JESUS IN THE CHURCH`S SONG

JESUS IN THE CHURCH’S SONG
A) HYMNALS AND THE INCARNATE CHRIST
Title of Hymnbook
Year of Publication
Number of Hymns & Songs
EH
1906
744
RCH
1927
727
AMNS
1983
533
BPW
1991
680
CMP
1999
1021
ADVENT
13
2
12
11
6
CHRISTMAS
15
21
14
28
67
EPIPHANY
11
5
8
4
5
LIFE
0
14
1
15
7
LENT
27
1
1
3
3
SUFFERING/DEATH
18
17
16
19
34
RESURRECTION
18
13
9
20
45
ASCENSION
4
9
11
8
13
EH:
English Hymnal - with particular emphasis on the Christian Year (C of E)
RCH: Revised Church Hymnary - influential throughout the Presbyterian world (C of S)
AMNS: Ancient & Modern New Standard - latest revision of 1861 book (C of E)
BPW: Baptist Praise & Worship - not universally used by that denomination
CMP: Complete Mission Praise - non denominational revision of 1984 & subsequent books
NB
1) Under the ‘Life of Jesus’ both RCH and BPW include songs of personal devotion rather than
biblical witness. Thus ‘Ye fair green hills of Galilee’, ‘When the Lord of Love was Here’, ‘Immortal
Love for ever full’, ‘God has given us a book full of stories’, etc. etc. refer to nothing particular
about Christ’s life and ministry.
2) A common swift transition in many hymns of the life of Jesus is ‘from the cradle to the cross’.
Within a few lines or in the space between verses, thirty-three years of earthly existence,
including three of ministry, are overlooked.
3) Of the traditional hymns dealing in any way with Jesus’ life, these are the principal moments
highlighted in verse:
a) With children (When mothers of Salem..)
b) Calling the disciples at the Sea of Galilee (When Jesus saw the fisherman)
c) The transfiguration (O wondrous type, O vision fair)
d) Healing (Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old)
e) Stilling the Storm (Fierce ranged the tempest o’er the deep)
…several such are primarily intended for children.
4) Particularly in volumes such as Mission Praise, there are innumerable songs indicated as
referring to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, but many are often short praise choruses
with no specific Gospel reference.
1
B) SELECTED BEAUTIES OF SACRED SONG
And through all his wondrous childhood,
He would honour and obey.
Love and watch the lowly maiden
In whose gentle arms he lay.
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as he.
(C. F. Alexander 1825-95)
Among the doctors see
The Boy so full of grace,
Say, wherefore taketh He
The lowly scholar’s place?
That Christian boys, with reverence meet,
May sit and learn at Jesus’ feet.
(W. W. How 1823-97)
For ever on thy burdened heart
A weight of sorrow hung,
Yet no ungentle, murmuring word
Escaped thy silent tongue.
(E. Denny 1976-1889)
C) THE ORIGINAL MISSION PRAISE
Onward march, all-conquer Jesus,
Gird thee on thy mighty sword!
Sinful earth can ne’er oppose Thee
Hail itself quails at Thy word.
Thy great name is so exalted.
Every foe shrinks back in fear;
Terror creeps through all creation
When it knows that thou art near.
(W. Williams 1717-91)
Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the Royal Master
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle.
See! His banners go.
(S. Baring-Gould 1834-1924)
Do you see this penny?
It is brought by me
For the little children
Far across the see.
Hurry penny, quickly,
Though you are so small.
Help to tell the heathen
Jesus loves them all
(Carey Bonnar)
2
D) CONTRASTING DEVOTIONAL SONGS
Jesus, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see
And in thy presence rest.
Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than thy blest name,
O Saviour of mankind!
(Bernard of Clairvaux 1091-1153)
Jesus, thy boundless love to me
No thought can reach, no tongue declare;
O knit my thankful heart to thee
And reign without a rival there:
Thine, wholly, thine alone, I am;
Lord, with thy love my heart inflame.
(Paul Gerhardt 1607-76
Trans John Wesley 1705-91)
Words can never say
How much I love you;
Words could never tell
What you mean to me.
Words are not enough
To say what’s in my heart.
So, I’ll say it
Again and again.
(Eddie Espinosa @1990)
E) CONTEMPORARY HYMNS ON THE INCARNATE CHRIST
1. The Tyrant issues his decree (HGSP) Words © Iain D Cunningham
3
2. Said Jesus, come and gather round (HGSP) Words © Leith Fisher
3. This is my will (HGSP) Words James Quinn, © Continuum Intl Publishing Group
Music © Music by permission Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise
2. He liked to watch as children played
and knew the lyrics of their song;
he cared for those that lived at risk,
the ones whose rights had all gone wrong.
The plight of helpless and of homeless folk
would always in his heart belong.
3. He had no job to pay the rent,
but women gave him house and food;
they saw in him no hidden threat,
his singleness was safe and good.
And those whom no-one ever listened to,
discovered that he understood.
4. The Family (L&A) © 1997 WGRG, Iona Community
1. He had no wife, no family,
he had no children of his own;
he once had been a refugee,
despised but never left alone.
To all the widowed and the fatherless
he showed the love that none had shown
4. He chose to eat in simple style
beside the wounded, hurt and poor;
he told them tales to make them laugh
and, for their stigma, was the cure.
In crowds and circles of rejected folk
his generosity was sure.
5. Those whom he calls his family
are this through love and not reward:
sisters and brothers we can be,
if we but take him at his word.
And so we join to celebrate the life
of Jesus Christ, our friend and Lord.
4
5. The Truth that sets us Free (TSF) © 2012 WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow G2 3DH
2. Is it war or economics,
is it danger or deceit,
is it unforeseen depression,
fear of failure to compete?
Have the times which once were changing
led where no one wants to be?
Shall we live by lies on offer
or the truth that sets us free?
3. With real faith there will be doubting,
and with loss there will be grief;
no one knows the contradictions
which will exercise belief.
Against conflicts life might bring us
God provides no guarantee,
just this word of hope and healing:
know that truth will set you free.
4. So, dear Jesus, make us willing
to unmask convenient lies,
to protest wherever power
closes conscience, ears and eyes;
and release our expectations
of your kingdom, yet to be,
born in courage, joy and justice
and the truth that sets us free.
5
6. Come and find rest (TSF) Swee Hong Lim, adapt.& arr. © 2012 WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow
2. Where can we run and hide,
shamed and rejected if we be?
Where Jesus’ spirit breathes
all are made whole through love.
3. Jesus throws wide his net,
gathers the broken, finds the lost.
Come and be nursed by God;
trust in his care and live.
7. Fellow Travellers (TSF)
© 2012 WGRG, Iona Community
1. Is God, who made and loves the earth,
who gave each self and each star its birth,
convinced that Christians know it all?
Or is that good God too small?
4. Do we presume the Muslim mind,
what Buddhists claim or what Hindus find
is purely human in design,
quite detached from the Divine?
2. Did Jesus Christ, the faithful Jew,
claim God was patron of just a few
content to keep with a chosen race
and to limit heaven‘s embrace?
5. God, bless the faith we call our own
each word we cherish, each seed you’ve sown,
yet humble us till all believe
you are more than we conceive.
3. Didn’t he show immense respect
for followers of a less favoured sect,
delighted when the faith shone clear
in the faithful others fear?
6. Encourage us to look and care
for gifts you’ve given which others share,
our fellow-travellers led by light,
and who walk by faith not sight.
This material is for demonstration purposes only and may not be reproduced without
permission. Each item is followed by a series of initials indicating the source books:
•L&A = Love & Anger (songs of lively faith and social justice)
•HGSP = Hymns of Glory Songs of Praise, publ. Canterbury Press
(Church of Scotland Hymnary 4th Edition)
•TTTSUF = The Truth That Sets Us Free (Biblical songs for worship)
Available from:
The Wild Goose Resource Group, The Iona Community,
4th Floor, Savoy House, 140 Sauchiehall Street, GLASGOW, G2 3DH
tel: 0141-332 6343 fax: 0141-332 1090 e-mail: [email protected]
online SHOP : www.wgrg.co.uk
All songs marked © WGRG, Iona Community are covered by CCL & Calamus Licences
If your Church holds a current CCL or Calamus Licence
you should report usage in worship and other Non-Commercial situations in the relevant
Report/ Return. So you don’t need to contact us for permissions.
(Please also report any of our songs that do not show up on CCL’s lists, as there is sometimes a
slight time lag between songs being registered and lists updated.)
For more info: www.ccli.co.uk and http://www.decanimusic.co.uk/acatalog/Calamus.html
6