Hymns on Sunday Summer Requests starts today – throughout January you can hear listener choices. Favourite hymns in this week’s programme include Be thou my vision, Stuart Townend’s setting of Psalm 23 The Lord’s my shepherd, and Guide me, O thou great redeemer.
View from churchyard gate, St Michael and All Saints Church, Porangahau. Photo: Robyn Jaquiery
SONG: JESU, JOY OF MAN’S DESIRING
Artist: Choir of Guildford Cathedral
Words/Music: Schop, Bach/Bridges
Recording: Word WSTCD 9705
Jesu, joy of man’s desiring
Holy wisdom, love most bright;
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring
Soar to uncreated light.
Word of God, our flesh that fashioned,
With the fire of life impassioned,
Striving still to truth unknown,
Soaring, dying round Thy throne.
SONG: THROUGH ALL THE CHANGING SCENES OF LIFE
Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
Words/Music: Nahum Tate/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.
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: OUR LIFE HAS ITS SEASONS
Artist: Festival Singers, Guy Jansen (dir)
Words/Music: Shirley Murray/Colin Gibson
Label: Festivity Productions FPCD 2007
Our life has its seasons, and God has the reasons
why spring follows winter, and new leaves grow,
for there's a connection with our resurrection
that flowers will bud after frost and snow.
Refrain:
So there's never a time to stop believing,
there's never a time for hope to die,
there's never a time to stop loving,
these three things go on.
There's a time to be planting, a time to be plucking,
a time to be laughing, a time to weep,
a time to be building, a time to be breaking,
a time to be waking, a time to sleep.
Refrain:
There's a time to be hurting, a time to be healing,
a time to be saving, a time to spend,
a time to be grieving, a time to be dancing,
a time for beginning, a time to end.
Refrain:
SONG: PSALM 23 THE LORD’S MY SHEPHERD
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry Cathedral
Words/Music: Psalm 23/Stuart Townend
Recording: Integrity Music 2007
The Lord's my Shepherd I'll not want
He makes me lie in pastures green
He leads me by the still still waters
His goodness restores my soul
Refrain:
And I will trust in You alone
And I will trust in You alone
For Your endless mercy follows me
Your goodness will lead me home
He guides my ways in righteousness
And He anoints my head with oil
And my cup it overflows with joy
I feast on His pure delights
Refrain:
And though I walk the darkest path
I will not fear the evil one
For You are with me
And Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know
Refrain:
SONG: TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS
Artist: Upper Norwood Salvation Army Band
Words/Music: Lemmel
Recording: Word SALCD 002
[instrumental only]
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
SONG: MAKE ME A CAPTIVE, LORD
Artist: Scottish Festival Singers, Ian McCrorie (dir)
Words/Music: George Matheson/George Martin
Recording: Integrity Music
Make me a captive, Lord,
And then I shall be free.
Force me to render up my sword
And I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life's alarms
When by myself I stand;
Imprison me within thine arms,
And strong shall be my hand.
My pow'r is faint and low
Till I have learned to serve;
It lacks the needed fire to glow,
It lacks the breeze to nerve.
It cannot drive the world
Until itself be driv'n;
Its flag can only be unfurled
When thou shalt breathe from heav'n.
My will is not my own
Till thou hast made it thine;
If it would reach a monarch's throne,
It must its crown resign
It only stands unbent
Amid the clashing strife
When on thy bosom it has leant,
And found in thee its life.
SONG: BE THOU MY VISION
Artist: Choir of Belfast Cathedral
Words/Music: Anon trans Byrne, versified Hull/Trad
Recording: Griffin 224018
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art;
thou my best thought in the day or the night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word;
I ever with thee, and thou with me, Lord;
thou my great Father: and I thy true son;
thou in me dwelling, and I with thee.
Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my armour, and be thou my might,
thou my soul's shelter, and thou my high tower:
raise thou me heavenward, O power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, through all my days:
thou, and thou only, the first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.
High King of Heaven, when the battle is done,
grant heaven’s joys to me, O bright heaven's sun!
Christ of my own heart whatever befall,
still be my vision, O ruler of all.
SONG: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT REDEEMER
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: William Williams/John Hughes
Recording: Hyperion 112105
Guide me, O my great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more,
feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
where the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield,
be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell's destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee,
I will ever give to thee.
