There's a reflective feel to this week's episode, with hymns by Bernadette Farrell (God Beyond All Names, and O God, You Search Me), and a beautiful setting of Be Still, My Soul by New Zealand musicians Tami Neilson and Don McGlashan. It's from an album of hymns called Offering.
Moon bridge, Japanese garden Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/texaseagle/5187197469 CC BY-NC 2.0 / Texas Eagle
SONG: CHRIST IS MADE THE SURE FOUNDATION
Artist: Choir of All Saints Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills, Thomas Foster (dir), Craig Phillips (organ)
Words/Music: Anon trans Neale/Purcell
Recording: Gothic 349074
Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the Head and Corner-stone,
Chosen of the Lord, and precious,
Binding all the Church in one,
Holy Sion's help for ever,
And her confidence alone.
All that dedicated city,
Dearly loved of God on high,
In exultant jubilation
Pours perpetual melody;
God the One in Three adoring
In glad hymns eternally.
Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants
What they ask of Thee to gain,
What they gain from Thee, for ever
With the blessèd to retain,
And hereafter in Thy glory
Evermore with Thee to reign.
SONG: GOD BEYOND ALL NAMES
Artist: St Thomas More Group
Words/Music: Bernadette Farrell
Recording: OCP 1991
God, beyond our dreams, you have stirred in us a memory,
you have placed your powerful spirit in the hearts of humankind.
Refrain:
All around us, we have known you;
all creation lives to hold you,
In our living and our dying
we are bringing you to birth.
God, beyond all names, you have made us in your image,
we are like you, we reflect you, we are woman, we are man.
Refrain:
God, beyond all words, all creation tells your story,
you have shaken with our laughter, you have trembled with our tears.
Refrain:
God, beyond all time, you are laboring within us;
we are moving, we are changing, in your spirit ever new.
Refrain:
God of tender care, you have cradled us in goodness,
you have mothered us in wholeness, you have loved us into birth.
Refrain:
SONG: O GOD, YOU SEARCH ME AND YOU KNOW ME
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Bernadette Farrell
Recording: Hyperion 112105
O God, you search me and you know me
All my thoughts lie open to your gaze
When I walk or lie down you are before me:
Ever the maker and keeper of my days.
You know my resting and my rising
You discern my purpose from afar
And with love everlasting you besiege me:
In ev'ry moment of life or death, you are.
Before a word is on my tongue, Lord,
You have known its meaning through and through.
You are with me beyond my understanding:
God of my present, my past and future, too.
Although your Spirit is upon me,
Still I search for shelter from your light.
There is nowhere on earth I can escape you:
Even the darkness is radiant in your sight.
For you created me and shaped me,
Gave me life within my mother's womb.
For the wonder of who I am, I praise you:
Safe in your hands, all creation is made new.
SONG: ALL MY HOPE ON GOD IS FOUNDED
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Neander trans Bridges/Howells
Recording: Hyperion 711210
All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew,
me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.
Pride of man and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple fall to dust.
But God's power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.
God's great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
newborn worlds rise and adore.
Daily doth th’almighty giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.
Still from man to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ, his son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.
SONG: GOD BE IN MY HEAD
Artist: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge
Words/Music: Anon/Davies
Recording: Guild GMCD 7109
God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.
SONG: BE STILL, MY SOUL
Artist: Tami Neilson, Don McGlashan
Words/Music: von Schlegel trans Borthwick/Sibelius arr Neilson, McGlashan
Recording: Thom Music 2019
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
SONG: DO, LORD, REMEMBER ME
Artist: Moses Hogan Singers, Louis Davis, Moses Hogan (dir)
Words/Music: Trad arr Hogan
Recording: Hal Leonard HL 08743982
Refrain:
Do, Lord, oh do Lord, Lord remember me
Do, Lord, oh do Lord, Lord remember me
Do, Lord, oh do Lord, Lord remember me
Way beyond the sun.
I got a home in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a home in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a home in Beulah land that outshines the sun
Way beyond the sun.
I got a crown in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a crown in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a crown in Beulah land that outshines the sun
Way beyond the sun.
Refrain:
I got a mother in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a father in Beulah land that outshines the sun
I got a saviour in Beulah land that outshines the sun
Way beyond the sun.
Refrain:
SONG: AND CAN IT BE
Artist: Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Catherine Palmer (dir), Ronald Jordan (organ)
Words/Music: C Wesley/Campbell
Recording: Marquis MAR 175
And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? [Repeat last two lines]
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee. [Repeat last two lines]
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own. [Repeat last two lines]
