Sunday, 22 March 2015

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT

SONG: WHEN IN OUR MUSIC GOD IS GLORIFIED

Artist: Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Words/Music: Green/Stanford
Recording: Bonneville 519602

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!

So has the church, in spoken word and song,
in faith and love, through centuries of wrong,
borne witness to the truth in every tongue:
Alleluia!

And did not Jesus sing a psalm that night
when utmost evil strove against the light?
Then let us sing, for whom he won the fight:
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!

SONG: COME, LET US TO THE LORD

Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers
Words/Music: Morrison/Anon arr Robertson
Recording: Abbey 282830

Come, let us to the Lord our God
With contrite hearts return;
Our God is gracious, nor will leave
The desolate to mourn.

His voice commands the tempest forth
And stills the stormy wave;
And though His arm be strong to smite,
’Tis also strong to save.

As dew upon the tender herb,
diffusing fragrance round;
As show’rs that usher in the spring,
and cheer the thirsty ground:

So shall His presence bless our souls,
And shed a joyful light;
That hallowed morn shall chase away
The sorrows of the night.

SONG: PRAISE TO THE HOLIEST IN THE HEIGHT

Artist: Choir of St Chad’s Cathedral
Words/Music: Newman/Somervell
Recording: Priory PRCD 723

Praise to the holiest in the height,
And in the depth be praise;
In all his words most wonderful,
Most sure in all his ways.

O loving wisdom of our God!
When all was sin and shame,
A second Adam to the fight
And to the rescue came.

O generous love! that he, who smote,
In man for man the foe,
The double agony in man
For man should undergo.

And in the garden secretly,
And on the cross on high,
Should teach his brethren, and inspire
To suffer and to die.

Praise to the holiest in the height,
And in the depth be praise;
In all his words most wonderful,
Most sure in all his ways.

SONG: THERE IS A GREEN HILL

Artist: St Michael’s Singers
Words/Music: Alexander/Horsley
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 851

There is a green hill far away,
outside a city wall,
where the dear Lord was crucified
who died to save us all.

We may not know, we cannot tell,
what pains he had to bear,
but we believe it was for us
he hung and suffered there.

He died that we might be forgiven,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heaven,
saved by his precious blood.

There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin,
he only could unlock the gate
of heaven, and let us in.

Oh, dearly, dearly has he loved,
and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.

SONG: O LOVE, HOW DEEP, HOW BROAD, HOW HIGH

Artist: Sheffield Cathedral Choir
Words/Music: Webb/Schein
Recording: Priory PRCD 713

O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
it fills the heart with ecstasy,
that God, the son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals' sake!

He sent no angel to our race
of higher or of lower place,
but wore the robe of human frame
and he himself, to this world came.

For us baptised, for us he bore
his holy fast and hungered sore,
for us temptation sharp he knew;
for us the tempter overthrew.

For us to wicked men betrayed,
scourged, mocked, in crown of thorns arrayed,
for us he bore the cross’s death,
for us at length gave up his breath.

For us he rose from death again;
for us he went on high to reign;
for us he sent his spirit here,
to guide, to strengthen and to cheer.

All honour, laud, and glory be,
O Jesu, virgin-born, to thee,
All glory, as is ever meet,
To father and to paraclete.

SONG: O SACRED HEAD

Artist: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Words/Music: attrib ARNULF OF LEUVEN, adapted GERHARDT, trans ALEXANDER/Hassler arr Cruger
Recording: Conifer 500521

O sacred head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding head, so wounded,
so shamed and put to scorn!
Our sins have marred the glory
of thy most holy face,
yet angel hosts adore Thee
and tremble as they gaze

I see thy strength and vigour
all fading in the strife,
and death with cruel rigor,
bereaving thee of life;
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
O turn thy face on me.

In this thy bitter passion,
Good shepherd, think of me
with thy most sweet compassion,
unworthy though I be:
beneath thy cross abiding
for ever would I rest,
in thy dear love confiding,
and with thy presence blest.

SONG: KING OF GLORY, KING OF PEACE

Artist: Choir of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills
Words/Music: Herbert/Walker
Recording: Gothic 349075

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
Words/Music: Rowley/Prichard
Recording: Priory PRCD 826

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.