Hymns of thankfulness feature in today's programme, along with several settings of the Psalms.
Central plateau from Pirongia at sunset Photo: Johnragla, Wikimedia Commons
SONG: GOD BLESS OUR LAND
Artist: Viva Voce, John Rosser (dir), Michael Bell (organ)
Words/Music: Murray/Brinson
Recording: NZ Hymnbook Trust 941300
God bless our land, in every generation,
God bless our people, growing as one nation,
God bless our islands, home and whenua,
Aotearoa, Aotearoa
God give us hope in common cause and caring,
each bringing treasures, baskets for the sharing,
grieving the wrongs of history no more –
Aotearoa, Aotearoa
God bless our land, its beauty and its blending
into communities of warm befriending,
proud in the cultures settled on our shore –
Aotearoa, Aotearoa
God bless the child whose feet are firmly planted
here in our place of freedoms daily granted,
seedbed and soil for peace and aroha –
Aotearoa, Aotearoa
SONG: PSALM 111, I WILL GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD
Artist: Choir of Westminster Abbey, Martin Neary (dir), Andrew Lumsden (organ)
Words/Music: Psalm 111/Neary
Recording: Virgin 545036
I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart
secretly among the faithful, and in the congregation.
The works of the Lord are great
sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
His work is worthy to be praised, and had in honour
and his righteousness endureth for ever.
The merciful and gracious Lord hath so done his marvellous works
that they ought to be had in remembrance.
He hath given meat unto them that fear him
he shall ever be mindful of his covenant.
He hath shewed his people the power of his works
that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
The works of his hands are verity and judgement
all his commandments are true.
They stand fast for ever and ever
and are done in truth and equity.
He sent redemption unto his people
he hath commanded his covenant for ever; holy and reverend is his Name.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
a good understanding have all they that do thereafter; the praise of it endureth for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
SONG: THE GOD OF LOVE MY SHEPHERD IS
Artist: Choir of Truro Cathedral, Andrew Nethsingha (dir), Christopher Gray (organ)
Words/Music: Herbert/Anon
Recording: Priory PRCD 710
The God of love my Shepherd is,
And He that doth me feed;
While He is mine and I am His,
What can I want or need?
He leads me to the tender grass,
Where I both feed and rest;
Then to the streams that gently pass:
In both I have the best.
Or if I stray, He doth convert,
And bring my mind in frame,
And all this not for my desert,
But for His holy name.
Yea, in death’s shady black abode
Well may I walk, not fear;
For Thou art with me, and Thy rod
To guard, Thy staff to bear.
Surely Thy sweet and wondrous love
Shall measure all my days;
And as it never shall remove
So neither shall my praise.
SONG: DEAR LORD AND FATHER OF MANKIND
Artist: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Words/Music: Whittier/Parry
Recording: EMI 948306
Dear Lord and father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise,
In deeper reverence, praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard,
Beside the Syrian sea,
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word,
Rise up and follow thee,
Rise up and follow thee.
Drop thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of thy peace,
The beauty of thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and thy balm,
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm,
O still small voice of calm!
SONG: BY HIS HAND
Artist: International Staff Songsters of the Salvation Army
Words/Music: Gilmore/Mack
Recording: Salvationist Publishing & Supplies SPS 321
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 flowers bloom,
by waters calm, o'er troubled sea,
still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
Refrain
Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since 'tis my God that leadeth me.
Refrain
SONG: FATHER, WE THANK THEE WHO HAS PLANTED
Artist: Choir of Ely Cathedral, Paul Trepte (dir), Scott Farrell (organ)
Words/Music: Tucker/Bourgeois
Recording: Priory PRCD 703
Father, we thank Thee who hast planted
Thy holy Name within our hearts.
Knowledge and faith and life immortal
Jesus Thy Son to us imparts.
Thou, Lord, didst make all for Thy pleasure,
didst give man food for all his days,
giving in Christ the Bread eternal;
Thine is the pow'r, be Thine the praise.
Watch o'er Thy church, O Lord, in mercy,
save it from evil, guard it still.
Perfect it in Thy love, unite it,
cleansed and conformed unto Thy will.
As grain, once scattered on the hillsides,
was in this broken bread made one,
so from all lands Thy church be gathered
into Thy kingdom by Thy Son.
SONG: NUN DANKET (NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD)
Artist: Grimethorpe Colliery Band
Music: Johann Cruger
Recording: Delta
[arrangement for brass band]
Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
of this world in the next.
All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
SONG: ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL
Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers
Words/Music: Kethe/Bourgeois
Recording: Abbey 282830
All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell.
Come ye before him and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make;
we are his folk; he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise;
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his name always,
for it is seemly so to do.
For why? The Lord our God is good;
his mercy is forever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God whom Heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.
Amen.
