Hound of Heaven Hymns - Special Occasions

A Hymn for the Feast of SS Peter and Paul

Metre: 87 87 47

Cwm Rhondda

Saints of God in heaven dwelling
Sing and pray in holy light;
Through their lives all ages telling
Of Christ’s love which brings us sight.
Paul and Peter,
Pray and put our fear to flight.

Jesus, walking on the seashore:
Simon, come and follow me –
Leaving nets and fishing no more,
Save for souls to set them free.
You are Peter,
Holding heavenly kingdom’s key

Peter’s faith both strong and fearful
Fails his Lord, though called the rock,
Once forgiven, sad and tearful:
Charged to care for Jesus’ flock.
Faithful Peter:
Pray for us in death’s dread shock.

Caring, leading, learning new ways,
Peter’s life takes him to Rome –
Cross inverted giving God praise,
Dying, enters heavenly home.
Holy Peter,
Feed Christ’s sheep where’er we roam.

Saul of Tarsus set on ending
Those belonging to the Way.
Felled and stunned by God’s light, sending
Blindness – halting zealot's fray.
Saul of Tarsus,
Met by Jesus, for us pray.

Paul has heard the Christ of glory:
Now his strength and sight restored,
Healed to share salvation’s story,
Owning Jesus as his Lord.
Paul, apostle,
Holding book and martyr’s sword!

May the light of prayer and caring,
Lived by saints in Jesu’s way,
Fill your Church with holy daring:
Speaking truth to power today!
Paul and Peter,
Give us strength and for us pray!

Commissioned by William McVicker for SS Peter and Paul, Bromley

A Hymn of Loss and Recovery (after the Covid–19 pandemic)

Metre: 87 87 D

Corvedale or Blaenwern

Unseen foes fragment our living
Bringing fear and loss and death;
Fragile lives brought down, each giving
Epidemic's threat to breath.
Lord, our world is ever learning
Life and change are ever one:
Heal us, help us in discerning
Faith that leads till days are done.

Every people, every nation –
Illness strikes at all, bar none.
God is here in his creation
Sharing life in Christ, his Son.
With the poorest and the weakest
Brings his love to share our wealth –
Reaching those whose lot is bleakest,
Healing, caring, bringing health.

In our caring, love remakes us,
Helps us see the world afresh.
Different values redefine us
In our power and fragile flesh.
Service marks our needs in others,
Sacrifice brings life for all –
As we journey, sisters, brothers,
On the road – so none shall fall.

Science, art and recreation
Blessed by God, creation’s fount,
Offer hope to every nation
So that every life can count.
Take our lives, O God of healing,
Change our lands with daring love:
Self–denying, truth revealing,
Set our hearts on heaven above!

All the loss and dislocation,
All the grief and broken hearts
Are restored in God’s salvation –
Risen life where death departs:
Future joys beyond all telling
Won by Jesus Christ the Lord,
Formed by Spirit’s love indwelling
As we live with one accord!

Thy Kingdom Come

Metre: 10 10 10 10

Woodlands

Thy Kingdom Come – Lord teach us how to pray
For others that they might find faith in you
And know your friendship each and every day:
Jesus the way and life for ever true!

Thy Kingdom Come – Christ’s prayer that love will take
Our human lives and make us all as one;
To live for God and one another’s sake
By Jesus’ life and grace: ‘thy will be done’.

Thy Kingdom Come – we pray for those we know
To find Christ’s peace and joy in all we do;
For by the Spirit’s truth all life will grow:
Our tired and broken lives by love made new.

Thy Kingdom Come – a brighter light will shine
Throughout the world where prayer lets Spirit free
Our selfish lives to be a daring sign
Of Jesus’ risen life: God’s liberty!

Thy Kingdom Come – transform our human ways:
A common life of mercy, truth and care,
Nations renewed, as giving thanks and praise
To God in Jesus: here we make our prayer.

For Canon Jean Kerr who commissioned this hymn, and the global wave of prayer: Thy Kingdom Come

Harvest thanks

Metre: 9 8 9 8 9 8 10 7

Autumn Leaves

We give God thanks for harvest seasons;
We give God thanks for daily food;
All life is held by nature’s gifts:
The love of God, his world renewed.

Hunger’s pangs are rid by generous heart:
We all must share and play our part.
Let us do this – feed the world, the hungry –
Our harvest thanks we give to God.

(for Mary Jeffreys who commissioned this setting)

A Hymn of Peace

Metre: 86 86 86 86 (Double Common Metre)

Coe Fen

Written to commemorate the centenary of World War 1 Armistice — Remembrancetide 2018

We yearn for peace but still fight wars
and fail to learn God’s ways;
the past is blamed to find a cause
for warring present days.
Come Spirit blessed to make us new,
break habits, hate and fears –
to see the Christ in other’s view
and feel His pain and tears.

In Bible’s page the nations fight
and claim that God is theirs.
Forgive us Lord, restore our sight
that we might live our prayers.
The past is drenched by blood and loss
through wars and violent ways;
may Jesus on his holy cross
redeem our human days.

This simple gift for all the earth,
once won on history’s stage:
love’s tortured death, stripp’d of His worth,
spills out to every age.
The fallen – broken, lifeless dust –
by Christ are healed and raised
beyond our power; the Father’s trust
by Church and world be praised!

Lord, grant us strength to fight for peace
and speak love’s truth today;
with wills resolved we’ll never cease
to watch and love and pray:
that all may live in freedom blessed
and care for those in need.
In peace may the departed rest,
from time and death be freed.

God’s peace fulfils and blesses life,
it heals the aching soul;
there is a way in place of strife
that makes all people whole.
This hope is real but costs our pride:
Lord, help us choose love’s way
where hearts and minds are open wide
In this and every day!

A Hymn of St Francis

Metre: 87 87 47

St Helen

Saint much loved for simple living,
Born with wealth to God repay:
Heard love's call to selfless giving –
Mends God's house without delay.
Holy Francis,
Pray for us, Christ's Church today.

Poor for Christ and rich for ever,
Francis shows what all can be
When our selfish lusts we sever
In God's greater liberty.
Holy Francis,
Clothed in true humility.

Great the love he showed for Jesus –
Rich and poor alike did treat –
In the way our Saviour sees us:
Through the cross all people meet.
Holy Francis,
Marked by love in hands and feet.

Christmas crib he built for seeing
God in Jesus' humble birth;
Time and nature now agreeing
By love's gift beyond all worth.
Holy Francis,
One with God and all the earth!

Hymn for the Feast of St Joseph

Metre: 87 87

Sussex

Joseph called to be Christ’s father,
Guardian strong in hillside town;
Rough hewn wood by hands well crafted
Shaped God’s life for Calvary’s crown.

David’s son returned to Bethlem
Where the Virgin bore a child
By God’s plan they fled to Egypt
From King Herod’s temper wild.

In love’s plan we see St Joseph
Caring, guiding, life unknown:
Rears the child to save all people –
Nurtured, safe, till fully grown.

By his prayers our lives are strengthened,
And the Church’s unity
Formed by Spirit, Jesus’ body,
In God’s holy family.

Metrical Nunc Dimittis

Metre: 65 65

Pastor Pastorum

Now Lord, let your servant
Leave this life in peace:
For your word has taught us –
Love will never cease.

Eyes with wonder seeing
In this moment’s rite,
Israel’s promised glory,
Every nation’s light.

Holy people waiting
For Christ’s light to shine:
Temple prayers now answered –
Jesus is God’s sign.

Sign and Son and saviour
Held in Mary’s arms:
Promise for all peoples
Sung in Israel’s psalms.

Extra verse for Ordination ~ Crown him with many crowns

Metre: 66 86 66 86

Diademata

Crown him, the servant King
Who kneels to wash our feet;
A victim led through death’s dread sting
And raised: here, bread to eat.
We offer now our praise,
Our strengths and gifts we bring
That we may serve him all our days
And earth with heaven may sing!

A Hymn of St Andrew for Rochester

Metre: 87 88 7

"Etheldreda" ~ Arthur Wills 1983

Saltire cross is Andrew’s glory,
Saint renowned and praised today –
For his faith and holy living,
Leaving all – to Jesus giving –
Future formed in God’s own way.

First to hear and follow Jesus
By the Sea of Galilee;
Andrew then sought out his brother –
Come to him, who like no other,
Brings the life that sets all free.

Holy monks who built by Medway
Church and abbey for the Lord,
Called upon the prayers of Andrew,
Trusting life to Saviour’s hand, who
Leads and guides us by truth’s sword.

Blade of light and heavenly armour –
Saints are clad in Spirit’s power;
Serving Christ and making holy,
Stones and lives by love made lowly:
Rochester – St Andrew’s flower!

Blessed Mary, Jesu’s mother,
Holds her Son in love today;
With St Andrew, blessed in glory,
Prays and meets us in the story
Lit by Christ’s eternal Day.

Ordination Hymn

Metre: 10 10 10 10

"Woodlands"

The word of God calls each and every soul
To seek the length and breadth and depth of love;
This call for some takes on Christ’s yoke, the stole –
In orders blessed by cross and Spirit’s dove.

A life of cost is blessed by Christ’s own death;
His risen life feeds us through broken bread;
The priest receives the Spirit’s promised breath
To share the power that raised Christ from the dead.

This grace is risk, a gift to all the earth,
Each person sent to journey in God’s light –
Through want and need to see our neighbour’s worth
And offer all to Christ each day and night.

Our prayer today we make through Christ the Lord,
That word and sacrament may make us one:
To care for those whose lives in love outpoured,
To serve the One through whom all ages run.

Lord, you meet us from the future (Medway version)

Metre: 87 87 87 87

Tune: Blaenwern

Lord, you meet us from the future:
All our past by love made new;
Present doubts and faltering footsteps
Strengthened by this larger view:
People, places, held together
By the power of God in prayer.
What we offer, risk and promise,
Take, O Lord, into your care.

Town and country, city’s suburbs –
Form the place of holy light:
God in Jesus lives amongst us,
Builds a world beyond our sight.
Here the Kingdom claims all people,
Loved by Christ, whoe’er we be;
Complex problems, pressing issues,
Lit by God’s humility.

Years and seasons shape our living –
Changing lives beyond our power.
In this process God is present,
Jesus shares each passing hour.
Spirit, fill us: make us thankful
For the past’s rich gifts today.
God works in us, through our frailty,
Raising dust and lives of clay!

Lord, we strive to live your justice:
In our age, to Christ be true.
Help us share the pains of Calvary
In the cries of lost and few.
In a world obsessed by money,
Power and status, free us all.
Touch our lives with love’s forgiveness,
Faithful to our Saviour’s call.

People set by Medway’s river –
Joined by bridge in castle’s shade:
Spanning years and human journeys –
Sign of faith and Spirit’s aid.
So we walk by faith as pilgrims
Called by Christ to run love’s race:
God transcends our human difference
By the power of Jesus’ grace!

Lord, you meet us from the future (Limpsfield version)

Metre: 87 87 87 87

Tune: Blaenwern

Surrey’s Downs and Kentish wealdland –
Chart and Village give you praise:
Limpsfield’s people blest and favoured –
Energised by Spirit’s blaze!
So we tread this earth as pilgrims
Called by Christ to run love’s race:
God transcends all loss and leaving
By the power of Jesus’ grace!

Diocese of Southwark ~ Centenary Hymn People – Places – Prayer

Metre: 87 87 87 87

Tune: Blaenwern

Gatwick’s planes and London’s river –
Borders of a see of praise:
Southwark’s people blest and needy –
Energised by Spirit’s blaze!
So we fly and flow as pilgrims
Called by Christ to run love’s race:
God transcends our human difference
By the power of Jesus’ grace!

Wedding Hymn

Metre: Irregular 13 13 13 13 13 13

Thaxted

This day is blessed by God’s sweet joy which comes from heaven above
and fills our lives, each passing hour – the gift of life and love.
No doubt or pain can conquer the power His Spirit brings
to those who offer all to him in Christ the King of kings.
Such love binds hearts together, in vows that set us free:
our lives we give and lose through time – to find eternity.

And so we sing and pray for those whose vows are made today:
to love and care through good and ill – as shown by Christ the Way.
His truth brings light in darkness; His life unites us all:
the marriage feast invites the world to share in Jesus’ call.
This love we know and see each day in every round and task:
God’s peace and life in Jesus Christ is all we need to ask.

Then come what may, our lives are safe, protected by God’s Word.
In Jesus Christ he speaks to us – our every need is heard.
Our human love is holy when touched by Spirit’s flame;
it leads us into trust and hope, and takes away all blame.
This love will never fail us; it holds us to the end –
and brings us to our heavenly home in Christ our Lord and friend.

A Hymn for the Feast of St Barnabas

Metre: 88 88 88

Melita

God’s saints are those who live in hearts
Where faith sees love’s true mark and worth;
The Christ will use so many parts
In bringing light to all the earth.
St Barnabas who walked Christ’s way
Inspire the Church and for us pray!

Apostle called to travel wide
Proclaiming Christ beyond the Land.
He preached the love that for us died:
God’s healing touch with piercèd hand.
St Barnabas who walked Christ’s way
Inspire the Church and for us pray!

Take us beyond the bounds of self
Like Barnabas and Paul of old:
Help us to live God’s common wealth
And share Christ’s life with spirit bold.
St Barnabas who walked Christ’s way
Inspire the Church and for us pray!

O saint, renamed by Jesus’ friends,
Encourage us to change and grow –
To live the Spirit’s means and ends
And help the world God’s truth to know.
St Barnabas who walked Christ’s way
Inspire the Church and for us pray!

Across the years God’s people praise
Those holy lives which shed Christ’s light.
Today’s world needs love’s saving ways:
Our darkness, Lord, pleads for your sight.
St Barnabas who walked Christ’s way
Inspire the Church and for us pray!

Christ’s Gospel brings love’s mercy true –
Redeeming joy for every age;
The Kingdom’s saints, both old and new,
Live out the Word from Bible’s page.
St Barnabas who walked Christ’s way
Inspire the Church and for us pray!

Where do we seek the weak and lost
For Christ through us to heal and serve?
St Barnabas, you risked that cost,
Revive our faith and steel our nerve!
St Barnabas who walked Christ’s way
Inspire the Church and for us pray!

For the Parish of St Barnabas, Dulwich who commissioned this hymn

Water of life

Metre: 13 10 13 10

Blow the wind southerly

A HYMN FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

For with you is the well of life
And in your light shall we see light ~ Psalm 36.9

Water of life comes from God’s well, the source of all:
Fountain of love flowing widely and free.
Each of us, Spirit borne, flows never endingly,
Separate drops held in Christ’s unity.

Praise God for the fountain, his Spirit’s activity,
Sharing the water of life on his earth.
Enliven your Church to release from captivity
Prisoners and victims – redeemed by Christ’s birth.

Divided and fractured by creed and by history,
Remake us, Lord now, as only you can:
Christ Jesus amongst us in time and in mystery –
Fragments and droplets retrieved in his plan.

Enlighten your Church, Lord, to see your diversity
Shining in all life that you’ve brought to be.
True faith knows no limits in God’s creativity:
Jesus the fountainhead sets us all free.

Here’s love overflowing, cascading with energy,
God in his Spirit is playing in light.
Here’s joy without measure that banishes lethargy,
Lighten our darkness, Lord, bless us with sight.

A Hymn to St Peter

Metre: 85 85 & refrain

Guiting Power

Simon Peter on the sea shore
Busy at his trade,
Jesus calls him – ‘you can be more’:
Adam’s life re–made.
Holy Peter feed Christ’s flock,
The Church’s rock, O pray for us!

So he answered Jesus’ calling,
Leaving fish for men.
Peter’s life is changed to trawling
Depths beyond mind’s ken.

Blunt and forthright in confessing
‘You are Christ the Lord’.
Peter’s words, his God addressing,
Heaven’s truth assured.

Thrice denying, yet repenting:
Faltering human ways.
Faithful Peter, ne’er relenting,
Through change gives God praise.

Holy living, holy dying,
Prince, apostle, saint:
Peter’s strength for ever trying –
Glory – without taint.

Inverse cross and keys of heaven,
Peter’s death and life,
Yeast and salt, the Christ’s pure leaven,
Peace in earthly strife.