Sunday the 3rd October. Hymns

Transcription

1 OPERATION NOAH S OIL FAST 2010 Sunday the 3rd October Hymns All Creatures of Our God and King Words by St Francis of Assisi ( ) Translation by William Henry Draper ( ) This hymn celebrates God s beautiful works of Creation. It may be suitable as the first hymn sung during the procession or used at the beginning of the Oil Fast service. It draws an Edenic picture of the natural world a paradise that our Carbon Exodus hopes to re-establish. The opening and final verses, in particular, commend praise for our Creator. All creatures of our God and King Lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluya, alleluya! Thou burning sun with golden beam Thou silver moon with softer gleam: And all ye men of tender heart, Forgiving others, take your part, O sing ye, Alleluya! Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, Praise God and on him cast your care: Thou rushing wind that art so strong, Ye clouds that sail in heaven along, Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice, Ye lights of evening, find a voice: And thou, most kind and gentle death, Waiting to hush our latest breath, Thou leadest home the child of God, And Christ our Lord the way hath trod: Thou flowing water, pure and clear, Make music for thy Lord to hear, Alleluya, Alleluya! Thou fire so masterful and bright, That givest man both warmth and light: Let all things their Creator bless, And worship him in humbleness, Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, And praise the Spirit, three in One. Dear mother earth, who day by day Unfoldest blessings on our way, Praise him, Alleluya! The flowers and fruits that in thee grow, Let them his glory also show: Copyright Robertson Publications (for J Curwen & Sons Ltd), Stockley Close, Stockley Road, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 9BE, United Kingdom. OPERATION NOAH S OIL FAST

2 All Things Bright and Beautiful Words by C. F. Alexander ( ) This well-known hymn is also about celebration and joyful prayers of thanks making it suitable as the first (or early) hymn sung at the beginning of the Oil Fast service. It resounds in praise of God, details the tiny elements of the natural world and draws attention to our Christian responsibility as Stewards of the Earth. : All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all. Each little flower that opens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colours, He made their tiny wings. The purple-headed mountain, The river running by, The sunset and the morning, That brightens up the sky; The cold wind in the winter, The pleasant summer sun, The ripe fruits in the garden, He made them every one; The tall trees in the greenwood, The meadows for our play, The rushes by the water, To gather every day; He gave us eyes to see them, And lips that we might tell How great is God Almighty, Who has made all things well. Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind Words by John Whittier ( ) This hymn notes our faults and shortcomings. It could be used in preparation for the Eucharist as it asks for forgiveness and direction; and speaks of our desire to journey with God. The reference to natural disasters in the final verse brings with it hope of leading our lives in discipleship and, in this Oil Fast service, to the possibility of a Carbon Zero future. Dear Lord and Father of mankind Forgive our foolish ways! Re-clothe us in our rightful mind In purer lives thy service find In deeper reverence praise. In simple trust like theirs who heard Beside the Syrian sea, The gracious calling of the Lord Let us, like them, without a word OPERATION NOAH S OIL FAST

3 Rise up and follow thee. O Sabbath rest by Galilee! O calm of hills above Where Jesus knelt to share with thee The silence of eternity Interpreted by love! Drop thy still dews of quietness Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of thy peace. Breathe through the heats of our desire Thy coolness and thy balm; Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire; Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire, O still small voice of calm! For The Beauty Of The Earth Words by Francis Pierpoint ( ) This hymn could be used as the Offertory hymn. It has an explicit focus on praise of the planet with a call to gratitude. The hymn sets out all the beauties of the natural world then draws attention to the joy of our immediate, wider and Church family. It is the Church which must offer to the world an example of sacrifice (today, our Oil Fast pledge) and strong leadership on our journey into a Carbon Zero future. For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies, For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light, For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth, and friends above, Pleasures pure and undefiled, For each perfect gift of thine, To our race so freely given, Graces human and divine, Flowers of earth and buds of heaven, For thy Church which evermore Lifteth holy hands above, Offering up on every shore Her pure sacrifice of love, Hallelujah! Sing to Jesus Words by William C. Dix (1867); Music: Hyfrydol, Rowland H. Pritchard (1830) Though not explicitly about environmental issues, this hymn may be suitable for preparing the Eucharist. Here, Jesus is described as Earth s Redeemer. We aim to follow in our Lord s footstep to redeem the Earth from our dependence on Oil an important first step on our Carbon Exodus journey. OPERATION NOAH S OIL FAST

4 Hallelujah! Sing to Jesus His the sceptre, His the throne Hallelujah! His the triumph His the victory alone Hark, the songs of holy Zion Thunder like a mighty flood: 'Jesus out of every nation Hath redeemed us by His blood.' Hallelujah! Not as orphans Are we left in sorrow now Hallelujah! He is near us Faith believes, nor questions how Though the clouds from sight received Him When the forty days were o'er Shall our hearts forget His promise 'I am with you ever more'? Hallelujah! Bread of heaven Thou on earth our food, our stay Hallelujah! here the sinful Flee to Thee from day to day Intercessor, Friend of sinners Earth's Redeemer, plead for me Where the songs of all the sinless Sweep across the crystal sea Hallelujah! sing to Jesus His the sceptre, His the throne Hallelujah! His the triumph His the victory alone Hark, the songs of holy Zion Thunder like a mighty flood: 'Jesus out of every nation Hath redeemed us by His blood.' Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Words: Walter Chalmers Smith ( ) This hymn could be sung as an anthem during the distribution of Communion. It describes the inextricable link between God and His Creation. It frames humankind and our society in words of the natural world which we are duty bound to preserve. As an alternative, there is a beautiful arrangement by John Rutter for the Choir. Immortal, invisible, God only wise In light inaccessible hid from our eyes Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might; Thy justice like mountains high soaring above Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love. To all life thou givest to both great and small; In all life thou livest, the true life of all; We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, And wither and perish but nought changeth thee. Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight; All laud we would render: O help us to see 'Tis only the splendour of light hideth thee. Immortal, invisible, God only wise In light inaccessible hid from our eyes Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise. OPERATION NOAH S OIL FAST

5 We Plough the Fields And Scatter Words by Matthias Claudius ( ) Translated by Jane Montgomery Campbell ( ) Although traditionally used at Harvest time, this hymn would perhaps be suitable as a final song during the Oil Fast service. It translates as an organic, chemical-free method of tilling the land, of a balanced ecology and sufficient food in the world. This is a genuine possibility if we can make headway with reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and embrace wholeheartedly alternative or green energies. We plough the fields and scatter The good seed on the land But it is fed and watered By God's almighty hand: He sends the snow in winter The warmth to swell the grain The breezes and the sunshine And soft, refreshing rain. : All good gifts around us Are sent from heaven above; Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, For all his love. He only is the maker Of all things near and far; He paints the wayside flower He lights the evening star; The winds and waves obey him By him the birds are fed; Much more to us, his children He gives our daily bread. We thank thee then, O Father For all things bright and good The seed time and the harvest Our life, our health, our food. Accept the gifts we offer For all thy love imparts And what thou most desirest Our humble, thankful hearts. Colette L. Annesley-Gamester Operation Noah OPERATION NOAH S OIL FAST