We're focussing on hymns inspired by the Psalms in this week.
Cloister arch tracery, Salisbury Cathedral Photo: Spencer Means, 2007 (Creative Commons)
SONG: PRAISE, MY SOUL, THE KING OF HEAVEN
Artist: Choir of Westminster Abbey
Words/Music: Lyte/Goss
Recording: Hyperion 712801
Praise, my soul, the king of heaven!
to his feet thy tribute bring,
ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
who like we his praise should sing:
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise the everlasting king.
Praise Him for His grace and favour
To our fathers in distress.
Praise Him still the same for ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Glorious in His faithfulness.
Father-like He tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame He knows.
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Widely as His mercy flows.
Angels, help us to adore Him
Ye behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise with us the God of grace.
SONG: AIN’-A THAT GOOD NEWS!
Artist: The Graduate Choir, John Rosser (dir)
Words/Music: Trad arr Dawson
Recording: Atoll ACD 105
I've a crown up in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I've a crown up in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'a that good news!
I've a harp up in the Kingdom,
Ain’a that good news!
I've a harp up in the Kingdom,
Ain't that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'a that good news!
I've a robe up in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I've a robe up in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'a that good news!
I've a Saviour in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I've a Saviour in the Kingdom,
Ain'a that good news!
I'm a-goin' to lay down this world,
Goin' to shoulder up my cross,
Goin' to take it home to Jesus,
Ain'a that good news!
SONG: PSALM 47 – O CLAP YOUR HANDS TOGETHER
Artist: Choir of St John’s, Elora
Words/Music: Psalm 47/Crotch
Recording: Naxos 8.572540
O clap your hands together, all ye peoples:
O sing unto God with the voice of melody.
For the Lord most high is to be feared:
he is the great King over all the earth.
He subdued the peoples under us,
and the nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
even the glorious land of Jacob whom he loved.
God is gone up with a merry noise,
and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet.
O sing praises, sing praises unto our God:
O sing praises, sing praises unto our King.
For God is the King of all the earth:
sing ye praises with understanding.
God reigneth over the nations:
God sitteth upon his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples are gathered together
with the people of the God of Abraham:
For the rulers of the earth belong unto God;
he is the very highly exalted.
SONG: GIVE TO OUR GOD IMMORTAL PRAISE
Artist: Coventry Singers
Words/Music: Watts/Harrison
Recording: Mission Praise 2013
Give to our God immortal praise:
mercy and truth are all his ways;
wonders of grace to God belong;
repeat his mercies in your song.
Give to the Lord of lords renown;
the King of kings with glory crown:
his mercies ever shall endure,
when lords and kings are known no more.
He built the earth, he spread the sky,
and fixed the starry lights on high:
wonders of grace to God belong;
repeat his mercies in your song.
He sent His Son with power to save
from guilt and darkness and the grave;
wonders of grace to God belong;
repeat his mercies in your song.
SONG: THROUGH ALL THE CHANGING SCENES OF LIFE
Artist: Choir of Llandaff Cathedral
Words/Music: Tate/Smart
Recording: Priory PRCD 719
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: 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: ALL MY HOPE ON GOD IS FOUNDED
Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
Composer: Neander trans Bridges/Howells
Label: Private CD 812
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.
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
newborn 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 man 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.
SONG: FILL THOU MY LIFE
Artist: Scottish Festival Singers
Composer: Bonar/Haweis
Label: EMI CMG
Fill thou my life, O Lord my God,
In ev'ry part with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim
Thy being and thy ways.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
Nor e'en the praising heart,
I ask, but for a life made up
Of praise in ev'ry part;
Praise in the common things of life,
Its goings out and in,
Praise in each duty and each deed,
However small and mean.
Fill ev'ry part of me with praise;
Let all my being speak
Of thee and of they love, O Lord,
Poor though I be, and weak.
So shalt thou, Lord, from me, e'en me,
Receive the glory due,
And so shall I begin on earth
The song for ever new.
So shall no part of day or night
From sacredness be free:
But all my life, in ev'ry step,
Be fellowship with thee.
