We're celebrating the birthday of Isaac Watts (17 July 1674) this week. He's often described as 'the father of English hymnody'.
View of the Isaac Watts Statue in Watts Park, Southampton. Photo: Creative Commons / Ethan Doyle white
SONG: IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE
Artist: Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, London
Words/Music: Walter Smith/Trad
Recording: Helios CDH 88036
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might:
thy justice, like mountains high soaring above;
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life thou givest, to both great and small.
In all life thou livest, the true life of all.
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.
Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render: O help us to see
‘Tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.
SONG: AT THE NAME OF JESUS
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Caroline Noel/William Monk
Recording: Hyperion 112102
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.
At His voice creation sprang at once to sight,
all the angel faces, all the hosts of light,
thrones and dominations, stars upon their way,
all the heav'nly orders in their great array.
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;
Bore it up triumphant, with its human light,
through all ranks of creatures, to the central height,
to the throne of Godhead, to the Father's breast,
filled it with the glory of that perfect rest.
Brothers, this Lord Jesus shall return again,
with the Father's glory with His angel train;
for all wreaths of empire meet upon his brow,
and our hearts confess him King of glory now.
SONG: COMPANIONS LET US PRAY TOGETHER
Artist: Viva Voce, John Rosser (dir), Michael Bell (piano)
Words/Music: David Clark and Witi Ihimaera/David Hamilton
Recording: NZ Hymnbook Trust 941300
Companions let us pray together,
in this place affirm our faith.
God who made us is here among us;
we stand together in God’s grace.
Refrain:
We are whanau, we are one,
brothers, sisters of the Son.
We are reaching for our freedom,
the prize that Christ has won.
The broken Christ stands here among us,
shares our suffering and our pain;
in breaking bread we find empowerment
to live in aroha again.
Refrain:
The risen Christ brings light and laughter,
celebrates the life we share;
the poured out wine of Christ’s self-giving
inspires us to reach out and care.
Refrain:
Now let us sing to God who loves us
and accepts us as we are;
Go out from here and live that message,
proclaim our oneness near and far.
Refrain:
SONG: ONE BREAD, ONE BODY
Artist: OCP Choir
Words/Music: Father John Foley
Recording: OCP Publications 1996
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
Gentile or Jew, servant or free, woman or man no more.
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
Many the gifts, many the works, one in the Lord of all.
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
SONG: MY SHEPHERD WILL SUPPLY MY NEED
Artist: Cathedral Choral Society, Washington Cathedral
Words/Music: Watts/Trad
Recording: Gothic G49112
My shepherd will supply my need --
Jehovah is his name.
In pastures fresh he makes me feed
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wand'ring spirit back
When I forsake his ways
And leads me, for his mercy's sake,
In paths of truth and grace.
When I walk thro' the shades of death
Thy presence is my stay;
One word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.
The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.
SONG: OUR GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST
Artist: Band of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand
Words/Music: Isaac Watts/William Croft
Recording: Manu CD MANU1286
Our God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:
Under the shadow of thy throne
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.
Time, like an ever rolling stream,
bears all our years away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.
SONG: FROM ALL THAT DWELL BELOW THE SKY
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry Cathedral
Words/Music: Isaac Watts/Anon
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 582
From all that dwell below the skies,
Let the Creator’s praise arise;
Alleluia, Alleluia
Let the Redeemer’s name be sung
Through ev’ry land, by ev’ry tongue.
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Eternal are thy mercies, Lord;
Eternal truth attends thy word.
Alleluia, Alleluia
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
Till suns shall rise and set no more.
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Your lofty themes, ye mortals, bring;
In songs of praise divinely sing.
Alleluia, Alleluia
The great salvation loud proclaim,
And shout for joy the Saviour’s name.
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
In ev’ry land begin the song;
To ev’ry land the strains belong.
Alleluia, Alleluia
In cheerful sounds all voices raise
And fill the world with loudest praise.
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
SONG: WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry Cathedral
Words/Music: Isaac Watts/Edward Miller
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 582
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?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
