Summer Hymns Requests begins today. Our first programme of listener favourites includes Hail, Queen of Heaven (to mark the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary on 1 January), Glorious things of thee are spoken sung to Cyril Taylor's tune 'Abbot's Leigh' and Charles Wesley's well-known hymn And can it be.
Southern rata, Auckland Islands Photo: Craig McKenzie, Wikimedia Commons
SONG: GLORIOUS THINGS OF THEE ARE SPOKEN
Artist: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Words/Music: Newton/Taylor
Recording: EMI 948306
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
he whose word cannot be broken
formed thee for his own abode;
on the rock of ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
See! the streams of living waters,
springing form eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint, when such a river
ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age.
Saviour, if of Zion's city,
I through grace a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy name.
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
all his boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasure
none but Zion's children know.
SONG: COME, LET US TO THE LORD OUR GOD
Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers
Words/Music: Morrison/Anon arr Roberton
Recording: Abbey 282830
Come, let us to the Lord our God
With contrite hearts return;
Our God is gracious, nor will leave
The desolate to mourn.
His voice commands the tempest forth
And stills the stormy wave;
And though His arm be strong to smite,
’Tis also strong to save.
As dew upon the tender herb,
diffusing fragrance round;
As show’rs that usher in the spring,
and cheer the thirsty ground:
So shall His presence bless our souls,
And shed a joyful light;
That hallowed morn shall chase away
The sorrows of the night.
SONG: IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry Cathedral
Words/Music: Rosetti/Holst
Recording: Integrity Music 2011
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
SONG: TELL OUT, MY SOUL
Artist: Wells Cathedral Choir/Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Herbert/Harwood
Recording: Hyperion 112105
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy name the Lord, the Mighty One.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children's children and forevermore!
SONG: HAIL, QUEEN OF HEAVEN
Artist: Choirs of the Diocese of Leeds
Words/Music: Lingard/Trad
Hail, Queen of Heav'n, the ocean Star,
Guide of the wand'rer here below!
Thrown on life's surge we claim thy care,
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, Star of the sea,
Pray for the wanderer, pray for me
O gentle, chaste, and spotless Maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee
Remind thy Son that He has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, Star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.
Sojourners in this vale of tears,
O thee, blest Advocate, we cry,
Pity our sorrows, calm our fears,
And soothe with hope our misery.
Refuge in grief, Star of the sea,
Pray for the mourner, pray for me.
And while to Him who reigns above,
In Godhead One, in Persons Three,
The source of life, of grace, of love,
Homage we pay on bended knee;
Do thou, bright Queen, Star of the sea.
Pray for thy children, pray for me.
SONG: THROUGH ALL THE CHANGING SCENES OF LIFE
Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
Words/Music: Tate/Smart
Recording: Priory PRCD 376
Through all the changing scenes of life,
in trouble and in joy,
the praises of my God shall still
my heart and tongue employ.
O magnify the Lord with me,
with me exalt his name;
when in distress to him I called,
he to my rescue came.
The hosts of God encamp around
the dwellings of the just;
deliverance he affords to all
who on his succour trust.
O make but trial of his love;
experience will decide
how blest are they, and only they
who in his truth confide.
Fear him, ye saints, and you will then
have nothing else to fear;
make you his service your delight;
your wants shall be his care.
To father, son and Holy Ghost
The God whom we adore
Be glory, as it was, is now
And shall be evermore.
SONG: FOR THE FRUITS OF HIS CREATION
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Green/Jackson
Recording: Hyperion 711210
For the fruit of all creation,
thanks be to God.
For his gifts to every nation,
thanks be to God.
For the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while men are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safe-keeping,
thanks be to God.
In the just reward of labor,
God's will is done.
In the help we give our neighbor,
God's will is done.
In our world-wide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests men are sharing,
God's will is done.
For the harvests of the Spirit,
thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all, that love bas found us,
thanks be to God.
SONG: AND CAN IT BE
Artist: Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Catherine Palmer (dir), Ronald Jordan (organ)
Words/Music: C Wesley/Campbell
Recording: Marquis MAR 175
And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? [Repeat last two lines]
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Repeat last two lines]
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Repeat last two lines]
