Sing it with His saints in glory
Gathered by the crystal sea.
He will keep me till the river
Rolls its water at my feet;
Then He'll bear me safely over,
Where the loved ones I shall meet.
Yes, I'll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me,
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
