Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus (tune: IN BABILONE)

Hail, thou once despised Jesus!
Hail, thou Galilean King!
Thou didst suffer to release us;
thou didst free salvation bring.
Hail, thou universal Savior,
who hast borne our sin and shame!
By thy merits we find favor;
life is given through thy name.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed,
all our sins on thee were laid;
by almighty love anointed,
thou hast full atonement made.
Every sin may be forgiven
through the virtue of thy blood;
opened is the gate of heaven,
reconciled are we with God.

Jesus, hail! enthroned in glory,
there forever to abide;
all the heavenly hosts adore thee,
seated at thy Father's side.
There for sinners thou art pleading;
there thou dost our place prepare;
thou for saints art interceding
till in glory they appear.

Worship, honour, power, and blessing
Christ is worthy to receive;
loudest praises, without ceasing,
right it is for us to give.
Help, ye bright angelic spirits,
bring your sweetest, noblest lays;
help to sing of Jesus' merits,
help to chant Emmanuel's praise!

Text: Attr. to John Bakewell (1757) and Martin Madan (1760)
Tune: IN BABILONE 87.87 D

How Firm A Foundation (Sacred Harp / shape note version)

"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

"When through deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

"When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
my grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Text: "K" in John Rippon's A Selection of Hymns (1787)
Tune: Sacred Harp #72 (Bellvue)

Let All The World In Every Corner Sing

Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!
The heavens are not too high, his praise may thither fly,
the earth is not too low, his praises there may grow.
Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!

Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!
The church with psalms must shout, no door can keep them out;
but, above all, the heart must bear the longest part.
Let all the world in every corner sing, my God and King!

Words: George Herbert (1633)
Setting in Five Mystical Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1911)

For The Beauty Of The Earth

See also: For the Beauty of the Earth (John Rutter)

For the beauty of the earth,
for the beauty of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies,

Refrain:

Christ our God, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.

OR

Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light (Refrain)

For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and brain's delight,
for the mystic harmony
linking sense to sound and sight (Refrain)

For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth, and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild (Refrain)

For each perfect gift of thine
to our race so freely given,
graces human and divine,
flowers of earth and buds of heaven (Refrain)

For thy Bride that evermore
lifteth holy hands above,
offering up on every shore
this pure sacrifice of love (Refrain)

For the martyrs' crown of light,
for thy prophets' eagle eye,
for thy bold confessors' might,
for the lips of infancy (Refrain)

For thy virgins' robes of snow,
for thy maiden Mother mild,
for thyself, with hearts aglow,
Jesus,Victim undefiled (Refrain)

See also: For the Beauty of the Earth (John Rutter)

Historical Information

Words: Folliot Sandford Pierpoint, 1864
Tune: DIX 77.77.77

Ye Watchers And Ye Holy Ones (Tune: LASST UNS ERFREUEN)

Ye watchers and ye holy ones,
bright Seraphs, Cherubim, and Thrones,
raise the glad strain, Alleluia!
Cry out, Dominions, Princedoms, Powers,
Virtues, Archangles, Angels' choirs,
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!

O higher than the Cherubim,
more glorious than the Seraphim,
lead their praises, Alleluai!
Thou bearer of the eternal Word,
most gracious, magnify the Lord,
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!

Respond, ye souls in endless rest,
ye Patriarchs and Prophets blest,
Alleluia! alleluia!
Ye holy Twelve, ye Martyrs strong,
All Saints triumphant, raise the song,
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!

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,
Alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!

Words: John Athelstan Riley (1906)
Tune: LASST UNS ERFREUEN 88.44.88 + Alleluias, Geistliche Kirchengesang, 1623.

Trust And Obey

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. (Refrain)

But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. (Refrain)

Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. (Refrain)

Text: John H. Sammis, 1887
Music: Daniel B. Towner, 1887

Morning Has Broken

Morning has broken
Like the first morning,
Black bird has spoken
Like the first bird.
Praise the singing!
Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing
Fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain's new fall
Sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dewfall
On the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness
Of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness
Where His feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight!
Mine is the morning.
Born of the one light
Eden saw play!
Praise with elation,
Praise ev'ry morning,
God's recreation
Of the newday!

Background Information

Words: Eleanor Farjeon (1931)
Tune: BUNESSAN 55.54D (Traditional Gaelic melody)

When In Our Music God Is Glorified

When in our music God is glorified,
and adoration leaves no room for pride,
it is as though the whole creation cried
Alleluia!

How often, making music, we have found
a new dimension in the world of sound,
as worship moved us to a more profound
Alleluia!

So has the Church, in liturgy and song,
in faith and love, through centuries of wrong,
borne witness to the truth in every tongue,
Alleluia!

And did not Jesus sing a psalm that night
when utmost evil strove against the Light?
Then let us sing, for whom he won the fight,
Alleluia!

Let every instrument be tuned for praise!
Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise!
And may God give us faith to sing always
Alleluia!

Words: Fred Pratt Green (1972)
Tune: Engelberg 10.10.10.4, by Charles Villiers Stanford (1904)

Come, Thou Amighty King

Come, thou almighty King,
help us thy Name to sing,
help us to praise!
Father all glorious,
over all victorious,
come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days!

Come, thou incarnate Word,
gird on thy mighty sword,
our prayer attend!
Come, and thy people bless,
and give thy word success,
Spirit of holiness,
on us descend!

Come, holy Comforter,
thy sacred witness bear
in this glad hour.
thou who almighty art,
now rule in every heart,
and ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of power!

To Thee, great One in Three,
Eternal praises be,
hence evermore.
Thy sovereign majesty
may we in glory see,
and to eternity
love and adore!

Words: Anonymous, from Collection of Hymns for Social Worship, 1757
Tune: ITALIAN HYMN (MOSCOW) 664.6664

I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath

I'll praise my Maker while I've breath,
and when my voice is lost in death,
praise shall employ my nobler powers;
my days of praise shall ne'er be past,
while life, and thought, and being last,
or immortality endures.

Why should I make a man my trust?
Princes must die and turn to dust;
vain is the help of flesh and blood:
their breath departs, their pomp, and power,
and thoughts, all vanish in an hour,
nor can they make their promise good.

Happy the man whose hopes rely
on Israel's God: he made the sky,
and earth, and seas, with all their train;
his truth for ever stands secure,
he saves th'oppressed, he feeds the poor,
and none shall find his promise vain.

The Lord has eyes to give the blind;
the Lord supports the sinking mind;
he sends the laboring conscience peace;
he helps the stranger in distress,
the widow, and the fatherless,
and grants the prisoner sweet release.

He loves his saints, he knows them well,
but turns the wicked down to hell;
thy God, O Zion! ever reigns:
Let every tongue, let every age,
in this exalted work engage;
praise him in everlasting strains.

I'll praise him while he lends me breath,
and when my voice is lost in death,
praise shall employ my nobler powers;
my days of praise shall ne'er be past,
while life, and thought, and being last,
or immortality endures.

Paraphrase of Psalm 146

Words: Isaac Watts, 1719
Tune: OLD 113TH, 888.888, attributed to Matthäus Greiter (1525)

He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought

He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where'er I be,
still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

Refrain:

He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,
by waters still, o'er troubled sea,
still 'tis his hand that leadeth me. (Refrain)

Lord, I would place my hand in thine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since 'tis my God that leadeth me. (Refrain)

And when my task on earth is done,
when by thy grace the victory's won,
e'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me. (Refrain)

Paraphrase of Psalm 23

Text: Joseph H. Gilmore, 1862
Tune: HE LEADETH ME LM + Refrain, by William B. Bradbury, 1864

Take My Life And Let It Be

Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee.

Take my silver and my gold,
not a mite would I withhold;
take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
take my self, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.

Text: Frances Ridley Havergal (1874)
Tune: HENDON 7.7.7.7, by H.A. César Malan (1827)

在主內 (In God Alone)

在主內 (In God Alone)

唯在主內 我的靈得安歇
上主是我磐石 我永不動搖
唯在主內 我的靈得安歇
上主是我磐石 我永不動搖

在主內安歇,我靈
上主是我的希望
呼喚上主的聖名
祂是我們的庇蔭

勿信靠財富,我靈
尋求上主的榮耀
上主祂信實可靠
我們的力量和救主

大家前來朝拜主
我們是祂的羊群
聽從上主的教導
我們心深處的呼聲

Chinese Translation of In God Alone, by Bob Fabing
Translation by 彭育申修女譯詞

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Tell Out My Soul (Magnificat)

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Savior shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age to same;
his holy Name--the Lord, the Mighty One.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children's children and for evermore!

Text: Magnificat, Luke 1:46-56
Words: Timothy Dudley-Smith (1962)
Tune: WOODLANDS 10.10.10.10, by Walter Greatorex, 1877-1949

Bless This House

Bless this house, O Lord we pray,
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out.
Bless the roof and chimneys tall,
Let thy peace lie overall.
Bless this door that it may prove,
Ever open, to joy and love.
Bless these windows shining bright,
Letting in God's Heavenly light,
Bless the hearth, the painting there,
With smoke ascending like a prayer!
Bless the folk who dwell within,
Keep them pure and free from sin.
Bless us all that we may be,
Fit O Lord to dwell with thee.
Bless us all that one day we may dwell,
O Lord! With Thee!

Historical Information

Words: Helen Taylor (1927)
Music: May Brahe (1927)

Sing of the Lord's Goodness

Sing of the Lord's goodness Father of all wisdom,
come to him and bless his name.
Mercy he has shown us, his love is for ever,
faithful to the end of days.

Refrain:

Come, then, all you nations,
sing of your Lord's goodness,
melodies of praise and thanks to God.
Ring out the Lord's glory,
praise him with your music,
worship him and bless his name.

Power he has wielded, honour is his garment
risen from the snares of death.
His word he has spoken, one bread he has broken,
new life he now gives to all. (Refrain)

Courage in our darkness, comfort in our sorrow,
Spirit of our God most high;
solace for the weary, pardon for the sinner,
splendour of the living God. (Refrain)

Praise him with your singing, praise him with the trumpet
praise God with the lute and harp;
praise him with the cymbals, praise him with your dancing,
praise God till the end of days. (Refrain)

Composer: Ernest Sands (1981)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Be Thou My Vision (Tune: SLANE)

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,
be thou ever with me, and I with thee Lord;
be thou my great Father, and I thy true son;
be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my whole armor, be thou my true might;
be thou my soul's shelter, be thou my strong tower:
O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise:
be thou mine inheritance now and always;
be thou and thou only the first in my heart;
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, thou heaven's bright sun,
O grant me its joys after victory is won;
great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

Historical Background

Text: Rop tú mo Baile, ancient Irish hymn translated by Mary Byrne (1905) and versified by Eleanor Hull (1912)
Tune: SLANE 10.10.10.10

O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Lydia)

See also:

• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Lyngham)
• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Azmon)

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

He speaks, and listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive;
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.

Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your savior come,
and leap, ye lame, for joy.

In Christ, your head, you then shall know,
shall feel your sins forgiven;
anticipate your heaven below,
and own that love is heaven.

See also:

• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Lyngham)
• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Azmon)

Historical Information

Text: Charles Wesley, 1739
Tune: LYDIA CM (Thomas Phillips)

I Cannot Tell

I cannot tell how he whom angels worship
should stoop to love the peoples of the earth,
or why as shepherd he should seek the wanderer
with his mysterious promise of new birth.
But this I know, that he was born of Mary,
when Bethlehem's manger was his only home,
and that he lived at Nazareth and labored,
and so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is come.

I cannot tell how silently he suffered,
as with his peace he graced this place of tears,
or how his heart upon the cross was broken,
the crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted,
and stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,
and lifts the burden from the heavy laden,
for yet the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is here.

I cannot tell how he will win the nations,
how he will claim his earthly heritage,
how satisfy the needs and aspirations
of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory,
and he shall reap the harvest he has sown,
and some glad day his sun shall shine in splendor
when he the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
when, at his bidding, every storm is stilled,
or who can say how great the jubilation
when every heart with perfect love is filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
and myriad, myriad human voices sing,
and earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, will answer:
'At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!'

Words: William Young Fullerton, 1929
Music: LONDONDERRY AIR 11.10.11.10 D

O Worship The King

O worship the King,
all glorious above!
O gratefully sing
his power and his love!
Our shield and defender,
the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor,
and girded with praise.

O tell of his might!
O sing of his grace!
Whose robe is the light,
whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath
the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path
on the wings of the storm.

The earth, with its store
of wonders untold,
Almighty, thy power
hath founded of old,
hath 'stablished it fast
by a changeless decree,
and round it hath cast,
like a mantle, the sea.

Thy bountiful care,
what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air;
it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills,
it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills
in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust,
and feeble as frail,
in thee do we trust,
nor find thee to fail;
thy mercies, how tender!
How firm to the end!
Our Maker, Defender,
Redeemer, and Friend!

O measureless Might,
ineffable Love,
while angels delight
to worship thee above,
the humbler creation,
though feeble their lays,
with true adoration
shall all sing thy praise.

Text: Robert Grant, 1833, after William Kethe (ca. 1559-1594)
Tune: HANOVER 10.10.11.11.(A Supplement to the New Version, probably by William Croft, 1678-1727)

E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come

Peace be to you and grace from Him
Who freed us from our sin
Who loved us all,
and shed his blood
That we might saved be.

Sing holy, holy to our Lord
The Lord almighty God
Who was and is,
and is to come
Sing holy, holy Lord.

Rejoice in heaven, all ye that dwell therein
Rejoice on earth, ye saints below
For Christ is coming,
Is coming soon
For Christ is coming soon.

E'en so Lord Jesus quickly come
And night shall be no more
They need no light,
no lamp, nor sun
For Christ will be their All!

Composer: Paul Manz (1919-2009)

There Is A Balm In Gilead

Refrain:
There is a balm in Gilead,
to make the wounded whole,
there is a balm in Gilead,
to heal the sinsick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,
and think my work's in vain,
but then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again. (Refrain)

If you cannot preach like Peter,
if you cannot pray like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus,
and say, "He died for all." (Refrain)

Don’t ever feel discouraged,
for Jesus is your friend;
And if you lack for knowledge,
He’ll never refuse to lend. (Refrain)

Historical Information

Traditional African American Spiritual

This Is My Father's World

This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Text: Maltbie D. Babcock (1901)
Tune: TERRA BEATA, SMD

O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Azmon)

See also:

• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Lyngham)
• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Lydia)
  

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

He speaks, and listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive;
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.

Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your savior come,
and leap, ye lame, for joy.

In Christ, your head, you then shall know,
shall feel your sins forgiven;
anticipate your heaven below,
and own that love is heaven.

See also:

• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Lyngham)
• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Lydia)
  

Historical Information

Text: Charles Wesley, 1739
Tune: AZMON CM, by Carl G. Gläser (1828), arr. Lowell Mason (1839)

O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Lyngham)

See also:

• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Azmon)
• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Lydia)
  

O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread through all the earth abroad
the honors of thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life, and health, and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.

He speaks, and listening to his voice,
new life the dead receive;
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.

Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
your loosened tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your savior come,
and leap, ye lame, for joy.

In Christ, your head, you then shall know,
shall feel your sins forgiven;
anticipate your heaven below,
and own that love is heaven.

See also:

• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Azmon)
• O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing (Lydia)
  

Historical Information

Text: Charles Wesley, 1739
Tune: LYNGHAM CM, by Thomas Jarman (1821)

Saviour of the Nations, Come

See Original German Version: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland

Saviour of the nations, come,
Virgin's Son, make here Thy home!
Marvel now, O heaven and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

Not by human flesh and blood,
By the Spirit of our God,
Was the Word of God made flesh--
Woman's Offspring, pure and fresh.

Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
Of the Virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in heaven enthroned.

From the Father forth He came
And returneth to the same,
Captive leading death and hell--
High the song of triumph swell!

Thou, the Father's only Son,
Hast o'er sin the victory won.
Boundless shall Thy kingdom be;
When shall we its glories see?

Brightly doth Thy manger shine,
Glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin o'er cloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.

Praise to God the Father sing,
Praise to God the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally.

See Original German Version: Nun komm der Heiden Heiland

Text: Paraphrase of St Ambrose, Veni Redemptor Gentium, English translation in the Lutheran Hymnal, 1941
Tune: NUN KOMM DER HEIDEN HEILAND 77.77, Geystliche gesangk Buchleyn, Wittenberg (1524)

Awake! Awake, And Greet The New Morn (Marty Haugen)

Awake! awake, and greet the new morn,
for angels herald its dawning.
Sing out your joy, for soon he is born,
behold! the Child of our longing.
Come as a baby weak and poor,
to bring all hearts together,
he opens wide the heav’nly door
and lives now inside us for ever.

To us, to all in sorrow and fear,
Emmanuel comes asinging,
his humble song is quiet and near,
yet fills the earth with its ringing;
music to heal the broken soul
and hymns of loving kindness,
the thunder of his anthems role
to shatter all hatred and blindness.

In darkest night his coming shall be,
when all the world is despairing,
as morning light so quiet and free,
so warm and gentle and caring.
Then shall the mute break forth in song,
the lame shall leap in wonder,
the weak be raised above the strong,
and weapons be broken asunder.

Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night,
though dark the winter and cheerless,
the rising sun shall crown you with light,
be strong and loving and fearless.
Love be our song and love our prayer
and love our endless story,
may God fill ev’ry day we share
and bring us at last into glory.

Composer: Marty Haugen (1983)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Wir glauben all' an einen Gott (Martin Luther) / Creed

Wir glauben all' an einen Gott

Wir glauben all' an einen Gott,
Schöpfer Himmels und der Erden,
Der sich zum Vater geben hat,
Daß wir seine Kinder werden.
Er will uns allzeit ernähren,
Leib und Seel' auch wohl bewahren,
Allem Unfall will er wehren,
Kein Leid soll uns widerfahren;
Er sorget für uns, hüt't und wacht,
Es steht alles in seiner Macht.

Wir glauben auch an Jesum Christ,
Seinen Sohn und unsern Herren,
Der ewig bei dem Vater ist,
Gleicher Gott von Macht und Ehren;
Von Maria, der Jungfrauen,
Ist ein wahrer Mensch geboren
Durch den Heil'gen Geist im Glauben,
Für uns, die wir war'n verloren,
Am Kreuz gestorben und vom Tod
Wieder auferstanden durch Gott.

Wir glauben an den Heil'gen Geist,
Gott mit Vater un dem Sohne,
Der aller Blöden Tröster heisst
Und mit Gaben zieret schöne,
Die ganz' Christenheit auf Erden
Hält in einem Sinn gar eben;
Hier all' Sünd' vergeben werden,
Das Fleisch soll auch wieder leben.
Nach diesem Elend ist bereit
Uns ein Leben in Ewigkeit. Amen.

Text: Martin Luther, 1525

Wir pflügen, und wir streuen

See also the English translation: We Plough The Fields And Scatter

Wir pflügen, und wir streuen den Samen auf das Land,
doch Wachstum und Gedeihen steht in des Himmels Hand:
der tut mit leisem Wehen sich mild und heimlich auf
und träuft, wenn heim wir gehen, Wuchs und Gedeihen drauf

Refrain:

Alle gute Gabe kommt her von Gott dem Herrn,
drum dankt ihm dankt, drum dankt ihm dankt
und hofft auf ihn.

Er sendet Tau und Regen und Sonn und Mondenschein
und wickelt seinen Segen gar zart und künstlich ein
und bringt ihn dann behende in unser Feld und Brot
es geht durch unsre Hände, kommt aber her von Gott. (Refrain)

Was nah ist und was ferne, von Gott kommt alles her,
der Strohhalm und die Sterne, das Sandkorn und das Meer.
Von ihm sind Büsch und Blätter und Korn und Obst von ihm
das schöne Frühlingswetter und Schnee und Ungestüm. (Refrain)

Er läßt die Sonn aufgehen, er stellt des Mondes Lauf;
er läßt die Winde wehen und tut die Wolken auf.
Er schenkt uns soviel Freude, er macht uns frisch und rot;
er gibt den Kühen Weide und seinen Kindern Brot. (Refrain)

Historical Information (in German)

Text: Matthias Claudius (1782)
Tune: WIR PLÜGEN, Irr.

We Plough The Fields And Scatter

See also the German original: Wir pflügen, und wir streuen

We plough the fields, and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God's almighty hand;
he sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.

Refrain:

All good gifts around us
are sent from heaven above,
then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
for all his love.

He only is the Maker
of all things near and far;
he paints the wayside flower,
he lights the evening star;
the winds and waves obey him,
by him the birds are fed;
much more to us, his children,
he gives our daily bread. (Refrain)

We thank thee, then, O Father,
for all things bright and good,
the seed time and the harvest,
our life, our health, and food;
no gifts have we to offer,
for all thy love imparts,
and, what thou most desirest,
our humble, thankful hearts. (Refrain)

See also the German original: Wir pflügen, und wir streuen

Historical Information (in German)

Text: Wir pflügen und wir streuen, by Matthias Claudius (1782), tr. Jane Montgomery Campbell (1861)
Tune: WIR PLÜGEN, Irr.

God Be With You Till We Meet Again (Tune: Randolph)

See also version with Refrain: God Be With You Till We Meet Again

God be with you till we meet again
By His counsels guide, uphold you
With His sheep securely fold you
God be with you till we meet again

God be with you till we meet again
Neath His wings securely hide you
Daily manna still provide you
God be with you till we meet again

God be with you till we meet again
When life's perils thick confound you
Put His loving arms around you
God be with you till we meet again

God be with you till we meet again
Keep love's banner floating o'er you
Strike death's threatening wave before you
God be with you till we meet again

See also version with Refrain: God Be With You Till We Meet Again

Words: Jeremiah E. Rankin (1880)
Tune: RANDOLPH 98.89 (Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906)

God Be With You Till We Meet Again

See also alternative tune: God Be With You Till We Meet Again (Tune: Randolph)

God be with you till we meet again
By His counsels guide, uphold you
With His sheep securely fold you
God be with you till we meet again

Refrain:

Till we meet, till we meet
Till we meet at Jesus' feet
Till we meet, till we meet
God be with you till we meet again

God be with you till we meet again
Neath His wings securely hide you
Daily manna still provide you
God be with you till we meet again

God be with you till we meet again
When life's perils thick confound you
Put His loving arms around you
God be with you till we meet again

God be with you till we meet again
Keep love's banner floating o'er you
Strike death's threatening wave before you
God be with you till we meet again

See also alternative tune: God Be With You Till We Meet Again (Tune: Randolph)

Words: Jeremiah E. Rankin (1880)
Music: Willim G. Tomer (1880)

Lord Whose Love Through Humble Service

Lord, whose love through humble service bore the weight of human need,
who upon the cross, forsaken, offered mercy’s perfect deed:
we, your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone, but heart,
consecrating to your purpose every gift that you impart.

Still your children wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread;
still the captives long for freedom; still in grief we mourn our dead.
As, O Lord, your deep compassion healed the sick and freed the soul,
use the love your Spirit kindles still to save and make us whole.

As we worship, grant us vision, till your love’s revealing light
in its height and depth and greatness dawns upon our quickened sight,
making known the needs and burdens your compassion bids us bear,
stirring us to tireless striving your abundant life to share.

Called by worship to your service, forth in your dear name we go
to the child, the youth, the aged, love in living deeds to show;
hope and health, good will and comfort, counsel, aid, and peace we give,
that your servants, Lord, in freedom may your mercy know, and live.

Text: Albert F. Bayly (1961)
Tune: BEACH SPRING 87.87 D (attr. to B.F. White, 1844)

We Believe in One True God

We believe in one true God,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
ever present help in need,
praised by all the heavenly host;
by whose mighty power alone
all is made and wrought and done.

We believe in Jesus Christ,
Son of God and Mary's Son,
who descended from his throne
and for us salvation won;
by whose cross and death are we
rescued from sin's misery.

We confess the Holy Ghost,
who from both fore'er proceeds;
who upholds and comforts us
in all trials, fears, and needs.
Blest and Holy Trinity,
praise forever be to thee!

Text: Tobias Clausnitzer, 1668; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863
Tune: RATISBON 77.77.77 (source: J.G. Werner's Choralbuch, 1815)

All Creatures Of Our God And King

 



All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voices, let us sing:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beams,
thou silver moon that gently gleams,

Refrain:

O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
ye clouds that sail in heaven along,
O praise him, Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
ye lights of evening, find a voice, (Refrain)

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
that givest man both warmth and light, (Refrain)

Dear mother earth, who day by day
unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise him, Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
let them his glory also show: (Refrain)

And all ye men of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God and on him cast your care: (Refrain)

And thou, most kind and gentle death,
waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise him, Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
and Christ our Lord the way hath trod: (Refrain)

Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship him in humbleness,
O praise him, Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three in One: (Refrain)

Text: Laudato si, mi Signor, Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), tr. William H. Draper (1855-1933)
Tune: LASST UNS ERFREUEN 88.88.6.12

All The Ends Of The Earth (Bob Dufford)

Refrain:
All the ends of the earth, all you creatures of the sea,
Lift up your eyes to the wonders of the Lord.
For the Lord of the earth, the Master of the sea,
has come with justice for the world.

Break into song at the deeds of the Lord,
the wonders God has done in ev'ry age. (Refrain)

Heaven and earth shall rejoice in your might;
ev'ry heart, ev'ry nation call you Lord. (Refrain)

The Lord has made salvation known,
faithful to the promises of old.
Let the ends of the earth, let the sea and all it holds
make music before our God! (Refrain)

Text: Psalm 98

Composer: Robert J. Dufford (1981)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Lead Me, Lord (S.S. Wesley)

Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness;
make thy way plain before my face.
For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only,
that makest me dwell in safety.

Text: Psalms 5:8, 4:8

Composer: Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1861)

My God, My God, O Why Have You Abandoned Me? (Psalm 22) [Marty Haugen]

Antiphon:

My God, my God,
O why have you abandoned me?

All who see me laugh at me,
they mock me and they shake their heads:
"He relied on the Lord,
let the Lord be his refuge." (Antiphon)

As dogs around me,
they circle me about.
Wounded me and pierced me,
I can number all my bones. (Antiphon)

My clothing they divided,
for my garments casting lots,
O Lord, do not desert me,
but hasten to my aid. (Antiphon)

I will praise you to my people,
and proclaim you in their midst,
O fear the Lord, my people,
give glory to God's name. (Antiphon)

Paraphrase of Psalm 22

Composer: Marty Haugen (1983)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Praise To You, O Christ, Our Saviour

Refrain:

Praise to you, O Christ, our Saviour,
Word of the Father, calling us to life;
Son of God who leads us to freedom:
glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

You are the Word who calls us out of darkness;
you are the Word who leads us into light;
you are the Word who brings us thorough the desert:
glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ! (Refrain)

You are the one whom prophets hoped and longed for;
you are the one who speaks to us today;
you are the one who leads us to our future:
glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ! (Refrain)

You are the Word who calls us to be servants;
you are the Word whose only law is love;
you are the Word - made flesh who lives among us:
glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ! (Refrain)

You are the Word who binds us and unites us:
you are the Word who calls us to be one;
you are the Word who teaches us forgiveness:
glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ! (Refrain)

Composer: Bernadette Farrell (1986)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

We Are The Light Of The World

Blessed are they who are poor in spirit,
Theirs is the kingdom of God.
Bless us, O Lord, make us poor in spirit;
Bless us, O Lord, our God.

Refrain

We are the light of the world,
may our light shine before all,
That they may see the good that we do,
and give glory to God.

Blessed are they who are meek and humble,
They will inherit the earth.
Bless us, O Lord, make us meek and humble;
Bless us, O Lord, our God. (Refrain)

Blessed are they who will mourn in sorrow,
They will be comforted.
Bless us, O Lord, when we share their sorrow;
Bless us, O Lord, our God. (Refrain)

Bless those who hunger and thirst for justice,
They will be satisfied.
Bless us, O Lord, hear our cry for justice;
Bless us, O Lord, our God. (Refrain)

Blessed are they who show others mercy,
They will know mercy too.
Bless us, O Lord, hear our cry for mercy;
Bless us, O Lord, our God. (Refrain)

Blessed are hearts that are clean and holy,
They will behold the Lord.
Bless us, O Lord, make us pure and holy;
Bless us, O Lord, our God. (Refrain)

Blessed are they who bring peace among us,
They are the children of God.
Bless us, O Lord, may your peace be with us;
Bless us, O Lord, our God. (Refrain)

Bless those who suffer from persecution,
Theirs is the kingdom of God.
Bless us, O Lord, when they persecute us;
Bless us, O Lord, our God. (Refrain)

Text: Matthew 5:3-11, 14-16

Composer: Jean A. Greif (1966)

I Want To Walk As A Child Of The Light

I want to walk as a child of the Light
I want to follow Jesus
God set the stars to give light to the world
The Star of my life is Jesus.

Refrain:

In Him there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The lamb is the Light of the city of God
Shine in my heart Lord Jesus.

I want to see the Brightness of God
I want to look at Jesus
Clear Son of righteousness shine on my path
And show me the way to the Father. (Refrain)

I'm looking for the coming of Christ
I want to be with Jesus
When we have run, with patience, the race
We shall know the joy of Jesus. (Refrain)

Ephesians 5:8-10, Revelation 21:23, John 12:46, 1 John 1:5, Hebrews 12:1

Composer: Kathleen Thomerson (1970)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) series.

I Have Loved You With An Everlasting Love (Michael Joncas)

Refrain:

I have loved you with an everlasting love,
I have called you and you are mine;
I have loved you with an everlasting love,
I have called you and you are mine.

Seek the face of the Lord and long for him:
he will bring you his light and his peace. (Refrain)

Seek the face of the Lord and long for him:
he will bring you his joy and his hope. (Refrain)

Seek the face of the Lord and long for him:
he will bring you his care and his love. (Refrain)

Paraphrase of 1 Jeremiah 31:3, Psalm 24:3

Composer: Michael Joncas (1979)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Come to the Water

O let all who thirst, let them come to the water.
And let all who have nothing, let them come to the Lord:
without money, without price.
Why should you pay the price, except for the Lord?

And let all who seek, let them come to the water.
And let all who have nothing, let them come to the Lord:
without money, without strife.
Why should you spend your life, except for the Lord?

And let all who toil, let them come to the water.
And let all who are weary, let them come to the Lord:
all who labor, without rest.
How can your soul find rest, except for the Lord?

And let all the poor, let them come to the water.
Bring the ones who are laden, bring them all to the Lord:
bring the children without might.
Easy the load and light: come to the Lord.

Composer: John B. Foley (1978)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Ave Maria

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum,
benedicta tu in mulieribus,
et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus.
Sancta Maria mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen

Plainchant, Mode I

God of Mercy and Compassion

God of mercy and compassion,
Look with pity upon me;
Father, let me call thee Father,
"Tis thy child returns to thee.

Refrain:

Jesus Lord, I ask for mercy;
Let me not implore in vain;
All my sins I now detest them,
Never will I sin again.

By my sins I have deserved,
Death and endless misery;
Hell with all its pains and torments
And for all eternity. (Refrain)

By my sins I have abandoned
Right and claim to heaven above,
Where the saints rejoice forever,
In a boundless sea of love. (Refrain)

See our Saviour, bleeding, dying,
On the cross of Calvary;
To that cross my sins have nail'd him,
Yet he bleeds and dies for me. (Refrain)

Text: Au sang qu'um Dieu, trans. E. Vaughan (1827-1908)
Tune: French Melody, adapt. from G.B. Pergolesi (d.1736)

Digo "Si," Señor / I Say "Yes," My Lord

Verse 1:
Al Señor de eternidad, Digo si Señor.
Al Señor que me escuscha, Digo si Señor.
Al Dios de los ofenidos, Digo si Señor.
Al Dios de justicia, Digo si Señor.

To the God who cannot die, I say "Yes," my Lord.
To the one who hears me cry, I say "Yes," my Lord.
To the God of the oppressed, I say "Yes," my Lord.
To the God of all justice, I say "Yes," my Lord.

Refrain:
Digo Si Señor
en tiempos malos y en tiempos buenos.
Digo Si Señor
a todo lo que hablas.

I say "Yes," my Lord,
in all the good times, through all the bad times.
I say "Yes," my Lord,
to every word you speak.

Verse 2
Soy un serviente del Señor, Digo si Señor.
y trabajo de los campos, Digo si Señor.
Soy un prisonero de sus Guerras, Digo si Señor.
Como un politico, inevitable, Digo si Señor.

I am a servant of the Lord, I say "Yes," my Lord.
I'm a worker in the fields, I say "Yes," my Lord.
I'm a prisoner of their wars, I say "Yes," my Lord.
Like a politician, inevitably, I say "Yes," my Lord.

Verse 3:
Para el sueño que tengo hoy, Digo si Señor.
Para curar todos que estan sufriendo, Digo si Señor.
Para amar a mis enemigos, Digo si Señor
Para tu paz en los gobiernos, Digo si Señor.

For the dream I have today, I say "Yes," my Lord.
To be a healer of all pain, I say "Yes," my Lord.
To come to love my enemies, I say "Yes," my Lord.
For your peace in all the world, I say "Yes," my Lord.

Verse 4.
Como Job santamente, Digo si Señor.
Como Maria completemente, Digo si Señor.
como David en una cancion, Digo si Señor.
como Israel que yo esperanza, Digo si Señor.

Like that of Job, unceasingly, I say "Yes," my Lord.
Like that of Maria, wholeheartedly, I say "Yes," my Lord.
Like that of David in a song, I say "Yes," my Lord.
Like Israel for you I long, I say "Yes," my Lord.

Composer: Donna Peña (1989)

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Come, ye thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest home;
all is safely gathered in,
ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide
for our wants to be supplied;
come to God's own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God's own field,
fruit as praise to God we yield;
wheat and tares together sown
are to joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we
wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come,
and shall take the harvest home;
from the field shall in that day
all offenses purge away,
give his angels charge at last
in the fire the tares to cast;
but the fruitful ears to store
in the garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come,
to thy final harvest home;
gather thou thy people in,
free from sorrow, free from sin,
there, forever purified,
in thy presence to abide;
come, with all thine angels come,
raise the glorious harvest home.

Text: Henry Alford, 1844
Tune: ST. GEORGE'S WINDSOR 77.77.77.77