Autumn at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand Photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Autumn_at_Lake_Tekapo_NZ_(20)_(8670112943).jpg CC-zero / Bernard Spragg
Today's programme includes some psalm-based hymns, an atmospheric setting of Amazing Grace, and Timothy Dudley-Smith's hymn, O Christ the same, which is paired with a tune composer Hubert Parry described as "one of the most beautiful ever written".
SONG: O WORSHIP THE KING
Artist: Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral
Words/Music: Grant/Croft
Recording: Helios CDH 88036
O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love:
our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.
O tell of his might and sing of his grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.
The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, thy power hath founded of old;
hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.
O measureless might! Ineffable love!
While angels delight to hymn thee above,
Thy humbler creation, though feeble their lays,
With true adoration shall all sing thy praise.
SONG: I TO THE HILLS
Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers
Words/Music: Psalm 121/Ravenscroft
Recording: Abbey 28230
I to the hills will lift mine eyes,
from whence doth come mine aid.
My safety cometh from the Lord,
who heav'n and earth hath made.
Thy foot he'll not let slide, nor will
he slumber that thee keeps.
Behold, he that keeps Israel,
he slumbers not, nor sleeps.
The Lord thee keeps, the Lord thy shade
on thy right hand doth stay:
The moon by night thee shall not smite,
nor yet the sun by day.
The Lord shall keep thy soul; he shall
preserve thee from all ill.
Henceforth thy going out and in
God keep for ever will.
SONG: O CHRIST THE SAME
Artist: Choir of Portsmouth Cathedral
Words/Music: Dudley-Smith/Trad
Recording: Herald HAVPCD 205
O Christ the same, through all our story's pages,
our loves and hopes, our failures and our fears;
eternal Lord, the King of all the ages,
unchanging still, amid the passing years:
O living Word, the source of all creation,
who spread the skies, and set the stars ablaze;
O Christ the same, who wrought our whole salvation,
we bring our thanks for all our yesterdays.
O Christ the same, the friend of sinners, sharing
our inmost thoughts, the secrets none can hide;
still as of old upon your body bearing
the marks of love, in triumph glorified:
O Son of Man, who stooped for us from heaven,
O Prince of life, in all your saving power,
O Christ the same, to whom our hearts are given,
we bring our thanks for this the present hour.
O Christ the same, secure within whose keeping
our lives and loves, our days and years remain,
our work and rest, our waking and our sleeping,
our calm and storm, our pleasure and our pain:
O Lord of love, for all our joys and sorrows,
for all our hopes, when earth shall fade and flee,
O Christ the same, beyond our brief tomorrows,
we bring our thanks for all that is to be.
SONG: FATHER OF EVERLASTING GRACE
Artist: St Michael’s Singers of Coventry Cathedral
Words/Music: C Wesley/Norton
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 583
Father of everlasting grace,
Thy goodness and Thy truth we praise,
Thy goodness and Thy truth we prove;
Thou hast, in honor of Thy Son,
The gift unspeakable sent down,
The Spirit of life, and power and love.
Send us the Spirit of Thy Son,
To make the depths of Godhead known,
To make us share the life divine;
Send Him the sprinkled blood to apply,
Send Him our souls to sanctify,
And show and seal us ever Thine.
So shall we pray, and never cease;
So shall we thankfully confess
Thy wisdom, truth, and power, and love;
With joy unspeakable adore,
And bless and praise Thee evermore,
And serve Thee as Thy hosts above:
Till, added to that heavenly choir,
We raise our songs of triumph higher,
And praise Thee in a nobler strain,
Out-soar the first-born seraph’s flight,
And sing, with all our friends in light,
Thy everlasting love to man.
SONG: AMAZING GRACE
Artist: Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Words/Music: Newton/Trad arr Edwin Excell
Recording: Bonneville 519602
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound.
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found.
Was blind but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved:
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun.
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound.
SONG: IN THE SWEET BY AND BY
Artist: Anonymous 4
Words/Music: Bennett/Webster
Recording: Harmonia Mundi HMU 907326
There's a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.
Refrain:
In the sweet (in the sweet) by and by, (by and by,)
We shall meet on that beautiful shore; (by and by;)
In the sweet (in the sweet) by and by, (by and by,)
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.
We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blest,
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.
Refrain:
To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love,
And the blessings that hallow our days.
Refrain:
SONG: YE THAT KNOW THE LORD IS GRACIOUS
Artist: Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge
Words/Music: Alington/Parry
Recording: Priory PRCD 721
Ye who know the Lord is gracious,
Ye for whom a Cornerstone
Stands, of God elect and precious,
Laid that you may build thereon,
See that on that sure foundation
Ye a living temple raise,
Towers that may tell forth salvation,
Walls that may re-echo praise.
Living stones, by God appointed
Each to an allotted place,
Kings and priests, by God anointed,
Shall you not declare his grace?
Ye, a royal generation,
Tell the tidings of your birth,
Tidings of a new creation
To an old and weary earth.
Tell the praise of him who called you
Out of darkness into light,
Broke the fetters that enthralled you,
Gave you freedom, peace, and sight;
Tell a tale of sins forgiven,
Strength renewed, and hope restored,
Till the earth, in tune with heaven,
Praise and magnify the Lord.
SONG: FORTH IN THY NAME, O LORD, I GO
Artist: Dorian Choir
Words/Music: C Wesley/Gibbons
CD Label: Private 1469
Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I go,
My daily labour to pursue;
Thee, only Thee, resolved to know
In all I think, or speak, or do.
The task Thy wisdom hath assigned
O let me cheerfully fulfill;
In all my works Thy presence find,
And prove Thy good and perfect will.
Thee may I set at my right hand,
Whose eyes mine inmost substance see,
And labor on at Thy command,
And offer all my works to Thee.
Give me to bear Thy easy yoke,
And every moment watch and pray;
And still to things eternal look,
And hasten to Thy glorious day:
For Thee delightfully employ
Whate'er Thy bounteous grace hath given,
And run my course with even joy,
And closely walk with Thee to Heaven.
