We’re continuing our Summer Requests programmes in Hymns on Sunday, and this week you can hear wedding hymns, a 20th century classic and a rousing rendition of For all the saints.
Onetangi Beach, Waiheke Island Photo: Wikimedia Commons
SONG: FOR ALL THE SAINTS
Artist: Liverpool Cathedral Choir, massed choirs from Merseyside, Ian Tracey (dir), Ian Wells (organ)
Words/Music: William Walsham How/Ralph Vaughan Williams
Recording: Virgin 759031
For all the saints, who from their labours rest;
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
SONG: IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE
Artist: Choir of Truro Cathedral
Words/Music: Walter Smith/Trad
Recording: Priory PRCD 710
Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,
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: BE STILL, FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
Artist: London Fox Singers
Words/Music: David Evans
Recording: Elevation 2014
Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the holy one, is here;
Come bow before him now
with reverence and fear:
In him no sin is found
we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the holy one, is here.
Be still, for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around;
He burns with holy fire,
with splendour he is crowned:
How awesome is the sight
our radiant king of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around.
Be still, for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place;
He comes to cleanse and heal,
to minister his grace
No work too hard for him
In faith receive from him
Be still, for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.
SONG: WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS
Artist: Musica Sacra, Indra Hughes (dir)
Words/Music: Nahum Tate/attrib George Kirbye
Recording: Atoll ACD 207
While shepherds watched their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around.
"Fear not", said he, for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind
"Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind".
"To you, in David's town this day
Is born of David's line
The Saviour who is Christ the Lord
And this shall be the sign".
"The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view displayed
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands
And in a manger laid".
Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song:
"All glory be to God on high
And on the earth be peace
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease"
SONG: THROUGH ALL THE CHANGING SCENES OF LIFE
Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
Words/Music: Nahum Tate/George Smart
Recording: Priory PRCD 376
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.
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: GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Thomas Chisholm/William Runyon
Recording: Hyperion 112105
"Great is thy faithfulness," O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
"Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed thy hand hath provided,
"Great is thy faithfulness," Lord unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Refrain:
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain:
SONG: O PERFECT LOVE
Artist: Glasgow Phoenix Choir, Peter Mooney (dir)
Words/Music: Dorothy Blomfield/Joseph Barnby
Recording: Word PWCD 003
O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
that theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
whom thou in sacred vow dost join in one.
O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance
of tender charity and steadfast faith,
of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance,
with childlike trust that fears no pain or death.
Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife;
grant them the vision of the glorious morrow
that will reveal eternal love and life.
SONG: LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING
Artist: Choir of Christ Church Cathedral Oxford, London Musici, Howard Goodall
Words/Music: C Wesley/Howard Goodall
Recording: EMI 215047
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion;
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast;
let us all in thee inherit;
let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty, to deliver;
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
