It's Ascension Sunday today - listen out for Hail the day that sees him rise, and New Zealander Marnie Barrell's hymn Christ ascends to God. We also mark the recent death of New Zealand music educator and choral musician Dr Guy Jansen, MNZM, with hymns performed by some of the many choirs he founded and conducted.
Ascension of Christ, Monreale Cathedral, Palermo Photo: Jim Forest, Creative Commons
SONG: HAIL THE DAY THAT SEES HIM RISE
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: C Wesley/Hooper
Recording: Hyperion 711210
Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!
to his throne above the skies; Alleluia!
Christ, the lamb for sinners given,
enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!
There for him high triumph waits; Alleluia!
lift your heads, eternal gates! Alleluia!
he hath conquered death and sin;
take the king of glory in! Alleluia!
See! he lifts his hands above; Alleluia!
See! he shows the prints of love: Alleluia!
Hark! his gracious lips bestow,
blessings on his church below. Alleluia!
Still for us he intercedes, Alleluia!
his prevailing death he pleads, Alleluia!
near himself prepares our place,
he the first fruits of our race. Alleluia!
There we shall with thee remain, Alleluia!
partners of thy eternal reign, Alleluia!
there thy face forever see,
find our heaven of heavens in thee, Alleluia!
SONG: ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME
Artist: Kansas City Chorale/Charles Bruffy (dir), James Higdon (organ)
Words/Music: Perronet/Holden arr Mulholland
Recording: Nimbus NI 5568
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.
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall;
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
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.
SONG: O CHRIST, OUR HOPE, OUR HEARTS’ DESIRE
Artist: Truro Cathedral Choir, Andrew Nethsingha (dir), Christopher Gray (organ)
Words/Music: Anon trans Chandler/Anon
Recording: Priory PRCD 710
O Christ, our hope, our heart's desire,
redemption's only spring,
Creator of the world art thou,
its Saviour and its King.
How vast the mercy and the love
which laid our sins on thee,
and led thee to a cruel death
to set thy people free.
But now the bonds of death are burst,
the ransom has been paid;
and thou art on thy Father's throne,
in glorious robes arrayed.
O may thy mighty love prevail
our sinful souls to spare;
O may we come before thy throne,
and find acceptance there!
O Christ, be thou our present joy,
our future great reward;
our only glory may it be
to glory in the Lord!
All praise to thee, ascended Lord;
all glory ever be
to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
through all eternity.
SONG: TO BE GOD’S PEOPLE
Artist: Rodney Macann (bass-baritone),Festival Singers, Wellington, Guy Jansen (dir)
Words/Music: Brown, Jansen/Brown
Recording: Festivity Productions FPCD2007
Almighty Father, give us a vision
of a dying world that needs your love and care.
We see the need, the yearning for a Saviour,
In Jesus’ name, grant this our prayer.
Refrain:
To be God’s people in this place,
live his goodness, share His grace.
proclaim God’s mercy through his son,
be his love to everyone.
Free us to follow our great Companion
guiding us as pilgrims on the servant way.
To walk more humbly, bring peace and freedom,
and pointing to th’eternal day.
Refrain:
NZYC and NZSSC founder Guy Jansen Photo: Supplied
Tribute to Dr Guy Jansen from RNZ Concert's Upbeat programme
Dr Guy Jansen, MNZM, from the website of the Governor-General
SONG: OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN
Artist: Celebration Singers, Christchurch, Guy Jansen (dir)
Words/Music: Trad
Recording: Private 3030
Our Father in heaven,
holy be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as in heaven.
Give us this daily our daily bread.
Forgiveth us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Do not bring us to the test,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory
are yours now and forever.
Amen.
SONG: CHRIST ASCENDS TO GOD
Artist: Viva Voce, John Rosser (dir), Michael Bell (organ)
Words/Music: Marnie Barrell/Barry 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: 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: ALL MY HOPE ON GOD IS FOUNDED
Artist: Congregation and massed choirs, Cathedral of St Paul, Wellington, Richard Apperley (organ)
Words/Music: Neander trans Bridges/Howells
Recording: RNZ 2017
All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew.
Me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.
Pride of man and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple, fall to dust.
But God's power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.
God's great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light, and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
new-born worlds rise and adore.
Daily doth th' Almighty giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.
Still from earth to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ his Son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.
