Hymns to mark Ascension Sunday in today's edition, including Hail the day that sees him rise by Charles Wesley, and New Zealand hymn writer Marnie Barrell's Christ ascends to God.
Ascension of Christ, from the Vyšší Brod altarpiece Photo: Public Domain
SONG: HAIL THE DAY THAT SEES HIM RISE
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: C Wesley/Hooper
Recording: Hyperion 711210
Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!
to his throne above the skies; Alleluia!
Christ, the lamb for sinners given,
enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!
There for him high triumph waits; Alleluia!
lift your heads, eternal gates! Alleluia!
he hath conquered death and sin;
take the king of glory in! Alleluia!
See! he lifts his hands above; Alleluia!
See! he shows the prints of love: Alleluia!
Hark! his gracious lips bestow,
blessings on his church below. Alleluia!
Still for us he intercedes, Alleluia!
his prevailing death he pleads, Alleluia!
near himself prepares our place,
he the first fruits of our race. Alleluia!
There we shall with thee remain, Alleluia!
partners of thy eternal reign, Alleluia!
there thy face forever see,
find our heaven of heavens in thee, Alleluia!
SONG: ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ 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 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.
SONG: O CHRIST, OUR HOPE, OUR HEARTS’ DESIRE
Artist: Truro Cathedral Choir, Andrew Nethsingha (dir), Christopher Gray (organ)
Words/Music: Anon trans Chandler/Anon
Recording: Priory PRCD 710
O Christ, our hope, our heart's desire,
redemption's only spring,
Creator of the world art thou,
its Saviour and its King.
How vast the mercy and the love
which laid our sins on thee,
and led thee to a cruel death
to set thy people free.
But now the bonds of death are burst,
the ransom has been paid;
and thou art on thy Father's throne,
in glorious robes arrayed.
O may thy mighty love prevail
our sinful souls to spare;
O may we come before thy throne,
and find acceptance there!
O Christ, be thou our present joy,
our future great reward;
our only glory may it be
to glory in the Lord!
All praise to thee, ascended Lord;
all glory ever be
to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
through all eternity.
SONG: IN THE LORD IS MY JOY AND SALVATION
Artist: St Thomas Music Group, Margaret Rizza (dir)
Words/Music: Margaret Rizza
Recording: Alliance Music 190892
In the Lord is my joy and salvation
He gives light to all his creation.
In the Lord is my joy and salvation,
He gives peace and true consolation.
SONG: AT THE NAME OF JESUS
Artist: Choir of Salisbury Cathedral
Words/Music: Noel/Brierley
Recording: Priory
At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,
every tongue confess him King of glory now;
'tis the Father's pleasure we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning was the mighty Word.
Humbled for a season, to receive a name
from the lips of sinners, unto whom he came;
faithfully he bore it spotless to the last,
brought it back victorious when from death he passed.
Name Him, Christians, name Him with love strong as death,
But with awe and wonder, and with bated breath;
He is God the Saviour, He is Christ the Lord,
ever to be worshipped, trusted and adored.
Surely, this Lord Jesus shall return again,
with his Father's glory and His angel train;
for all wreaths of empire meet upon his brow,
and our hearts confess him King of glory now.
SONG: CHRIST ASCENDS TO GOD
Artist: Viva Voce, John Rosser (dir), Michael Bell (organ)
Words/Music: Marnie Barrell/Barry Brinson
Recording: NZ Hymnbook Trust 941300
Christ ascends to God! Behold him
here, where earth and heaven meet.
Unimagined powers enfold him,
mortals worship at his feet.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
all his mission now complete.
God receives him into mystery -
clouds of glory veil the sight:
no more bound to human history,
strong as love and free as light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
now to reign in his own right.
He is with us. Do not seek him
throned in splendour far above:
meet him here where truth and freedom
now reveal his work of love.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
countless signs his presence prove.
Universal Lord, now reigning
deep in nature’s smallest part’
all things live by your sustaining,
time and space your work of art.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
praise to Christ, creation’s heart.
SONG: ALLELUIA! SING TO JESUS
Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, Dennis Townhill (dir), Peter Backhouse (organ)
Words/Music: Dix/Prichard
Recording: Priory PRCD 376
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus;
his the scepter, his the throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph,
his the victory alone!
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
thunder like a mighty flood:
"Jesus out of every nation
has redeemed us by his blood."
Alleluia! Not as orphans
are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us;
faith believes nor questions how.
Though the cloud from sight received him,
when the forty days were o'er,
shall our hearts forget his promise:
"I am with you evermore"?
Alleluia! Bread of angels,
here on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! Here the sinful
flee to you from day to day.
Intercessor, friend of sinners,
earth's redeemer, hear our plea
where the songs of all the sinless
sweep across the crystal sea.
Alleluia! King eternal,
Lord omnipotent we own;
Alleluia! Born of Mary,
earth your footstool, heaven your throne.
As within the veil you entered,
robed in flesh, our great high priest;
here on earth both priest and victim
in the Eucharistic feast.