Listener requests in this week's programme include Take my gifts by New Zealand hymn writer Shirley Murray, What a friend we have in Jesus, and there's a gentle rendition of John Rutter's The Lord bless you and keep you by the Cambridge Singers.
Staircase to the Chapter House, Wells Cathedral, England. Photo: Nessy-Pic
SONG: IN CHRIST THERE IS NO EAST OR WEST
Artist: Cathedral Choral Society, Washington National Cathedral
Words/Music: John Oxenham/Trad African-American, adapted Harry Burleigh
Recording: Gothic G49112
In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love
Thru'out the whole wide Earth.
In him shall true hearts ev'rywhere
Their high communion find.
His service is the golden cord
Close binding humankind.
Join hands, then, children of the faith,
Whate'er your race may be!
Who serves my Father as a child
Is surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west,
In him meet south and north;
All Christly souls are one in him,
Thru'out the whole wide Earth.
SONG: JERUSALEM THE GOLDEN
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Bernard of Cluny trans John Mason Neale/Alexander Ewing, William Monk
Recording: Hyperion 112102
Jerusalem the golden, with milk and honey blest,
Beneath thy contemplation sink heart and voice oppressed.
I know not, O I know not, what joys await us there,
What radiancy of glory, what bliss beyond compare.
They stand, those halls of Zion, all jubilant with song,
and bright with many an angel, and all the martyr throng:
the Prince is ever in them, the daylight is serene;
the pastures of the blessèd are decked in glorious sheen.
There is the throne of David, and there, from care released,
The song of them that triumph, the shout of them that feast;
And they, who with their leader, have conquered in the fight,
Forever and forever are clad in robes of white.
Oh, sweet and blessèd country, the home of God's elect!
Oh, sweet and blessèd country, that eager hearts expect!
Jesus, in mercy bring us to that dear land of rest,
who art, with God the father, and the Spirit, ever blest.
SONG: O LOVE THAT WILT NOT LET ME GO
Artist: London Fox Singers
Words/Music: George Matheson/Albert Peace
Recording: London Fox Singers
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O Light that followest all my way
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
my heart restores its borrowed ray,
that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
may brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
SONG: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Joseph Scriven/Charles Converse
Recording: Hyperion 711210
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 Saviour, 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: TAKE MY GIFTS
Artist: Havelock North High School Choir, Roger Stevenson (dir)
Words/Music: Shirley Murray/Colin Gibson
Recording: NZ Hymnbook Trust
Take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me,
gave me light and food and shelter,
gave me life and set me free,
now because your love has touched me,
I have love to give away,
now the bread of love is rising,
loaves of love to multiply!
Take the fruit that I have gathered
from the tree your Spirit sowed,
harvest of your own compassion,
juice that makes the wine of God,
spiced with humour, laced with laughter–
flavor of the Jesus life,
tang of risk and new adventure,
taste and zest beyond belief.
Take whatever I can offer -
gifts that I have yet to find,
skills that I am slow to sharpen,
talents of the hand and mind,
things made beautiful for others
in the place where I must be:
take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me.
SONG: WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD
Artist: Scottish Festival Singers
Words/Music: Priscilla Owens/Kirkpatrick
Recording: Syntax Creative 2014
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
Refrain:
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!
Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,
when the breakers roar and the reef is near?
While the surges rage, and the wild winds blow,
shall the angry waves then your barque o'erflow?
Refrain:
Will your eyes behold through the morning light
the city of gold and the harbour bright?
Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,
when life's storms are past for evermore?
Refrain:
SONG: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE
Artist: Cathedral Choral Society, Washington National Cathedral
Words/Music: Sarah Flower Adams/Lowell Mason
Recording: Gothic G49112
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I'd be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
SONG: YE WATCHERS AND YE HOLY ONES
Artist: Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge
Words/Music: Athelstan Riley/Anon
Recording: Conifer 75605-51249
Ye watchers and ye holy ones,
Bright seraphs, cherubim and thrones,
Raise the glad strain, Alleluia!
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, powers,
Virtues, archangels, angels’ choirs:
Refrain:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
O higher than the cherubim,
More glorious than the seraphim,
Lead their praises, Alleluia!
Thou bearer of th’eternal Word,
Most gracious, magnify the Lord.
Refrain:
O friends, in gladness let us sing,
Supernal anthems echoing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To God the father, God the son,
And God the spirit, three in one.
Refrain:
SONG: THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU
Artist: Cambridge Singers, City of London Sinfonia, John Rutter (dir)
Words/Music: Trad/John Rutter
Recording: Collegium COL CD 100
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
To shine upon you and be gracious, and be gracious unto you.
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make His face to shine upon you,
To shine upon you and be gracious, and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up the light
Of His countenance upon you,
The Lord lift up the light
Of His countenance upon you,
And give you peace,
And give you peace,
And give you peace,
And give you peace.
Amen.
