9 May 2021

Hymns on Sunday, 9 May 2021

From Hymns on Sunday, 4:20 am on 9 May 2021

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This week's selection includes songs by British hymnwriter Bernadette Farrell. She writes contemporary Catholic liturgical music, and her hymns often have a social justice focus.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Holy Trinity Cathedral Photo: RNZ / Paul Bushnell

SONG: CHRIST IS MADE THE SURE FOUNDATION

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

Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the Head and Corner-stone,
Chosen of the Lord, and precious,
Binding all the Church in one,
Holy Sion's help for ever,
And her confidence alone.

All that dedicated city,
Dearly loved of God on high,
In exultant jubilation
Pours perpetual melody;
God the One in Three adoring
In glad hymns eternally.

Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants
What they ask of Thee to gain,
What they gain from Thee, for ever
With the blessèd to retain,
And hereafter in Thy glory
Evermore with Thee to reign.

SONG: GOD BEYOND ALL NAMES

Artist: St Thomas More Group
Words/Music: Bernadette Farrell
Recording: OCP 1991

God, beyond our dreams, you have stirred in us a memory,
you have placed your powerful spirit in the hearts of humankind.

Refrain:
All around us, we have known you;
all creation lives to hold you,
In our living and our dying
we are bringing you to birth.


God, beyond all names, you have made us in your image,
we are like you, we reflect you, we are woman, we are man.
Refrain:

God, beyond all words, all creation tells your story,
you have shaken with our laughter, you have trembled with our tears.
Refrain:

God, beyond all time, you are laboring within us;
we are moving, we are changing, in your spirit ever new.
Refrain:

God of tender care, you have cradled us in goodness,
you have mothered us in wholeness, you have loved us into birth.
Refrain:

SONG: O GOD, YOU SEARCH ME AND YOU KNOW ME

Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Bernadette Farrell
Recording: Hyperion 112105

O God, you search me and you know me
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze
When I walk or lie down you are before me:
Ever the maker and keeper of my days.

You know my resting and my rising
You discern my purpose from afar
And with love everlasting you besiege me:
In ev'ry moment of life or death, you are.

Before a word is on my tongue, Lord,
You have known its meaning through and through.
You are with me beyond my understanding:
God of my present, my past and future, too.

Although your Spirit is upon me,
Still I search for shelter from your light.
There is nowhere on earth I can escape you:
Even the darkness is radiant in your sight.

For you created me and shaped me,
Gave me life within my mother's womb.
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you:

SONG: ALL MY HOPE ON GOD IS FOUNDED

Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Neander trans Bridges/Howells
Recording: Hyperion 711210

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
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: LOVING SPIRIT

Artist: Festival Singers, Wellington
Words/Music: Shirley Murray/David Dell
Recording: Private CD 807

Loving spirit, loving spirit,
you have chosen me to be
you have drawn me to your wonder,
you have set your sign on me.

Like a mother you enfold me,
hold my life within your own,
feed me with your very body,
form me of your flesh and bone.

Like a father you protect me,
teach me the discerning eye,
hoist me up upon your shoulder,
let me see the world from high.

Friend and lover, in your closeness
I am known and held and blessed:
in your promise is my comfort,
in your presence I may rest.

Loving spirit, loving spirit,
you have chosen me to be
you have drawn me to your wonder,
you have set your sign on me.

SONG: HAIL, QUEEN OF HEAVEN, THE OCEAN STAR

Artist: Choirs of the Diocese of Leeds
Words/Music: Lingard/Trad
Recording: Herald AV2016

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: DO, LORD, REMEMBER ME

Artist: Moses Hogan Singers, Louis Davis, Moses Hogan (dir)
Words/Music: Trad arr Hogan
Recording: Hal Leonard HL 08743982

Refrain:
Do, Lord, oh do Lord, Lord remember me
Do, Lord, oh do Lord, Lord remember me
Do, Lord, oh do Lord, Lord remember me
Way beyond the sun.


I got a home in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a home in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a home in Beulah land that outshines the sun
Way beyond the sun.

I got a crown in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a crown in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a crown in Beulah land that outshines the sun
Way beyond the sun.
Refrain:

I got a mother in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a father in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a saviour in Beulah land that outshines the sun
Way beyond the sun.
Refrain:

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]

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