Hymns by St Francis of Assisi, Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley in this week's programme. And you can hear New Zealand choirs The Handel Quire and The Celebration Singers.
St Francis addressing the birds - Giotto. Photo: Creative Commons
SONG: LORD OF THE WORLDS ABOVE
Artist: The Handel Quire, Robert Howell (dir), Paul Chan (organ)
Words/Music: Watts/Darwall
Recording: Private
Lord of the worlds above,
how pleasant and how fair
the dwellings of thy love,
thine earthly temples, are:
to thine abode my heart aspires,
with warm desires to see my God.
They go from strength to strength,
through this dark vale of tears,
till each o’ercomes at length,
till each in heav'n appears:
O glorious seat, our God, our King,
shall thither bring our willing feet!
God is our sun and shield,
our light and our defense;
with gifts his hands are filled;
we draw our blessings thence.
He shall bestow upon our race
His saving grace and glory too.
The Lord his people loves,
His hand no good withholds
from those his heart approves
from holy, humble souls:
Thrice happy he, O God of Hosts,
whose spirit trusts alone in Thee.
SONG: PRAISE THE LORD OF HEAVEN
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Dudley-Smith/Archer
Recording: Hyperion 712101
Praise the Lord of heaven!
praise him in the height;
praise him, all his angels;
praise him, hosts of light;!
Sun and moon together,
shining stars aflame,
planets in their courses,
magnify his name!
Earth and ocean, praise him;
mountains, hills and trees;
fire and hail and tempest,
wind and storm and seas.
Praise him, field and forests,
birds on flashing wings,
praise him, beasts and cattle,
all created things.
Now by prince and people,
let his praise be told;
praise him, men and maidens,
praise him, young and old.
He, the Lord of glory!
We, his praise proclaim!
High above all heavens
magnify his name!
SONG: CHRIST, WHOSE GLORY FILLS THE SKIES
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry Cathedral
Words/Music: C Wesley/Anon
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 891
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only light,
Sun of righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Day star, in my heart appear.
Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by thee;
Joyless is the day’s return
Till thy mercy’s beams I see;
Till they inward light impart,
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.
Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, radiancy divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
SONG: PSALM 23
Artist: Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, London, John Scott (dir)
Words/Music: Psalm 23/Charles Hylton Stewart
Recording: Hyperion CDP 11002
The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall feed me in a green pasture, and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
He shall convert my soul, and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for his Name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me; thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.
But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Amen.
SONG: CAST THY BURDEN UPON THE LORD
Artist: The Celebration Singers, Christchurch, Francis Dennis (dir)
Words/Music: Psalm 55/Mendelssohn
Recording: Private 3030
Cast your burden upon the Lord,
and he shall sustain you;
he never will suffer the righteous to fall:
he is at your right hand.
Your mercy, Lord, is great
and far above the heavens:
let none by made ashamed
that wait upon you.
SONG: I HEARD THE VOICE OF JESUS SAY
Artist: Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, Richard Marlow (dir), Christopher Allsop (organ)
Words/Music: Bonar/Trad arr Vaughan Williams
Recording: Conifer 75605 51249
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down
your head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn, and sad;
I found him in a resting place,
and he has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
the living water, thirsty one;
stoop down and drink and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s light;
look unto me, your morn shall rise,
and all your day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk
till traveling days are done.
SONG: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
Artist: St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir, Sydney
Words/Music: Scrivens/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 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: ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: St Francis of Assisi paraphrased Draper/Anon
Recording: Griffin GCCD 4010
All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing:
alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou shining moon with silver gleam,
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 dawn in praise rejoice;
ye lights of evening find a voice:
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
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.
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
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
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
