Old church, Otuhianga Road, Matakohe, NZ Photo: Bernard Spragg, Public Domain
SONG: CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS
Artist: Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Catherine Palmer (dir), Ronald Jordan (organ)
Words/Music: Bridges, Thring/Elvey
Recording: Marquis 1811175
Crown him with many crowns,
the lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy chosen king
through all eternity.
Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
who rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save;
His glories now we sing
who died, and rose on high;
who died eternal life to bring;
and lives that death may die.
Crown him the Lord of heav'n,
Enthroned in worlds above;
Crown him the King to whom is giv'n
The wondrous name of Love.
All hail, redeemer, hail!
For thou has died for me;
Thy praise will never ever fail
throughout eternity.
SONG: BLEST ARE THE PURE IN HEART
Artist: Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge
Words/Music: Keble/attrib König adapted Havergal
Label: Priory PRCD 714
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see their God.
The secret of the Lord is theirs;
their soul is Christ's abode.
The Lord, who left the sky
our life and peace to bring,
to dwell in lowliness with us,
our pattern and our king,
he to the lowly soul
will still himself impart
and for his dwelling and his throne
will chose the pure in heart.
Lord, we your presence seek;
we ask this blessing true:
give us a pure and lowly heart,
a temple fit for you.
SONG: O SACRED HEAD, SORE WOUNDED
Artist: Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne
Words/Music: attrib Arnulf of Leuven trans Alexander/Hassler arr Kruger
Recording: ABC 476568
SONG: THERE’S A WIDENESS IN GOD’S MERCY
Artist: Choir of Belfast Cathedral
Words/Music: Faber/Stainer
Recording: Priory PRCD 722
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in his justice,
Which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows
Are more felt than up in heaven;
There is no place where earth’s failings
Have such kindly judgment given.
For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of man’s mind;
And the heart of the eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.
But we make his love too narrow
By false limits of our own;
And we magnify his strictness
With a zeal he will not own.
There is plentiful redemption
In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrows of the head.
There is grace enough for thousands
Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations
In that upper home of bliss.
If our love were but more simple,
We should take him at his word;
And our lives would be all goodness
In the joy of Christ our Lord.
SONG: ABIDE WITH ME
Artist: Anthony Way (treble), Choir of Uppingham School, English Sinfonia, Daniel Phillips (organ)
Words/Music: Lyte/Monk arr Hazell
Recording: Decca 455 645
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, O 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 Lord who changes not, abide with me.
I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like thyself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
I fear no foe with you at hand to bless,
though ills have weight, and tears their bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if you abide with me.
Hold now your Word 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: PIE JESU, FROM REQUIEM
Artist: Edward Saklatvala (treble), Choir of King's College, Cambridge, City of London Sinfonia, Stephen Cleobury (conductor)
Words/Music: John Rutter
Recording: EMI CDC 5 56605
Pie Jesu Domine,
Dona eis requiem.
Pie Jesu Domine,
Dona eis requiem sempiternam.
SONG: THERE IS A GREEN HILL FAR AWAY
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Alexander/Faber
Recording: Hyperion CDP 12104
There is a green hill far away,
without 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 forgiv'n,
he died to make us good,
that we might go at last to heav'n,
saved by his precious blood.
There was no other good enough
to pay the price of sin;
he only could unlock the gate
of heav'n, and let us in.
O dearly, dearly has he loved,
and we must love him too,
and trust in his redeeming blood,
and try his works to do.
SONG: WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
Artist: Cambridge Singers, John Rutter (dir), John Scott (organ)
Words/Music: Watts/Miller arr Rutter
Recording: Collegium 880126
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
His dying crimson, like a robe,
spreads o'er his body on the tree;
then am I dead to all the globe,
and all the globe is dead to me.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
