Children’s hymns feature in this week’s programme, along with a contemporary setting of Charles Wesley’s Love divine, all loves excelling and Graham Kendrick’s 20th century classic, The servant king.
Aokautere Community Church, Palmerston North Photo: Robyn Jaquiery
SONG: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
Artist: St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir, Sydney
Words/Music: Joseph Scriven/Charles Converse
Recording: Startel STARCD 1005
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge,
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
SONG: LEAD US, HEAVENLY FATHER, LEAD US
Artist: Sheffield Cathedral Choir
Words/Music: James Edmeston/Friedrich Filitz
Recording: Priory PRCD 713
Lead us, heavenly father, lead us
o'er the world's tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
for we have no help but thee;
yet possessing every blessing,
if our God our father be.
Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us;
all our weakness thou dost know;
thou didst tread this earth before us;
thou didst feel its keenest woe;
yet unfearing, persevering,
to thy passion thou didst go.
Spirit of our God, descending,
fill our hearts with heavenly joy;
love with every passion blending
pleasure that can never cloy;
thus provided, pardoned, guided,
nothing can our peace destroy.
SONG: TELL ME THE STORIES OF JESUS
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: William Parker/Frederick Challinor
Recording: Hyperion 112104
Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:
scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,
and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;
words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
all in the love-light of Jesus' face.
Show me that scene in the garden, of bitter pain.
Show me the cross where my Saviour for me was slain -
sad ones or bright ones, so that they be
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
SONG: JESUS, TENDER SHEPHERD, HEAR ME
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir)
Words/Music: Sarah Duncan/Trad
Recording: Hyperion 112104
Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me,
Bless thy little lamb tonight;
Through the darkness be Thou near me,
Watch my sleep till morning light.
All this day Thy hand has led me,
And I thank Thee for Thy care;
Thou hast clothed me, warmed and fed me,
Listen to my evening prayer.
Let my sins be all forgiven,
Bless the friends I love so well;
Take me, when I die, to heaven,
Happy there with Thee to dwell.
SONG: DAISIES ARE OUR SILVER
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Jan Struthers/Kenneth Finlay
Recording: Hyperion 112104
Daisies are our silver, Buttercups our gold:
This is all the treasure we can have or hold.
Raindrops are our diamonds and the morning dew;
While for shining sapphires we've the speedwell blue.
These shall be our emeralds– Leaves so new and green;
Roses make the reddest rubies ever seen.
God, who gave these treasures to your children small,
Teach us how to love them and grow like them all.
Make us bright as silver: Make us good as gold;
Warm as summer roses , let our hearts unfold.
Gay as leaves in April, clear as drops of dew–
God, who made the speedwell, keep us true to you.
SONG: LORD OF ALL HOPEFULNESS
Artist: Choir of Portsmouth Cathedral
Words/Music: Jan Struther/Trad
Recording: Herald HAVPCD 205
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever childlike,
no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking,
and give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord,
At the break of the day.
Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled
at the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labours
and give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord,
At the noon of the day.
Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome,
Your arms to embrace.
Be there at our homing,
and give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord,
At the eve of the day.
Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment,
whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping,
and give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord,
At the end of the day.
SONG: THE SERVANT KING
Artist: BBC Radio 4 Daily Service Singers
Words/Music: Graham Kendrick
Recording: BBC
From heaven you came helpless babe
Entered our world, your glory veiled
Not to be served but to serve
And give Your life that we might live
Refrain:
This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King
There in the garden of tears
My heavy load he chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
'Yet not My will but Yours,' He said
Refrain:
Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered
Refrain:
So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone Him
Each other's needs to prefer
For it is Christ we're serving
Refrain:
SONG: ALL MY HOPE ON GOD IS FOUNDED
Artist: Choir of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland
Words/Music: Joachim Neander trans Robert Bridges/Herbert Howells
Recording: Private CD812
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
new-born 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: 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.
