The Feast of the Transfiguration is coming up on 6 August in the liturgical calendar of some Christian traditions. We mark the date with some transfiguration-themed hymns, including Immortal, invisible and Christ, whose glory fills the skies.
Transfiguration of Christ - Bellini, c.1497 Photo: [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The-Transfiguration-1480-xx-Giovanni-Bellini]
SONG: AIN’T-A THAT GOOD NEWS!
Artist: Graduate Choir, Terence Maskell (dir)
Words/Music: Trad arr Dawson
Recording: Atoll ACD 105
I got a crown up in-a that kingdom,
Ain't-a that good news!
I got a crown up in-a that kingdom,
Ain't-a that good news!
I'm-a gonna lay down this world,
gonna to shoulder up-a my cross,
Gonna to take it home-a to my Jesus,
Ain't-a that good news!
I got a harp up in-a that kingdom,
Ain't-a that good news!
I got a harp up in-a that kingdom,
Ain't-a that good news!
I'm-a gonna lay down this world,
gonna to shoulder up-a my cross,
Gonna to take it home-a to my Jesus,
Ain't-a that good news!
I got a robe up in-a that kingdom,
Ain't-a that good news!
I got a robe up in-a that kingdom,
Ain't-a that good news!
I'm-a gonna lay down this world,
gonna to shoulder up-a my cross,
Gonna to take it home-a to my Jesus,
Ain't-a that good news!
I got a Saviour in-a that kingdom,
Ain't-a that good news!
I got a Saviour in-a that kingdom,
Ain't-a that good news!
I'm-a gonna lay down this world,
gonna to shoulder up-a my cross,
Gonna to take it home-a to my Jesus,
Ain't-a that good news!
SONG: IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE
Artist: Huddersfield Choral Society
Words/Music: Smith/Trad adapted Roberts
Recording: EMI 746202
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 like 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: CHRIST WHOSE GLORY FILLS THE SKIES
Artist: St Michael’s Singers
Words/Music: C Wesley/Smart
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 891
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only light,
Sun of righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Day star, in my heart appear.
Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by thee;
Joyless is the day’s return
Till thy mercy’s beams I see;
Till they inward light impart,
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.
Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, radiancy divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
SONG: LET ALL MORTAL FLESH KEEP SILENCE
Artist: Choir of Westminster Abbey, James O’Donnell (dir), Robert Quinney (organ)
Words/Music: Anon paraphrased Moultrie/Trad
Recording: Hyperion 712801
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood,
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.
At his feet the six wingèd seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, Lord most high!
SONG: I WANT TO WALK AS A CHILD OF THE LIGHT
Artist: Choir of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills
Words/Music: Thomerson
Recording: Gothic 349074
I want to walk as a child of the light;
I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world;
The star of my life is Jesus.
Refrain:
In him there is no darkness at all;
The night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God.
Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
I want to see the brightness of God;
I want to look at Jesus.
Clear Sun of Righteousness, shine on my path
And show me the way to the Father.
Refrain:
I’m looking for the coming of Christ;
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
We shall know the joy of Jesus.
Refrain:
SONG: TO YOU WE BRING OUR HYMN OF PRAISE
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry Cathedral
Words/Music: Stuart Townend, Matt Maher, Kelly Minter
Recording: Integrity Music 2007
To you we bring our hymn of praise; glory be to God.
Hearts and hands together raised; glory be to God.
Who spoke before the dawn of time; glory be to God.
Veil of darkness torn by light; glory be to God.
And with unceasing voice all heaven sings; glory be to God
The anthem of the Lord’s redeemed; glory be to God
You purchased captives for Your saints; glory be to God
And opened wide the kingdom gates; glory be to God
You overcame the sting of death; glory be to God
And clothed us in Christ’s righteousness; glory be to God
And all Your children cry with loud acclaim; glory be to God
Sing O church Your sweet refrain; glory be to God
Glory, glory, glory, glory forever and ever.
Glory, glory, glory, glory forever and ever. (x2)
Father, Spirit, risen Son; glory be to God.
Who was and is and is to come; glory be to God.
And with unceasing voice all heaven sings; glory be to God
The anthem of the Lord’s redeemed; glory be to God.
And all Your children cry with loud acclaim; glory be to God
Sing O church Your sweet refrain; glory be to God.
SONG: GOD IS OUR HOPE AND STRENGTH (PSALM 46)
Artist: Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Catherine Palmer (dir), Bill Ives (organ)
Words/Music: Psalm 46/Luther
Recording: Marquis
God is our hope and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved,
And though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea.
Though the waters thereof rage and swell,
And though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.
The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God:
The holy place of the tabernacle of the most highest.
God is in the midst of her therefore shall she not be removed:
God shall help her and that right early.
The heathen make much ado and the kingdoms are moved:
But God hath shewed his voice, and the earth shall melt away.
The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge.
O come hither and behold the works of the Lord:
What destruction he hath brought upon the earth.
He maketh wars to cease in all the world:
He breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder,
And burneth the chariots in the fire.
Be still then and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen, and I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
World without end. Amen.
SONG: LORD OF THE WORLDS ABOVE
Artist: The Handel Quire, Robert Howell (dir), Paul Chan (organ)
Words/Music: Watts/Darwall
Recording: Private
Lord of the worlds above,
how pleasant and how fair
the dwellings of thy love,
thine earthly temples, are:
to thine abode my heart aspires,
with warm desires to see my God.
They go from strength to strength,
through this dark vale of tears,
till each o’ercomes at length,
till each in heav'n appears:
O glorious seat, our God, our King,
shall thither bring our willing feet!
God is our sun and shield,
our light and our defense;
with gifts his hands are filled;
we draw our blessings thence.
He shall bestow upon our race
His saving grace and glory too.
The Lord his people loves,
His hand no good withholds
from those his heart approves
from holy, humble souls:
Thrice happy he, O God of Hosts,
whose spirit trusts alone in Thee.
SONG: A CLARE BENEDICTION
Polyphony/Stephen Layton
Composer: Rutter/Rutter
Label: Hyperion CDA 67259
May the Lord show His mercy upon you;
may the light of His presence be your guide:
May He guard you and uphold you;
may His spirit be ever by your side.
When you sleep, may His angels watch over you;
when you wake, may He fill you with His grace.
May you love Him and serve Him all your days,
Then in heaven may you see His face.
