Sunday, 30 March 2014

Fourth Sunday in Lent

Song: O thou who camest from above

Artist: Cantus Choro
Composer: C Wesley/ S Wesley
Album: Songs and praises - from The Australian Hymn Book Vol. 3
CD Label: Move

O Thou who camest from above,
the pure celestial fire to impart
kindle a flame of sacred love
upon the mean altar of my heart

There let it for thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return,
in humble prayer and fervent praise.

Jesus, confirm my heart's desire
to work and speak and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire,
and still stir up thy gift in me.

Ready for all thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat,
till death thy endless mercies seal,
and make my sacrifice complete.

Song: Loving Spirit

Artist: Festival Singers
Composer: Murray/Dell
Album: N/A
CD Label: Praise Be recording

Loving spirit, loving spirit,
you have chosen me to be
you have drawn me to your wonder,
you have set your sign on me.

Like a mother you enfold me,
hold my life within your own,
feed me with your very body,
form me of your flesh and bone.

Like a father you protect me,
teach me the discerning eye,
hoist me up upon your shoulder,
let me see the world from high.

Friend and lover, in your closeness
I am known and held and blessed:
in your promise is my comfort,
in your presence I may rest.

Loving spirit, loving spirit,
you have chosen me to be
you have drawn me to your wonder,
you have set your sign on me.

Song: Through all the changing scenes of life

Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral Edinburgh
Composer: Tate/Smart
Album: Famous Hymns of Praise
CD Label: Priory

Through all the changing scenes of life,
in trouble and in joy,
the praises of my God shall still
my heart and tongue employ.

O magnify the Lord with me,
with me exalt his name;
when in distress to him I called,
he to my rescue came.

The hosts of God encamp around
the dwellings of the just;
deliverance he affords to all
who on his succour trust.

O make but trial of his love;
experience will decide
how blest are they, and only they
who in his truth confide.

Fear him, ye saints, and you will then
have nothing else to fear;
make you his service your delight;
your wants shall be his care.

To father, son and Holy Ghost
The God whom we adore
Be glory, as it was, is now
And shall be evermore. Amen.

Song: For the beauty of the earth

Artist: Choir of Manchester Cathedral
Composer: Pierpoint/Shaw
Album: The Complete New English Hymnal Vol. 18
CD Label: Priory

For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Refrain
Lord of all, to thee we raise,
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the beauty of each hour,
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light.
Refrain

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild.
Refrain

For each perfect gift of Thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of Heaven.
Refrain

For Thy Church, that evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love.
Refrain

Song: Stars of the morning

Artist: Choir of Gloucester Cathedral
Composer: Neale/Smart
Album: The Complete New English Hymnal Vol. 4
CD Label: Priory

Stars of the morning, so gloriously bright,
filled with celestial resplendence and light,
these that, where night never followeth day,
raise the Trisagion ever and aye.

These are thy ministers, these dost thou own,
Lord God of Sabaoth, nearest thy throne;
these are thy ministers, these dost thou send,
Help of the helpless ones! man to defend.

These keep the guard amidst Salem's dear bowers,
Thrones, principalities, virtues and powers,
where, with the living ones, mystical four,
Cherubim, seraphim, bow and adore.

Then, when the earth was first poised in mid space,
then, when the planets first sped on their race,
then, when were ended the six days' employ,
then all the sons of God shouted for joy.

Still let them succour us; still let them fight,
Lord of angelic hosts, battling for right;
Till, where their anthems they ceaselessly pour,
We with the angels may bow and adore.

Song: God everlasting, wonderful and holy

Artist: The Choir of Newcastle Cathedral
Composer: Riley
Album: The Complete New English Hymnal, Vol. 20
CD Label: PRIORY

Text unavailable

Song: We pray thee heavenly father

Artist: Choir of Belfast Cathedral
Composer: Coles/Dykes
Album: The Complete New English Hymnal, Vol. 22
CD Label: PRIORY

Text unavailable

Song: How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

Artist: Choir of Ely Cathedral
Composer: Newton/Reinagle
Album: The Complete New English Hymnal, Vol. 3
CD Label: PRIORY

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

Dear name, the rock on which I build,
My shield and hiding place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!

Jesus! my shepherd, husband, friend,
My prophet, priest and king,
My lord, my life, my way, my end,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see thee as thou art,
I’ll praise thee as I ought.

Till then I would thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of thy name
Refresh my soul in death!

Song: The Shining Shore

Artist: Anonymous 4
Composer: Nelson/Root
Album: Gloryland
CD Label: Harmonia Mundi HMU 807400

My days are gliding swiftly by,
And I, a pilgrim stranger,
Would not detain them as they fly,
These hours of toil and danger.

Refrain
For now we stand on Jordan's strand,
Our friends are passing over;
And just before the Shining Shore
We may almost discover.

Our absent King the watch-word gave,
“Let every lamp be burning,”
We look afar across the wave,
Our distant home discerning.
Refrain

Should coming days be cold and dark,
We will not yield to sorrow,
For hope will sing with courage bold,
“There’s glory on the morrow.”
Refrain

Let storms of woe in whirlwinds rise,
Each cord on earth to sever;
There, bright and joyous in the skies,
This is our home forever.
Refrain