Navigation for Hymns on Sunday

Giotto di Bondone Ascension of ChristAscension of Jesus Christ by Giotto di Bondone c.1304-6. Fresco in Cappella degli Scrovegni (Padua).

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
ASCENSION SUNDAY

SONG: LORD, ENTHRONED IN HEAVENLY SPLENDOUR

Artist: Elora Festival Singers
Words/Music : Bourne/Willan
Recording: Naxos 8.557734

Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendor,
first-begotten from the dead.
Thou alone, our strong defender,
liftest up thy people's head.
Alleluia!
Jesus, true and living bread!

Here our humblest homage pay we,
here in loving reverence bow;
here for faith's discernment pray we,
lest we fail to know thee now.
Alleluia!
Thou art here, we ask not how.

Though the lowliest form doth veil thee
as of old in Bethlehem,
here as there thine angels hail thee,
branch and flower of Jesse's stem.
Alleluia!
We in worship join with them.

Paschal Lamb, thine offering, finished
once for all when thou was slain,
in its fullness undiminished
shall for evermore remain.
Alleluia!
Cleansing souls from every stain.

Life-imparting heavenly manna,
stricken rock with streaming side,
heaven and earth with loud hosanna
worship thee, the lamb who died.
Alleluia!
Risen, ascended, glorified!

SONG: GOD MOUNTS HIS THRONE TO SHOUTS OF JOY

Artist: Kolbe Singers
Music: Barnby, Joblin
Recording: Private Recording

Refrain:
God mounts His throne to shouts of joy;
a blare of trumpets for the Lord!

All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
for the Lord, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.

[Refrain]

God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the Lord, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.

[Refrain]

For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.

[Refrain]

SONG: CHRIST ASCENDS TO GOD

Artist: Viva Voce
Words/Music: Barrell/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: THE HEAD THAT ONCE WAS CROWNED WITH THORNS

Artist: Choir of the King’s School, Canterbury
Words/Music: Kelly/Clarke
Recording: Priory PRCD 716

The Head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty Victor's brow.

The highest place that heav'n affords
Is His, is His by right,
The King of kings and Lord of lords,
And heav'n's eternal Light;

The Joy of all who dwell above,
The Joy of all below
To whom He manifests His love
And grants His name to know.

To them the cross, with all its shame,
With all its grace, is giv'n;
Their name an everlasting name,
Their joy the joy of heaven.

They suffer with their Lord below,
They reign with Him above,
Their profit and their joy to know
The myst'ry of His love.

The cross He bore is life and health,
Though shame and death to Him:
His people's hope, His people's wealth,
Their everlasting theme.

SONG: ALLELUIA! SING TO JESUS

Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
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.

SONG: DECK THYSELF, MY SOUL, WITH GLADNESS

Artist: Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge
Words/Music:Franck trans. Winkworth/Kruger
Label: Conifer 75605-51249

Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness,
leave the gloomy haunts of sadness,
come into the daylight's splendour,
there with joy thy praises render
unto him whose grace unbounded
hath this wondrous banquet founded;
high o'er all the heavens he reigneth,
yet to dwell with thee he deigneth.

Now I come before thee lowly,
filled with joy most deep and holy,
as with trembling awe and wonder
on thy mighty works I ponder;
how, by mystery surrounded,
depth no one has ever sounded,
none may dare to pierce unbidden
secrets that with thee are hidden.

Sun, who all my life dost brighten;
Light, who dost my soul enlighten;
Joy, the sweetest man e'er knoweth;
Fount, whence all my being floweth:
at thy feet I cry, my maker,
let me a fit partaker
of this blessed food from heaven,
for our good, thy glory, given.

Jesus, bread of life, I pray thee,
let me gladly here obey thee;
never to my hurt invited,
be thy love with love requited;
from this banquet let me measure,
Lord, how vast and deep its treasure;
through the gifts thou here dost give me,
as thy guest in heaven receive me.

SONG: AM HIMMELFAHRTSTAGE / ON ASCENSION DAY

Artist: Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge
Words/Music: Mendelssohn
CD Label: Chandos CHAN 10363

Am Himmelfahrtstage
Erhaben, o Herr, über alles Lob, über alle
Herrlichkeit, herrschest du von Ewigkeit.
Alleluia!

On Ascension Sunday
O Lord, you rule sublime for all eternity, above all
praise and majesty.
Alleluia!

SONG: ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESU’S NAME

Artist: Huddersfield Choral Society
Words/Music: Perronet/Ellor
CD Label: Decca 448684

All hail the pow'r of Jesu's name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye martyrs of our God
Who from His altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesse's rod
And crown Him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse's rod
And 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 Lord of all.
Go, spread your trophies at His feet
And crown Him Lord of all.

Let ev'ry kindred, ev'ry tribe,
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all.
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all.

Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
We at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all.