In this programme of listener requests you can hear a beautifully atmospheric setting of Psalm 23 by Charles Hylton Stewart, and a hymn written by a Bishop of Calcutta. And there's a request dedicated especially to those affected by Hurricane Michael, which hit the Florida Panhandle in October last year: Folliott Pierpoint's For the beauty of the earth.
Detail of stained glass designed by Nigel Brown. Holy Trinity Cathedral Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Paul Bushnell
SONG: WHEN IN OUR MUSIC GOD IS GLORIFIED
Artist: Cathedral Choral Society of Washington Cathedral
Words/Music: Green/Stanford
Recording: Gothic G49112
When in our music God is glorified,
and adoration leaves no room for pride,
it is as though the whole creation cried:
Alleluia!
How often, making music, we have found
a new dimension in the world of sound,
as worship moved us to a more profound
Alleluia!
Let every instrument be tuned for praise!
Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise!
And may God give us faith to sing always:
Alleluia!
Amen.
SONG: ALMIGHTY FATHER OF ALL THINGS THAT BE
Artist: Choir of Durham St Methodist Church, Christchurch
Words/Music: Dugmore/Martin
Recording: Private CD 809
Almighty father of all things that be,
our life, our work, we consecrate to thee,
whose heavens declare thy glory from above,
whose earth below is witness to thy love.
Thine still the changeful beauty of the hills,
the purple valleys flecked with silver rills,
the ocean glistening 'neath the golden rays;
they all are thine, and voiceless speak thy praise.
Thou dost the strength to workman's arm impart;
from thee the skilled musician's mystic art,
the grace of poet's pen or painter's hand,
to teach the loveliness of sea and land.
Then grant us, Lord, in all things thee to own,
to dwell within the shadow of thy throne,
to speak and work, to think, and live, and move,
reflecting thine own nature, which is love.
SONG: BLESSED ASSURANCE
Artist: Celebration Singers, Sheffield, Salvation Army Band
Words/Music: Crosby/Knapp
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 767
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Saviour all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Refrain:
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Saviour am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
Refrain:
SONG: WHEN ALL THY MERCIES
Artist: Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Catherine Palmer (dir), Ronald Jordan (organ)
Words/Music: Addison/Ousley
Recording: Marquis 181175
When all thy mercies, O my God,
my rising soul surveys,
transported with the view, I'm lost
in wonder, love, and praise.
Unnumbered comforts on my soul
thy tender care bestowed,
before my infant heart conceived
from whom those comforts flowed.
When in the slippery paths of youth
with heedless steps I ran,
thine arm unseen conveyed me safe,
and brought me up to man.
Through every period of my life
thy goodness I'll pursue,
and after death in distant worlds
the glorious theme renew.
Through all eternity to thee,
a joyful song I'll raise;
for O, eternity's too short
to utter all thy praise.
SONG: FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH
Artist: Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, Mack Wilberg (dir)
Words/Music: Pierpoint/Kocher
Recording: Mormon Tabernacle Choir 2005
For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty 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 hymn of grateful 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:
SONG: PSALM 23
Artist: Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, London
Words/Music: Psalm 23/Stewart
Recording: Hyperion CDP 11002
The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall feed me in a green pasture, and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
He shall convert my soul, and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his Name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me; thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.
But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.
SONG: BREAD OF THE WORLD IN MERCY BROKEN
Artist: Cantus Choro
Words/Music: Heber/Bourgeois
Recording: Move 743142
Bread of the world in mercy broken,
wine of the soul in mercy shed,
By whom the words of life were spoken,
and in whose death our sins are dead:
Look on the heart by sorrow broken;
look on the tears by sinners shed;
And be your feast become the token
that by your grace our souls are fed.
SONG: ABIDE WITH ME
Artist: Yvonne Kenny (soprano), Melbourne Symphony Orchestra/Vladimir Kamirski
Words/Music: Lyte/Monk
Recording: ABC 476509
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.
I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.
Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
SONG: IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE
Artist: Huddersfield Choral Society
Words/Music: Lyte/Monk
Recording: EMI 746202
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might:
thy justice, like mountains high soaring above;
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life thou givest, to both great and small.
In all life thou livest, the true life of all.
We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,
then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.
Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render: O help us to see
‘Tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.
