Hymns sung at weddings and memories of enthusiastic school singing are some of the inspirations behind our listener requests this week.
Pekapeka Wetlands, Hawke's Bay Photo: Robyn Jaquiery
SONG: BE STILL FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
Artist: Choir of Portsmouth Cathedral, David Price (dir), David Thorne (organ)
Words/Music: David Evans
Recording: Herald HAVPCD 205
Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the holy one, is here;
Come bow before him now
with reverence and fear:
In him no sin is found
we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord,
the holy one, is here.
Be still, for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around;
He burns with holy fire,
with splendour he is crowned:
How awesome is the sight
our radiant king of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around.
Be still, for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place;
He comes to cleanse and heal,
to minister his grace
No work too hard for him
In faith receive from him
Be still, for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.
SONG: ALL PRAISE TO OUR REDEEMING LORD
Artist: Choir of Central Methodist Hall, Westminster
Words/Music: Charles Wesley/George Kingsley
Recording: Abbey 280828
All praise to our redeeming Lord,
who joins us by his grace,
and bids us, each to each restored,
together seek his face.
He bids us build each other up;
and gathered into one,
to our high calling’s glorious hope,
we hand in hand go on.
The gift which he on one bestows
we all delight to prove;
the grace through every vessel flows,
in purest streams of love.
Even now we think and speak the same,
and cordially agree;
concentered all, through Jesus’ name,
in perfect harmony.
We all partake the joy of one,
the common peace we feel,
a peace to sensual minds unknown,
a joy unspeakable.
And if our fellowship below
in Jesus be so sweet,
What height of rapture shall we know
When round his throne we meet.
SONG: O PERFECT LOVE
Artist: Glasgow Phoenix Choir, Peter Mooney (dir)
Words/Music: Dorothy Blomfield/Joseph Barnby
Recording: Word PWCD 003
O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
that theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
whom thou in sacred vow dost join in one.
O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance
of tender charity and steadfast faith,
of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance,
with childlike trust that fears no pain or death.
Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife;
grant them the vision of the glorious morrow
that will reveal eternal love and life.
SONG: ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOUR LEADS ME
Words/Music: Fanny Crosby/Robert Lowry
Recording: Scottish Festival Singers
Recording: Mission Worship MW0011
All the way my Saviour leads me–
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
All the way my Saviour leads me–
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for ev'ry trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the rock before me,
Lo! a spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.
All the way my Saviour leads me–
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.
SONG: WHAKAARIA MAI
Artist: Tukakina Maori Girls’ Choir
Words/Music: Canon Wiremu Te Tau Huata/Trad
Recording: Viking 111486
Whakaaria mai
Tōu rīpeka ki au
Tiaho mai
Rā roto i te pō
Hei kona au
Titiro atu ai.
Ora, mate,
Hei au koe noho ai.
Whakaaria mai
Tōu rīpeka ki au
Tiaho mai
Rā roto i te pō
Hei kona au
Titiro atu ai.
Ora, mate,
Hei au koe noho ai.
[Show your cross to me.
Let it shine
there in the darkness.
To there I
will be looking.
In life, in death,
let me rest in thee.]
SONG: LET JUSTICE ROLL DOWN LIKE A RIVER
Artist: City of Dunedin Choir
Words/Music: Colin Gibson
Recording: Private CD 810
Refrain:
Let justice roll down like a river,
let justice flow down to the sea;
let justice roll down like a river
let justice begin through me.
Justice for all who go hungry,
crying to God to be fed,
left in a world of abundance
to beg for a morsel of bread.
Refrain:
Justice for those who are homeless,
victims of war or of need,
trapped on the borders of nowhere,
lost in the canyons of greed.
Refrain:
Justice for all who are powerless,
yearning for freedom in vain,
plundered and robbed of their birth-right,
silently bearing their pain.
Refrain:
SONG: HIS MERCY IS MORE
Artist: Matt Papa and Boyce College Choir
Words/Music: Matt Papa, Matt Boswell
Recording: Messenger Hymns 2017
What love could remember no wrongs we have done
Omniscient, all knowing, He counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness, new every morn
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
What patience would wait as we constantly roam
What Father, so tender, is calling us home
He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Refrain:
What riches of kindness He lavished on us
His blood was the payment, His life was the cost
We stood 'neath a debt we could never afford
Our sins they are many, His mercy is more
Refrain:
SONG: BE THOU MY VISION
Artist: The Oxford Choir
Words/Music: Anon trans Byrne, versified Hull/Bob Chilcott
Recording: OUP 2006
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word;
be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord;
be thou my great Father: and I thy true son;
be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.
Be thou and thou only, the first in my heart
O Sovereign of Heaven, my treasure thou art.
great heart of my own heart whatever befall,
still be thou my vision, O ruler of all.
SONG: HE WHO WOULD VALIANT BE
Artist: Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge, David Rowland (dir), Simon Jacobs (organ)
Words/Music: John Bunyan, Percy Dearmer/Trad arr Ralph Vaughan Williams
Recording: Priory PRCD 721
He who would valiant be
'Gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy
Follow the Master.
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.
Who so beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound
His strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might,
Though he with giants fight;
He will make good his right
To be a pilgrim.
Since, Lord, thou dost defend
Us with thy Spirit
We know we at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then, fancies, flee away!
I'll fear not what men say,
I'll labour night and day
To be a pilgrim.
