The hymns of 20th century hymn writer Fred Kaan have a strong focus on peace, unity and social justice. You can hear some in this week’s programme: For the healing of the nations and O Holy Spirit.
Photo: RNZ / Paul Bushnell
SONG: COME, LET US TO THE LORD
Artist: Scottish Philharmonic Singers
Words/Music: Paraphrase 30, Scottish Psalter/Anon arr Hugh Roberton
Recording: Abbey 282830
Come, let us to the Lord our God
With contrite hearts return;
Our God is gracious, nor will leave
The desolate to mourn.
His voice commands the tempest forth
And stills the stormy wave;
And though His arm be strong to smite,
’Tis also strong to save.
As dew upon the tender herb,
diffusing fragrance round;
As show’rs that usher in the spring,
and cheer the thirsty ground:
So shall His presence bless our souls,
And shed a joyful light;
That hallowed morn shall chase away
The sorrows of the night.
SONG: WAIRUA TAPU
Artist: NZ Youth Choir (2003), Karen Grylls (dir), Albert Mataaga (guitar)
Words/Music: Ngapo Wehi
Recording: Trust MMT 2048
Wairua tapu tau mai ra
wairua tapu mai runga
uhia mai taonga mai
homai to aroha
Wa hia kia tika
akona mai ra kia u kit e pai ho roia
kia ma tonu ra
Mohau te tino koroia.
[Holy Spirit embrace me
Holy Spirit from up above
encase me in the precious gifts
give to me your love.
This place of truth
teach me the things that are right
bathe me, cleanse me
to You goes the glory.]
SONG: HOLY SPRIT, EVER LIVING
Artist: Choir of All Saints Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills, Thomas Foster (dir), Craig Phillips (organ)
Words/Music: Timothy Rees/Cyril Taylor
Recording: Gothic 349074
Holy Spirit, ever living
As the Church's very life;
Holy Spirit, ever striving
Through us in a ceaseless strife;
Holy Spirit, ever forming
In the Church the mind of Christ;
Thee we praise with endless worship
For thy fruits and gifts unpriced.
Holy Spirit, ever working
Through the Church's ministry;
Quick'ning, strength'ning, and absolving,
Setting captive sinners free;
Holy Spirit, ever binding
Age to age and soul to soul
In communion never ending,
Thee we worship and extol.
SONG: FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS
Artist: Choir of St John’s Cathedral, Napier
Words/Music: Fred Kaan/attrib Michael Haydn
Recording: Private 807
For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord;
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords;
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.
All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race, or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life's brief span.
You, Creator God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind,
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.
SONG: O HOLY SPIRIT, HEAR US AS WE PRAY
Artist: The Festival Singers, Wellington
Words/Music: Fred Kaan/Ron Klusmeier
Recording: FPCD2007
O Holy Spirit, hear us as we pray:
renew your people's faith day by day.
Free us from the chaos of night and deepness;
in our life and death cheer and keep us.
Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis.
Uproot and teach us by your restless love
to share with all what we are and have;
that with strong affection, in truth and doing,
we may love all life, peace pursuing.
Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis.
You plead our cause, and by your gift of peace
from fear of death our lives are released.
How we need your presence, O gift from heaven,
all our words and deeds to enliven.
Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis.
Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis, Kyrieleis.
SONG: COME, THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING
Artist: Kansas City Chorale
Words/Music: Robert Robinson/Trad
Recording: Nimbus NI 5568
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of God's unchanging love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I'm come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
SONG: HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS SOUNDS
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry Cathedral
Words/Music: John Newton/Alexander Reinagle
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 599
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
in a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
and drives away his fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole,
and calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
and to the weary, rest.
Dear name, the rock on which I build,
my shield and hiding place,
my never failing treasury, filled
with boundless stores of grace!
Jesus! my shepherd, brother, friend,
my prophet, priest and king,
my Lord, my life, my way, my end,
accept the praise I bring.
Weak is the effort of my heart,
and cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art,
I’ll praise thee as I ought.
Till then I would thy love proclaim
with every fleeting breath,
and may the music of thy name
refresh my soul in death!
SONG: O FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD
Artist: St Michael’s Singers, Coventry, Paul Leddington Wright (dir), David Poulter (organ)
Words/Music: William Cowper/William Gardiner
Recording: Kingsway KMCD 599
O for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame.
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!
What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
The world can never fill.
Return, O holy Dove! return,
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made Thee mourn,
And drove Thee from my breast.
The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.
So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame:
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
SONG: ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESU’S NAME
Artist: Choir of St Mary’s Collegiate Church, Warwick
Words/Music: Edward Perronet/William Shrubsole
Recording: Abbey PRCD 706
All hail the pow'r of Jesu's name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
to crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Crown him, ye morning stars of light,
who fixed this floating ball;
now hail the strength of Israel’s might,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,
who from his altar call;
praise him whose way of pain ye trod,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Ye seed seed of Israel’s chosen race,
ye ransomed from the fall;
hail Him who saves you by His grace,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Hail him, ye heirs of David’s line,
whom David Lord did call;
the God Incarnate, Man divine,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
Let ev'ry tribe and every tongue
to him their hearts enthrall,
lift high the universal song,
and crown him, crown him, crown him
crown him Lord of all.
