Hymns to celebrate the Feast of the Ascension in this episode, including Charles Wesley’s Hail the day that sees him rise, and Christ ascends to God by New Zealander Marnie Barrell. And we mark the start of Samoan Language Week with the Samoan hymn Vivi’i Ia Ma Fa’afetai.
Ascension of Christ, from the Vyšší Brod altarpiece Photo: Public Domain
SONG: AT THE NAME OF JESUS
Artist: Choir of Salisbury Cathedral
Words/Music: Caroline Maria Noel/Michael Brierley
Recording: Priory PRCD 1098
At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,
every tongue confess him King of glory now;
'tis the Father's pleasure we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning was the mighty Word.
Humbled for a season, to receive a name
from the lips of sinners, unto whom he came;
faithfully he bore it spotless to the last,
brought it back victorious when from death he passed.
Name Him, Christians, name Him with love strong as death,
But with awe and wonder, and with bated breath;
He is God the Saviour, He is Christ the Lord,
ever to be worshipped, trusted and adored.
Surely, this Lord Jesus shall return again,
with his Father's glory and His angel train;
for all wreaths of empire meet upon his brow,
and our hearts confess him King of glory now.
SONG: CHRIST ASCENDS TO GOD
Artist: Viva Voce, John Rosser (dir), Michael Bell (organ)
Words/Music: Marnie Barrell/Barry Brinson
Recording: NZ Hymnbook Trust 941300
Christ ascends to God! Behold him
here, where earth and heaven meet.
Unimagined powers enfold him,
mortals worship at his feet.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
all his mission now complete.
God receives him into mystery -
clouds of glory veil the sight:
no more bound to human history,
strong as love and free as light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
now to reign in his own right.
He is with us. Do not seek him
throned in splendour far above:
meet him here where truth and freedom
now reveal his work of love.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
countless signs his presence prove.
Universal Lord, now reigning
deep in nature’s smallest part’
all things live by your sustaining,
time and space your work of art.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
praise to Christ, creation’s heart.
SONG: VIVI’I IA MA FA’AFETAI
Artist: Youth Choir of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, Papatoetoe, Peter Su’a (director)
Recording: Video Pacific Communications 2009
[Lyrics not available]
SONG: HAIL THE DAY THAT SEES HIM RISE
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Charles Wesley/Robert Williams
Recording: Hyperion 711210
Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!
to his throne above the skies; Alleluia!
Christ, the lamb for sinners given,
enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!
There for him high triumph waits; Alleluia!
lift your heads, eternal gates! Alleluia!
he hath conquered death and sin;
take the king of glory in! Alleluia!
See! he lifts his hands above; Alleluia!
See! he shows the prints of love: Alleluia!
Hark! his gracious lips bestow,
blessings on his church below. Alleluia!
Still for us he intercedes, Alleluia!
his prevailing death he pleads, Alleluia!
near himself prepares our place,
he the first fruits of our race. Alleluia!
There we shall with thee remain, Alleluia!
partners of thy eternal reign, Alleluia!
there thy face forever see,
find our heaven of heavens in thee, Alleluia!
SONG: ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME
Artist: Kansas City Chorale/Charles Bruffy (dir), James Higdon (organ)
Words/Music: Edward Perronet/William Holden arr Mulholland
Recording: Nimbus NI 5568
All hail the pow'r of Jesu's name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all.
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall;
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Let ev'ry kindred, ev'ry tribe,
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all.
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all.
Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
We at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.
SONG: O CHRIST, OUR HOPE, OUR HEARTS’ DESIRE
Artist: Truro Cathedral Choir, Andrew Nethsingha (dir), Christopher Gray (organ)
Words/Music: Anon trans Chandler/Anon
Recording: Priory PRCD 710
O Christ, our hope, our heart's desire,
redemption's only spring,
Creator of the world art thou,
its Saviour and its King.
How vast the mercy and the love
which laid our sins on thee,
and led thee to a cruel death
to set thy people free.
But now the bonds of death are burst,
the ransom has been paid;
and thou art on thy Father's throne,
in glorious robes arrayed.
O may thy mighty love prevail
our sinful souls to spare;
O may we come before thy throne,
and find acceptance there!
O Christ, be thou our present joy,
our future great reward;
our only glory may it be
to glory in the Lord!
All praise to thee, ascended Lord;
all glory ever be
to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
through all eternity.
SONG: LORD, ENTHRONED IN HEAVENLY SPLENDOUR
Artist: Elora Festival Singers
Words/Music : George Bourne/Healy Willan
Recording: Naxos 8.557734
Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour,
first-begotten from the dead.
Thou alone, our strong defender,
liftest up thy people's head.
Alleluia!
Jesus, true and living bread!
Here our humblest homage pay we,
here in loving reverence bow;
here for faith's discernment pray we,
lest we fail to know thee now.
Alleluia!
Thou art here, we ask not how.
Though the lowliest form doth veil thee
as of old in Bethlehem,
here as there thine angels hail thee,
branch and flower of Jesse's stem.
Alleluia!
We in worship join with them.
Paschal Lamb, thine offering, finished
once for all when thou was slain,
in its fullness undiminished
shall for evermore remain.
Alleluia!
Cleansing souls from every stain.
Life-imparting heavenly manna,
stricken rock with streaming side,
heaven and earth with loud hosanna
worship thee, the lamb who died.
Alleluia!
Risen, ascended, glorified!
SONG: ALLELUIA! SING TO JESUS
Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, Dennis Townhill (dir), Peter Backhouse (organ)
Words/Music: Dix/Prichard
Recording: Priory PRCD 376
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus;
his the scepter, his the throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph,
his the victory alone!
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
thunder like a mighty flood:
"Jesus out of every nation
has redeemed us by his blood."
Alleluia! Not as orphans
are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us;
faith believes nor questions how.
Though the cloud from sight received him,
when the forty days were o'er,
shall our hearts forget his promise:
"I am with you evermore"?
Alleluia! King eternal,
Lord omnipotent we own;
Alleluia! Born of Mary,
earth your footstool, heaven your throne.
As within the veil you entered,
robed in flesh, our great high priest;
here on earth both priest and victim
in the Eucharistic feast.
