Be Thou My Vision 1. Be thou my vision, the joy of my heart; naught be all else to me save that thou art; thou my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
2. Be thou my wisdom, the lamp to my feet; thy word, like honey, to my lips is sweet; thou my delight, my joy, thy command; my dwelling ever, be the palm of thy hand.
3. Riches I heed not, nor seek human praise; thou mine inheritance, now and always; thou and thou only, the first in my heart, high God of heaven, my treasure thou art.
4. High God of heaven, my victory won, may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O ruler of all.
Adapted M Byrne & E Hull
Go at the call of God 1. Go at the call of God, the call to follow on, to leave security behind and go where Christ has gone. Go in the name of God, the name of Christ you bear; take up the cross, its victim's love with all the world to share.
2. Go in the love of God, explore its depth and height. Held fast by love that cares, that heals, in love walk in the light. Go in the strength of God, in weakness prove God true. The strength that dares to love and serve, God will pour out in you.
3. Go with the saints of God, our common life upbuild, that daily as we walk God's way we may with love be filled. O God, to you we come, your love alone to know, your name to own, your strength to prove, and at your call to go.
Rosalind Brown
God to Enfold me God to enfold me, God to surround me God in my thinking, God in my words. God in my sleeping and in my waking God in my watching, God in my hopes. God in my life, God in my lips God in my heart and my soul In my sufficing and in my slumber In my eternal and living soul.
God who sets us on a journey 1. God who sets us on a journey to discover, dream and grow, Lead us as you led your people in the desert long ago; Journey inward, journey outward, stir the spirit, stretch the mind; Love, for God and self and neighbour, marks the way that Christ defined.
2. Exploration brings new insights, changes, choices we must face; Give us wisdom in deciding, mindful always of your grace; Should we stumble, lose our bearings, Find it hard to know what’s right, We regain our true direction, focused on the Jesus light.
3. End our longing for the old days, grant the vision that we lack Once we’ve started on this journey there can be no turning back; Let us travel light, discarding excess baggage from our past, Cherish only what’s essential, choosing treasure that will last.
4. When we set up camp and settle to avoid love’s risk and pain, You disturb complacent comfort, pull the tent pegs up again; Keep us travelling in the knowledge you are always at our side, Give us courage for the journey, Christ our goal and Christ our guide.
Joy Dine
He came singing love 1. He came singing love and he lived singing love; he died, singing love, he arose in silence, for the love to go on we must make it our song: you and I be the singers.
2. He came singing faith and he lived singing faith; he died, singing faith, he arose in silence, for the faith to go on we must make it our song: you and I be the singers.
3. He came singing hope and he lived singing hope; he died, singing hope, he arose in silence, for the hope to go on we must make it our song: you and I be the singers.
4. He came singing peace and he lived singing peace; he died, singing peace, he arose in silence, for the peace to go on we must make it our song: you and I be the singers. Colin Gibson
I have called you by your name1. I have called you by your name, you are mine I have gifted you and ask you now to shine. I will not abandon you; all my promises are true. You are gifted, called and chosen; you are mine.
2. I will help you learn my name as you go; read it written in my people, help them grow. Pour the water in my name, speak the word your soul can claim, offer Jesus’ body given long ago.
3. I know you will need my touch as you go; feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow. Like the woman reaching out,choosing faith in spite of doubt, hold the hem of Jesus’ robe, then let it go.
4. I have given you a name, it is mine. I have given you my Spirit as a sign. With my wonder in your soul, make my wounded children whole; go and tell my precious people they are mine.
Love will be our Lenten calling 1. Love will be our Lenten calling, love to shake and shatter sin, waking every closed, cold spirit, stirring new life deep within, till the quickened heart remembers what our Easter birth can mean. 2. Peace will be our Lenten living as we turn for home again, longing for the words of pardon, stripping off old grief and pain, till we stand, restored and joyful, with the Church on Easter day.
3. Truth will be our Lenten learning: hear the Crucified One call! Shadowed by the Saviour’s passion, images and idols fall, and, in Easter’s holy splendour, God alone is all in all.
Words: Elizabeth J. Smith Nothing is lost on the breath of God 1. Nothing is lost on the breath of God, nothing is lost forever; God's breath is love, and that love will remain, holding the world forever.No feather too light, no hair too fine, no flower too brief in its glory, no drop in the ocean, no dust in the air, but is counted and told in God's story.
2. Nothing is lost to the eyes of God, nothing is lost forever; God sees with love, and that love will remain, holding the world forever. No journey too far, no distance too great, no valley of darkness too blinding, no creature too humble, no child too small for God to be seeking and finding.
3. Nothing is lost to the heart of God, nothing is lost forever; God's heart is love, and that love will remain, holding the world forever. No impulse of love, no office of care, no moment of life in its fulness, no beginning too late, no ending too soon, but is gathered and known in its goodness.
Colin Gibson
O God, our help in ages past 1. O God, our help in ages past, O God, our hope for years to come, You are our shield and shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.
2. Before the hills in order stood, Before the earth received her frame, Before the dawn of time you were eternal God, To endless years the same.
Refrain Teach us to number all our days And grant us wisdom where we roam And may we plant each path we walk with joyful praise Till all our days are done.
3. Beneath the shadow of your throne Your saints have ever dwelt secure; When courage fails our refuge is your strength alone, And our defense is sure.
Refrain
4. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears every life, each hour away Till sorrows fly forgotten, as a distant dream Dies at the opening day.
Refrain 5. O God, our help in ages past, O God our hope for years to come, Be still our guard, be still our guide when troubles last, And our eternal home. Words: Maggi Dawn and Isaac Watts Music: Maggi Dawn
7 Ride on, ride on 1. Ride on, ride on, the time is right: the roadside crowds scream with delight; palm branches mark the pilgrim way where beggars squat and children play.
2. Ride on, ride on, your critics wait, intrigue and rumour circulate; new lies abound in word and jest, and truth becomes a suspect guest.
3. Ride on, ride on, while well aware that those who shout and wave and stare are mortals who, with common breath, can crave for life and lust for death.
4. Ride on, ride on, though blind with tears, though dumb to speak and deaf to jeers. Your path is clear, though few can tell their garments pave the road to Hell.
5. Ride on, ride on, the room is let, the wine matured, the saw is whet; and dice your death-throes shall attend though faith, not fate, dictates your end.
6. Ride on, ride on, God's love demands. justice and peace lie in your hands. Evil and angel voices rhyme: this is the man and this the time.
Iona Community
8We belong to God 1. When we are living, we are in the Lord, and when we’re dying, we are in the Lord; for in our living and in our dying we belong to God, we belong to God.
2. Each day allows us to decide for good, loving and serving as we know we should; in thankful giving, in hopeful living, we belong to God, we belong to God.
3. Sometimes we sorrow, other times we embrace, sometimes we question everything we face; yet in our yearning is deeper learning: we belong to God, we belong to God.
4. Till earth is over may we always know love never fails us: God has made it so. Hard times will prove us, never remove us; We belong to God, we belong to God.
Iona Community
2 Psalms Fifth Sunday in Lent: Psalm 130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Palm Sunday: Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever! Let Israel say, ‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’ Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected 10 has become the chief cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD. he LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you. O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Monday in Holy Week: Psalm 36:5-11 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgements are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD. How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart! Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me, or the hand of the wicked drive me away. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Tuesday in Holy Week: Psalm 71:1-14 In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me. Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth. Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you. I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all day long. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent. For my enemies speak concerning me, and those who watch for my life consult together. They say, ‘Pursue and seize that person whom God has forsaken, for there is no one to deliver.’ 12 O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me! Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed; let those who seek to hurt me be covered with scorn and disgrace. But I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.
Wednesday in Holy Week: Psalm 70 Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O LORD, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonour who desire to hurt me. Let those who say, ‘Aha, Aha!’ turn back because of their shame. Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, ‘God is great!’ But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be for ever. Amen.