Lord thou hast been our refuge (Vaughan Williams)

Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever the earth and the world were made,
Thou art God from everlasting and world without end.

Thou turnest man to destruction;
again Thou sayest Come again ye children of men
For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday,
seeing that is past as a watch in the night.

As soon as Thou scatterest them They are even as a sleep
and fade away suddenly like the grass.
In the morning it is green and groweth up,
but in the evening it is cut down, dried up and withered.

For we consume away in Thy displeasure,
and are afraid at Thy wrathful indignation.
For when Thou art angry all our days are gone;
we bring our years to an end as a tale that is told.

The years of our age are three score years and ten,
and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years,
yet is their strength but labour and sorrow;
so passeth it away and we are gone.

Turn Thee again, O Lord, at the last.
Be gracious unto Thy servants.
O satisfy us with Thy mercy and that soon.
So shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.

Lord, Thou hast been our refuge from one generation to another
Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever the earth and the world were made,
Thou art God from everlasting and world without end.

And the glorious Majesty of the Lord be upon us.
Prosper Thou, O prosper Thou the work of our hands,
O prosper Thou our handy work.

Text: Psalm 90, para. Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)

Ecce Quomodo Moritur

Ecce quomodo moritur
iustus nemo percipit corde:
viri iusti tolluntur et nemo considerat:
a facie iniquitatis sublatus est iustus,
et erit in pace memoria eius:
in pace factus est locus eius et in Sion habitatio eius
et erit in pace memoria eius.

Words: Isaiah 57:1-2
Music: Jacobus Gallus/Jacob Händl (1550-1591)

They Shall Grow Not Old

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Words: Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)
Music: Douglas Guest (1916-1996)

Eternal Father, Strong To Save

Eternal Father, strong to save,
whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ, whose voice the waters heard
and hushed their raging at thy word,
who walkedst on the foaming deep,
and calm amid the storm didst sleep;
O hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

Most Holy Spirit, who didst brood
upon the chaos dark and rude,
and bid its angry tumult cease,
and give, for wild confusion, peace:
O hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.

O Trinity of love and power,
our brethren shield in danger's hour;
from rock and tempest, fire and foe,
protect them wheresoe'er they go;
thus evermore shall rise to thee
glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

Text: William Whiting (1860), rev. Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861)
Tune: MELITA 88.88.88

O Little One Sweet, O Little One Mild

See also German Original: O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild

O little one sweet, O little one mild,
Thy Father's purpose thou hast fulfilled;
Thou cam'st from heav'n to mortal ken,
Equal to be with us poor men,
O little one sweet, O little one mild.

O little one sweet, O little one mild,
With joy thou hast the whole world filled;
Thou camest here from heav'n's domain,
To bring men comfort in their pain,
O little one sweet, O little one mild.

O little one sweet, O little one mild,
In thee Love's beauties are all distilled;
Then light in us thy love's bright flame,
That we may give thee back the same.
O little one sweet, O little one mild.

O little one sweet, O little one mild,
Help us to do as thou hast willed.
Lo, all we have belongs to thee!
Ah, keep us in our fealty!
O little one sweet, O little one mild.

See also German Original: O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild

Words: Samuel Scheidt (1650); trans. Percy Dearmer (1928)

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild

See also English version: O Little One Sweet, O Little One Mild

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!
Deines Vaters Willen hast du erfüllt,
bist kommen aus dem Himmelreich,
uns armen Menschen worden gleich.
O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!
Deins Vaters Zorn hast du gestillt,
du zahlst für uns all unser Schuld
und bringet uns in deins Vaters Huld.
O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!
Mit Freuden hast du die Welt erfüllt.
Du kommst herab vons Himmels Saal
Und tröstest und in dem Jammertal.
O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!
Sei unser Schirm und unser Schild,
wir bitten durch dein Geburt im Stall,
beschütz uns all vor Sündenfall.
O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!
Du bist der Lieb ein Webenbild.
Zünd an in uns der Liebe Flamm,
dass wir dich lieben allzusamm.
O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!
Hilf, dass wir tun alls, was du willt,
was unser ist, ist alles dein,
ach lass uns dir befohlen sein.
O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild!

See also English version: O Little One Sweet, O Little One Mild

Text: Samuel Scheidt (1650)

Lord, Thy Word Abideth

Lord, thy Word abideth,
and our footsteps guideth;
who its truth believeth
light and joy receiveth.

When our foes are near us,
then thy Word doth cheer us,
Word of consolation,
message of salvation.

When the storms are o'er us,
and dark clouds before us,
then its light directeth,
and our way protecteth.

Who can tell the pleasure,
who recount the treasure,
by thy Word imparted
to the simple-hearted?

Word of mercy, giving
succor to the living;
word of life, supplying
comfort to the dying!

O that we, discerning,
its most holy learning,
Lord, may love and fear thee,
evermore be near thee!

Text: Henry Williams Baker, 1861
Tune: RAVENSHAW, 66.66