It’s Reformation Day today (31 October): it was on this day in 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. We’ll hear Luther’s great hymn A mighty fortress is our God. Also in the programme, some saint-related hymns to mark All Saints’ Day coming up on 1 November.
Window, Martin Luther Church in Geringswalde, Germany Photo: CC BY-SA 4.0 / Joachim Köhler
SONG: FOR ALL THE SAINTS
Artist: Combined choirs and congregation, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, Karen Grylls (conductor), Richard Apperley (organ)
Music: How/Vaughan Williams
Recording: RNZ 2017
For all the saints, who from their labours rest;
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
[recorded by RNZ at Professor Peter Godfrey's memorial service in Wellington, November 2017.
SONG: YE WATCHERS AND YE HOLY ONES
Artist: Elora Festival Singers, Matthew Larkin (organ)
Words/Music: Riley/Anon arr Willan
Recording: Naxos 8.557734
Ye watchers and ye holy ones,
Bright seraphs, cherubim and thrones,
Raise the glad strain, Alleluia!
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers,
Virtues, archangels, angels’ choirs:
Refrain:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
O higher than the cherubim,
More glorious than the seraphim,
Lead their praises, Alleluia!
Thou bearer of th’eternal Word,
Most gracious, magnify the Lord.
Refrain:
Respond, ye souls in endless rest,
Ye patriarchs and prophets blest,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong,
All saints triumphant, raise the song.
Refrain:
O friends, in gladness let us sing,
Supernal anthems echoing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To God the father, God the son,
And God the spirit, three in one.
Refrain:
SONG: LET SAINTS ON EARTH
Artist: Llandaff Cathedral Choir
Words/Music: C Wesley/Anon arr. Ravenscroft
Recording: Priory PRCD 719
Let saints on earth in concert sing
With those whose work is done;
For all the servants of our king
In heav’n and earth are one.
One family, we dwell in him,
One church, above, beneath;
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death.
One army of the living God,
To his command we bow;
Part of his host has crossed the flood,
And part is crossing now.
E’en now to their eternal home
There pass some spirits blest;
While others to the margin come,
Waiting their call to rest.
Jesu, be thou our constant guide;
Then, when the word is given,
Bid Jordan’s narrow stream divide,
And bring us safe to heav’n.
SONG: HAIL TO THE LORD’S ANOINTED
Artist: Coventry Singers
Words/Music: Montgomery/Cruger
Recording: Mission Praise
Hail to the Lord’s anointed, great David’s greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free;
To take away transgression and rule in equity.
He comes in succor speedy to those who suffer wrong;
To help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong;
To give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light,
Whose souls, condemned and dying, were precious in His sight.
He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;
Love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in His path to birth.
Before Him, on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go,
And righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.
To Him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend;
His kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end:
The tide of time shall never His covenant remove;
His Name shall stand forever, His Name to us is Love.
SONG: SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER
Artist: Anonymous 4
Words/Music: Walford/Bradbury
Recording: Harmonia Mundi HMU 907326
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
That calls me from a world of care
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known!
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless:
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my ev'ry care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer,
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah's lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
"Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!"
SONG: DEEP HARMONY
Artist: Black Dyke Mills Band, John Foster (dir)
Music: Parker
Recording: Chandos 828558
SONG: MAY THE MIND OF CHRIST MY SAVIOUR
Artist: Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, Wellington, Michael Stewart (dir), Richard Apperley (organ)
Words/Music: Wilkinson/Barham-Gould
Recording: Whole World Media Group
May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
live in me from day to day,
by His love and pow'r controlling
all I do and say.
May the Word of God dwell richly
in my heart from hour to hour,
so that all may see I triumph
only through His pow'r.
May the peace of God, my Father,
rule my life in ev'rything,
that I may be calm to comfort
sick and sorrowing.
May the love of Jesus fill me
as the waters fill the sea.
Him exalting, self abasing:
this is victory.
May I run the race before me,
strong and brave to face the foe,
looking only unto Jesus
as I onward go.
SONG: A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
Artist: Cathedral Choral Society, Washington National Cathedral
Words/Music: Luther/Luther
Recording: Gothic G49112
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.
