A selection of traditional and modern hymns. We're marking Maori Language Week (it's the final day today) with a Maori prayer, and a song to the Holy Spirit by Ngapo Wehi. Also in the programme, two hymns by 20th century hymn writer Fred Kaan, and a beautiful rendition by the Kansas City Chorale of Robert Robinson's hymn Come thou fount of every blessing. Find out more about what 'Ebenezer' means in Verse 2 of the hymn.
St Joseph's Church in Jerusalem, New Zealand Photo: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
SONG: E TE MATUA
Artist: Mahinarangi Tocker
Words/Music: Mahinarangi Tocker
Recording: Jayrem CD JAY 379
E te Matua
Te Matua nui i te rangi
Ka arahi matou i nga mahi i raro i te aroha
E te Matua
Te Matua nui i te rangi
Me arahi matou i raro i te rangimarie
Me arahi matou i raro i te rangimarie
E te Matua
SONG: WAIRUA TAPU
Artist: NZ Youth Choir (2003), Karen Grylls (dir), Albert Mataaga (guitar)
Words/Music: Ngapo Wehi
Recording: Trust MMT 2048
Wairua tapu tau mai ra
wairua tapu mai runga
uhia mai nga taonga pai
homai to aroha
Wa hia kia tika
akona mai ra kia u ki te pai
horoia kia ma tonu ra
Mohau te tino kororia.
[Holy Spirit embrace me
Holy Spirit from up above
encase me in the precious gifts
give to me your love.
This place of truth
teach me the things that are right
bathe me, cleanse me
to You goes the glory.]
SONG: O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Composer: C Wesley/attrib Phillips
Label: Music World MWCH 6019
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace,
the triumphs of his grace!
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life and health and peace,
'tis life and health and peace.
He speaks; and, listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive;
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice;
the humble poor believe,
the humble poor believe.
Hear Him, ye deaf, His praise, ye dumb
your loosened tongues employ,
ye blind, behold your Saviour come,
and leap ye lame for joy,
and leap ye lame for joy!
My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro' all the earth abroad
the honours of thy name,
the honours of thy name.
SONG: PSALM 24
Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers
Words/Music: Psalm 24/Thomson
Recording: Abbey 282830
Ye gates lift up your heads on high;
ye doors that last for aye,
be lifted up, that so the King
of glory enter may.
But who of glory is the King?
The mighty Lord is this,
ev’n that same Lord, that great in might
and strong in battle is.
Ye gates, lift up your heads; ye doors,
doors that do last for aye,
be lifted up, that so the King
of glory enter may.
But who is he that is the King,
the King of glory? who is this?
The Lord of hosts, and none but he,
the King of glory is.
SONG: FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS
Artist: Choir of St John’s Cathedral, Napier
Words/Music: Kaan/attrib M Haydn
Recording: Private 807
For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord;
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords;
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.
All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race, or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life's brief span.
You, Creator God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind,
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.
SONG: O HOLY SPIRIT, HEAR US AS WE PRAY
Artist: Festival Singers
Words/Music: Kaan/Klusmeier
Recording: FPCD2007
O Holy Spirit, hear us as we pray:
renew your people's faith day by day.
Free us from the chaos of night and deepness;
in our life and death cheer and keep us.
Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis.
Uproot and teach us by your restless love
to share with all what we are and have;
that with strong affection, in truth and doing,
we may love all life, peace pursuing.
Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis.
You plead our cause, and by your gift of peace
from fear of death our lives are released.
How we need your presence, O gift from heaven,
all our words and deeds to enliven.
Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis.
Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis.
SONG: COME, THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING
Artist: Kansas City Chorale
Words/Music: Robertson/Wyeth or Nettleton
Recording: Nimbus NI 5568
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of God's unchanging love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
SONG: HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS SOUNDS
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry Cathedral
Words/Music: Newton/Reinagle
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 599
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, brother, 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: ALL HAIL THE POW’R OF JESU’S NAME
Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Collegiate Church, Warwick
Words/Music: Perronet/Shrubsole
Recording: Abbey PRCD 706
All hail the pow'r of Jesu's name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
to crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Crown him, ye morning stars of light,
who fixed this floating ball;
now hail the strength of Israel’s might,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,
who from his altar call;
praise him whose way of pain ye trod,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Ye seed seed of Israel’s chosen race,
ye ransomed from the fall;
hail Him who saves you by His grace,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Hail him, ye heirs of David’s line,
whom David Lord did call;
the God Incarnate, Man divine,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Let ev'ry tribe and every tongue
to him their hearts enthrall,
lift high the universal song,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
