Spring daffodil. Photo: John from Tulsa, USA, Creative Commons
A selection of traditional and modern hymns. A spring hymn in today's programme (Shirley Murray's The Spring has come), and a very familiar tune set to some less familiar words (Jan Struther's Lord of all hopefulness).
SONG: AIN’-A THAT GOOD NEWS!
Artist: The Graduate Choir, John Rosser (dir)
Words/Music: Trad arr Dawson
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: THE SPRING HAS COME
Artist: Choir of St John’s Cathedral, Napier
Words/Music: Murray/Gibson
Recording: Private CD 814
The spring has come, let all the church be part of it!
The world has changed, and God is at the heart of it!
New light, new day, new colour after winter grey,
new light, new day, the spring has come,
let all the church be part of it!
The sun is warm, let all God's children play in it!
The world expands, let's spread the gospel way in it!
New leaf, new thrust, new greening for the love of Christ,
new leaf, new thrust, the sun is warm,
let all God's children play in it!
The spring has come, new people are the flowers of it!
Through wind and rain, new life is in the showers of it!
New bud, new shoot, new hope will bear the Spirit's fruit,
new bud, new shoot, the spring has come,
new people are the flowers of it!
SONG: GIVE TO OUR GOD IMMORTAL PRAISE
Artist: Coventry Singers
Words/Music: Watts/Harrison
Recording: Mission Praise 2013
Give to our God immortal praise:
mercy and truth are all his ways;
wonders of grace to God belong;
repeat his mercies in your song.
Give to the Lord of lords renown;
the King of kings with glory crown:
his mercies ever shall endure,
when lords and kings are known no more.
He built the earth, he spread the sky,
and fixed the starry lights on high:
wonders of grace to God belong;
repeat his mercies in your song.
He sent His Son with power to save
from guilt and darkness and the grave;
wonders of grace to God belong;
repeat his mercies in your song.
SONG: WHEN ALL THY MERCIES, O MY GOD
Artist: Choir of St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham, David Saint (dir), Nigel Morris (organ)
Words/Music: Addison/Ouseley
Recording: Priory PRCD 723
When all thy mercies, O my God,
my rising soul surveys,
transported with the view, I'm lost
in wonder, love, and praise.
When in the slippery paths of youth
with boundless steps I ran,
Thine arm unseen conveyed me safe,
and led me up again.
When worn with sickness oft hast thou
with health renewed my face;
and when in sins and sorrows sunk,
revived my soul with grace.
Through all eternity to thee
a joyful song I'll raise;
for O, eternity's too short
to utter all thy praise!
SONG: THROUGH ALL THE CHANGING SCENES OF LIFE
Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
Words/Music: Tate/Smart
Recording: Priory PRCD 376
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.
SONG: JESU, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Bernard of Clairvaux trans Caswall/Slater
Label: Hyperion 112105
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.
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.
SONG: LORD OF ALL HOPEFULNESS
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Jan Struther/Trad
Label: Hyperion 112105
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, At the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labours and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord, At the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome, Your arms to embrace.
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord, At the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord, At the end of the day.
SONG: ALL MY HOPE ON GOD IS FOUNDED
Artist: Choir of Westminster Abbey
Composer: Neander trans Bridges/Howells
Label: Hyperion 712801
All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew,
me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.
Pride of man and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple fall to dust.
But God's power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.
God's great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
newborn worlds rise and adore.
Daily doth th’almighty giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.
Still from man to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ, his son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.
SONG: FILL THOU MY LIFE
Artist: Scottish Festival Singers
Composer: Bonar/Haweis
Label: EMI CMG
Fill thou my life, O Lord my God,
In ev'ry part with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim
Thy being and thy ways.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
Nor e'en the praising heart,
I ask, but for a life made up
Of praise in ev'ry part;
Praise in the common things of life,
Its goings out and in,
Praise in each duty and each deed,
However small and mean.
Fill ev'ry part of me with praise;
Let all my being speak
Of thee and of they love, O Lord,
Poor though I be, and weak.
So shalt thou, Lord, from me, e'en me,
Receive the glory due,
And so shall I begin on earth
The song for ever new.
So shall no part of day or night
From sacredness be free:
But all my life, in ev'ry step,
Be fellowship with thee.
