Hymns on Sunday, 7 March 2021

Hymns by Charles Wesley feature in Hymns on Sunday this week. He and his brother John were the founders of Methodism, and although they both wrote hymns it was Charles who ended up with the nickname 'the Bard of Methodism' - he wrote thousands of hymns throughout his life.

Charles Wesley, John Wesley, Francis Asbury (Memorial Chapel, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina) Photo: Wikimedia Commons

SONG: YE SERVANTS OF GOD

Artist: Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Catherine Palmer (dir), Ronald Jordan (organ)
Words/Music: C Wesley/C H Parry
Recording: Marquis

Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,
and publish abroad his wonderful name;
the name all-victorious of Jesus extol;
his kingdom is glorious and rules over all.

God ruleth on high, almighty to save;
though hid from our sight, his presence we have;
the great congregation his triumph shall sing,
ascribing salvation to Jesus our King.

"Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!"
let all cry aloud, and honour the Son;
the praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,
fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.

Then let us adore and give him his right:
all glory and power, all wisdom and might,
all honour and blessing with angels above
and thanks never ceasing for infinite love.
Amen.

SONG: JESU, LOVER OF MY SOUL

Artist: Choir of St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham, David Saint (director), Nigel Morris (organ)
Words/Music: C Wesley/J Parry
Recording: Priory PRCD 723

Jesu, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head
with the shadow of thy wing.

Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound;
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee;
Spring thou up within my heart;
rise to all eternity.

SONG: O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING

Artist: Choir of St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham, David Saint (director), Nigel Morris (organ)
Words/Music: C Wesley/Thalben-Ball
Recording: Priory 723

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my dear Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life and health and peace.

He speaks, and listening to his voice
new life the dead receive,
the mournful broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.

Hear Him, ye deaf, His praise, ye dumb
your loosened tongues employ,
ye blind, behold your Saviour come,
and leap ye lame for joy!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro' all the earth abroad
the honours of your name.

SONG: PSALM 23 (ORLINGTON)

Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers
Words/Music: Psalm 23/Campbell
Recording: Abbey 282830

The Lord's my shepherd; I'll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

My soul He doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
Within the paths of righteousness,
E'en for His own name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

My table Thou hast furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God's house forevermore
And in God's house forevermore
My dwelling place shall be.

SONG: THERE’S A WIDENESS IN GOD’S MERCY

Artist: Choir of Belfast Cathedral
Words/Music: Faber/Stainer
Recording: Priory PRCD 722

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in his justice,
Which is more than liberty.

There is no place where earth’s sorrows
Are more felt than up in heaven;
There is no place where earth’s failings
Have such kindly judgment given.

For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of man’s mind;
And the heart of the eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.

But we make his love too narrow
By false limits of our own;
And we magnify his strictness
With a zeal he will not own.

There is plentiful redemption
In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrows of the head.

There is grace enough for thousands
Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations
In that upper home of bliss.

If our love were but more simple,
We should take him at his word;
And our lives would be all goodness
In the joy of Christ our Lord.

SONG: GOD THAT MADEST EARTH AND HEAVEN

Artist: Choir of Trinity College, University of Melbourne
Words/Music: Rees/Taylor
Recording: ABC 476509

God, that madest earth and heaven,
darkness and night,
who the day for toil has given,
for rest the night;
may thine angel-guards defend us,
slumber sweet thy mercy send us,
holy dreams and hope attend us,
this livelong night.

Guard us waking, guard us sleeping;
and, when we die,
may we in thy mighty keeping
all peaceful lie;
when the last dread call shall wake us,
do not thou our God forsake us,
but to reign in glory take us
with thee on high.

SONG: HOLY SPIRIT, EVER LIVING

Artist: Choir of All Saints Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills, Thomas Foster (dir), Craig Phillips (organ)
Words/Music: Rees/Taylor
Recording: Gothic 349074

Holy Spirit, ever living
As the Church's very life;
Holy Spirit, ever striving
Through us in a ceaseless strife;
Holy Spirit, ever forming
In the Church the mind of Christ;
Thee we praise with endless worship
For thy fruits and gifts unpriced.

Holy Spirit, ever working
Through the Church's ministry;
Quick'ning, strength'ning, and absolving,
Setting captive sinners free;
Holy Spirit, ever binding
Age to age and soul to soul
In communion never ending,
Thee we worship and extol.

SONG: CALON LÂN

Artist: Bryn Terfel (bbar), Bryan Davies Black Mountain Chorus, Risca Male Choir, Welsh National Opera Orch
Words/Music: James/Hughes
Recording: DG 463 593