Sunday, 6 April 2014

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT

Song: Praise to the holiest in the height

Artist: Choir of Guildford Cathedral
Words/Music: Newman/Dykes
Recording: Hallmark 1204169

Praise to the holiest in the height,
And in the depth be praise;
In all his words most wonderful,
Most sure in all his ways.

O loving wisdom of our God!
When all was sin and shame,
A second Adam to the fight
And to the rescue came.

O generous love! that he, who smote,
In man for man the foe,
The double agony in man
For man should undergo.

And in the garden secretly,
And on the cross on high,
Should teach his brethren, and inspire
To suffer and to die.

Praise to the holiest in the height,
And in the depth be praise;
In all his words most wonderful,
Most sure in all his ways.

Song: Jesus these eyes have never seen

Artist: Choir of Llandaff Cathedral
Words/Music: Palmer/Walch (tune Nun danket all)
Recording: Priory PRCD 719

Jesus, these eyes have never seen,
That radiant form of thine;
The veil of sense hangs dark between
Thy blessèd face and mine.

I see thee not, I hear thee not,
Yet art thou oft with me;
And earth hath ne’er so dear a spot,
As where I meet with thee.

Yet though I have not seen, and still
Must rest in faith alone;
I love thee, dearest Lord, and will,
Unseen, but not unknown.

When death these mortal eyes shall seal,
And still this throbbing heart,
The rending veil shall thee reveal,
All glorious as thou art.

Song: Through the night of doubt and sorrow

Artist: Choir of Manchester Cathedral
Words/Music: Ingemann/Baring-Gould/Shaw
Recording: Priory PRCD 718

Through the night of doubt and sorrow
Onward goes the pilgrim band,
Singing songs of expectation,
Marching to the promised land.

Clear before us through the darkness
Gleams and burns the guiding light:
Brother clasps the hand of brother,
Stepping fearless through the night.

One the light of God’s own presence,
O’er his ransomed people shed,
Chasing far the gloom and terror,
Brightening all the path we tread:

One the object of our journey,
One the faith which never tires,
One the earnest looking forward,
One the hope our God inspires.

One the strain that lips of thousands
Lift as from the heart of one;
One the conflict, one the peril
One the march in God begun:

One the gladness of rejoicing
On the far eternal shore,
Where the one almighty Father
Reigns in love for evermore.

Song: Christian, dost thou see them

Artist: Choir of Newcastle Cathedral
Words/Music: Neale/Dykes
Recording: Priory PRCD 720

Christian! dost thou see them
On the holy ground,
How the troops of Midian
Prowl and prowl around?
Christian! up and smite them,
Counting gain but loss:
Smite them by the merit
Of the holy cross!

Christian! dost thou feel them,
How they work within,
Striving, tempting, luring,
Goading into sin?
Christian! never tremble!
Never be down-cast!
Smite them by the virtue
Of the Lenten fast!

Well I know thy trouble,
O my servant true;
Thou art very weary,—
I was weary too:
But that toil shall make thee,
Some day, all mine own:
But the end of sorrow
Shall be near my throne.

Song: O Sacred Head

Artist: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Words/Music: Bernard of Clairvaux/Hassler (harmonised Bach)
Recording: Conifer 500521

O sacred head, surrounded
by crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding head, so wounded,
so shamed and put to scorn!
Our sins have marred the glory
of thy most holy face,
yet angel hosts adore Thee
and tremble as they gaze

I see thy strength and vigour
all fading in the strife,
and death with cruel rigor,
bereaving thee of life;
O agony and dying!
O love to sinners free!
Jesus, all grace supplying,
O turn thy face on me.

In this thy bitter passion,
Good shepherd, think of me
with thy most sweet compassion,
unworthy though I be:
beneath thy cross abiding
for ever would I rest,
in thy dear love confiding,
and with thy presence blest.

(NB. This version of the text is close to the broadcast one)

Song: Jesu, lover of my soul

Artist: Cantus Choro
Words/Music: Wesley/Parry
Recording: Move MD3142

Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high.

Hide me, O my saviour, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.

All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head
with the shadow of thy wing.

Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
make and keep me pure within.

Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee;
Spring thou up within my heart;
rise to all eternity.

Song: In the cross of Christ I glory

Artist: Choir of Marlborough College Chapel
Words/Music: Bowring/Whinfield
Recording: Priory PRCD 702

In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o’ertake me,
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me,
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming
Adds more lustre to the day.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.

Song: Nature with open volume stands

Artist: Choir of Gloucester Cathedral
Words/Music: Watts/Bach
Recording: Priory PRCD 704

Nature with open volume stands,
To spread her maker’s praise abroad;
And every labour of His hands
Shows something worthy of a God.

But in the grace that rescued man
His brightest form of glory shines;
Here, on the cross, ’tis fairest drawn,
In precious blood and crimson lines.

Here his whole name appears complete;
Nor wit can guess, nor reason prove,
Which of the letters best is writ,
The power, the wisdom, or the love.

O! the sweet wonders of that cross,
Where God the saviour loved and died
Her noblest life my spirit draws
From his dear wounds and bleeding side.

I would forever speak His name,
In sounds to mortal ears unknown;
With angels join to praise the lamb,
And worship at his father’s throne.

Song: The king of love my shepherd is

Artist: Christ Church Cathedral Choir (treble soloist Christopher Bruerton)
Words/Music: Baker/Dykes
Recording: Treehouse T9901

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth;
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
but yet in love he sought me;
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill,
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spreadst a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and oh, what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days,
thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house forever.