Sunday, 25 May 2014

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

SONG: JESU, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE

Artist: Choir of St John’s, Elora
Words/Music : Clairvaux trans. Caswall/Slater arr. Halley
Recording: Naxos 8.557037

Jesus, the very thought of thee
with sweetness fills the breast;
but sweeter far thy face to see,
and in thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' Name,
The Saviour of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
to those who fall, how kind thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this
nor tongue nor pen can show;
the love of Jesus, what it is,
none but his loved ones know.

Jesus, our only joy be thou,
as thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus, be thou our glory now,
and through eternity.

Amen

SONG: IN FAITH AND HOPE AND LOVE

Artist: Cantus Choro
Words/Music: Connolly
Recording: Move 743142

Text unavailable due to copyright

SONG: IN CHRIST THERE IS NO EAST OR WEST

Artist: Cathedral Choral Society, Washington National Cathedral
Words/Music: Oxenham/Trad. arr. Burleigh
Recording: Gothic G49112

In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north,
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth.

Join hands, disciples of the faith,
whate'er your race may be!
Who serves my father as a son
is surely kin to me.

In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north,
all Christly souls are one in him,
throughout the whole wide earth.

SONG: I HAVE HEARD OF LAND ON THE FARAWAY STRAND

Artist: Anonymous 4
Words/Music: Wood-White/Beirly
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: AIN’A THAT GOOD NEWS!

Artist: Graduate Choir
Words/Music: Trad.
Recording: Atoll ACD 105

I've a crown up in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I've a crown up in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'a that good news!

I've a harp up in the Kingdom,
Ain’a that good news!
I've a harp up in the Kingdom,
Ain't that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'a that good news!

I've a robe up in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I've a robe up in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'a that good news!

I've a Saviour in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I've a Saviour in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'a that good news!

SONG: LET US WITH A GLADSOME MIND

Artist: Choir of Wakefield Cathedral
Composer: Milton/Antes adapted Wilkes
Label: Priory PRCD 711

Let us, with a gladsome mind,
praise the Lord, for he is kind:
for his mercies aye endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

Let us blaze his name abroad,
for of gods he is the God:
for his mercies aye endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

He with all commanding might
filled the new-made world with light:
for his mercies aye endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

He the golden-tressèd sun
caused all day his course to run:
for his mercies aye endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

And the hornèd moon by night,
mid her spangled sisters bright:
for his mercies aye endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

All things living he doth feed,
his full hand supplies their need:
for his mercies aye endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

Let us, with a gladsome mind,
praise the Lord, for he is kind:
for his mercies aye endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

SONG: GOD IS LOVE, LET HEAVEN ADORE HIM

Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
Words/Music: Rees/Parry
CD Label: Priory PRCD 376

God is love: let heaven adore him;
God is love: let earth rejoice;
let creation sing before him,
and exalt him with one voice.
He who laid the earth's foundation,
he who spread the heavens above,
he who breathes through all creation,
he is love eternal love.

God is love, and is enfolding
all the world in one embrace;
with unfailing grasp is holding
every child of every race;
and when human hearts are breaking
under sorrow's iron rod,
that same sorrow, that same aching
wrings with pain the heart of God,

God is love: and though with blindness
sin afflicts and clouds the will,
God's eternal loving-kindness
holds us fast and guides us still.
Sin and death and hell shall never
o'er us final triumph gain;
God is love, so Love for ever
o'er the universe must reign.

SONG: LORD DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING

Artist: Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, London Musici
Words/Music: Goodall
CD Label: EMI 215047

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion;
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast;
let us all in thee inherit;
let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty, to deliver;
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.