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