28 May 2017

Hymns on Sunday for 28 May 2017

From Hymns on Sunday, 7:30 am on 28 May 2017

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A selection of traditional and modern hymns. We're marking the Feast of the Ascension today with hymns including All hail the day that sees him rise, New Zealand hymn writer Marnie Barrell's Christ ascends to God, and All hail the Power of Jesus' Name by Charles Wesley.

Église Notre-Dame de Bon-Port, Nantes. Stained glass by François Denis.

Photo: Église Notre-Dame de Bon-Port, Nantes. Stained glass by François Denis.

SONG: HAIL THE DAY THAT SEES HIM RISE

Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: C Wesley/Hooper
Recording: Hyperion 711210

Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!
to his throne above the skies; Alleluia!
Christ, the lamb for sinners given,
enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!

There for him high triumph waits; Alleluia!
lift your heads, eternal gates! Alleluia!
he hath conquered death and sin;
take the king of glory in! Alleluia!

See! he lifts his hands above; Alleluia!
See! he shows the prints of love: Alleluia!
Hark! his gracious lips bestow,
blessings on his church below. Alleluia!

Still for us he intercedes, Alleluia!
his prevailing death he pleads, Alleluia!
near himself prepares our place,
he the first fruits of our race. Alleluia!

There we shall with thee remain, Alleluia!
partners of thy eternal reign, Alleluia!
there thy face forever see,
find our heaven of heavens in thee, Alleluia!

SONG: O CHRIST, OUR HOPE, OUR HEARTS’ DESIRE

Artist: Truro Cathedral Choir, Andrew Nethsingha (dir), Christopher Gray (organ)
Words/Music: Anon trans Chandler/Anon
Recording: Priory PRCD 710

O Christ, our hope, our heart's desire,
redemption's only spring,
Creator of the world art thou,
its Saviour and its King.

How vast the mercy and the love
which laid our sins on thee,
and led thee to a cruel death
to set thy people free.

But now the bonds of death are burst,
the ransom has been paid;
and thou art on thy Father's throne,
in glorious robes arrayed.

O may thy mighty love prevail
our sinful souls to spare;
O may we come before thy throne,
and find acceptance there!

O Christ, be thou our present joy,
our future great reward;
our only glory may it be
to glory in the Lord!

All praise to thee, ascended Lord;
all glory ever be
to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
through all eternity.

SONG: PSALM 47: O CLAP YOUR HANDS TOGETHER

Artist: Choir of St John’s, Elora, Noel Edison (dir), Michael Bloss (organ)
Words/Music: Psalm 47/Crotch
Recording: Naxos 8.572540

O clap your hands together, all ye peoples:
O sing unto God with the voice of melody.
For the Lord most high is to be feared:
he is the great King over all the earth.
He subdued the peoples under us,
and the nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
even the glorious land of Jacob whom he loved.
God is gone up with a merry noise,
and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet.
O sing praises, sing praises unto our God:
O sing praises, sing praises unto our King.
For God is the King of all the earth:
sing ye praises with understanding.
God reigneth over the nations:
God sitteth upon his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples are gathered together
with the people of the God of Abraham:
For the rulers of the earth belong unto God;
he is the very highly exalted.

SONG: I HAVE HEARD OF A LAND

Artist: Anonymous 4
Words/Music: James Moore
Recording: Harmonia Mundi 467400
I have heard of a land on the faraway strand,
’Tis a beautiful home of the soul;
Built by Jesus on high, where we never shall die,
’Tis a land where we never grow old.

Refrain:
Never grow old, never grow old,
In a land where we’ll never grow old;
Never grow old, never grow old,
In a land where we’ll never grow old.


In that beautiful home where we’ll never more roam,
We shall be in the sweet by and by;
Happy praise to the King through eternity sing,
’Tis a land where we never shall die.
Refrain:

When our work here is done and the life crown is won,
And our troubles and trials are o’er;
All our sorrow will end, and our voices will blend,
With the loved ones who’ve gone on before.
Refrain:

SONG: CHRIST ASCENDS TO GOD

Artist: Viva Voce, John Rosser (dir), Michael Bell (organ)
Words/Music: Marnie Barrell/Barry Brinson
Recording: NZ Hymnbook Trust 941300
Christ ascends to God! Behold him
here, where earth and heaven meet.
Unimagined powers enfold him,
mortals worship at his feet.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
all his mission now complete
.

God receives him into mystery -
clouds of glory veil the sight:
no more bound to human history,
strong as love and free as light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
now to reign in his own right.


He is with us. Do not seek him
throned in splendour far above:
meet him here where truth and freedom
now reveal his work of love.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
countless signs his presence prove.


Universal Lord, now reigning
deep in nature’s smallest part’
all things live by your sustaining,
time and space your work of art.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
praise to Christ, creation’s heart.

SONG: LORD ENTHRONED IN HEAVENLY SPLENDOUR

Artist: Elora Festival Singers
Words/Music : Bourne/Willan
Recording: Naxos 8.557734

Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor,
first-begotten from the dead.
Thou alone, our strong defender,
liftest up thy people's head.
Alleluia!
Jesus, true and living bread!

Here our humblest homage pay we,
here in loving reverence bow;
here for faith's discernment pray we,
lest we fail to know thee now.
Alleluia!
Thou art here, we ask not how.

Though the lowliest form doth veil thee
as of old in Bethlehem,
here as there thine angels hail thee,
branch and flower of Jesse's stem.
Alleluia!
We in worship join with them.

Paschal Lamb, thine offering, finished
once for all when thou was slain,
in its fullness undiminished
shall for evermore remain.
Alleluia!
Cleansing souls from every stain.

Life-imparting heavenly manna,
stricken rock with streaming side,
heaven and earth with loud hosanna
worship thee, the lamb who died.
Alleluia!
Risen, ascended, glorified!

SONG: COME AWAY TO THE SKIES

Artist: Kansas City Chorale, Charles Bruffy (dir)
Words/Music: C Wesley/Anon arr Parker
Recording: Nimbus NI 5568

Come away to the skies.
My beloved, arise,
And rejoice in the day thou wast born;
On this festival day,
Come exulting away,
And with singing to Zion return.

We have laid up our love
And our treasure above,
Though our bodies continue below,
The redeemed of the Lord
Will remember his word,
And with singing to paradise go.

Hallelujah we sing,
To our Father and King,
And his rapturous praises repeat:
To the Lamb that was slain,
Hallelujah again,
Sing, all heaven and fall at his feet.

SONG: ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME

Artist: Kansas City Chorale/Charles Bruffy (dir), James Higdon (organ)
Words/Music: Perronet/Holden arr Mulholland
Recording: Nimbus NI 5568

All hail the pow'r of Jesu's name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all.

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall;
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Let ev'ry kindred, ev'ry tribe,
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all.
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all.

Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
We at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.

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