This is the hymn we started with. I love this hymn, because I love the scripture that it comes from. After my first confession, reading Psalm 103 was my penance. And what a lovely penance to receive!
This song was also used in Godspell, using a radically different tune.
O bless the Lord, my soul!
His grace to thee proclaim!
And all that is within me join
To bless His holy Name!
O bless the Lord, my soul!
His mercies bear in mind!
Forget not all His benefits!
The Lord to thee is kind.
He will not always chide;
He will with patience wait;
His wrath is ever slow to rise,
And ready to abate.
He pardons all thy sins;
Prolongs thy feeble breath;
He healeth thine infirmities,
And ransoms thee from death.
He clothes thee with His love;
Upholds thee with His truth;
And like the eagle He renews
The vigor of thy youth.
Then bless His holy Name,
Whose grace hath made thee whole,
Whose lovingkindness crowns thy days!
O bless the Lord, my soul!
Sung at SMV to St. Thomas. Sung in my office to a completely different tune!
Offertory was a blast from my past. Anyone of my age who grew up Episcopalian sang this as one of a small rotation of songs in Vacation Bible School. Every kid knew this one, and we marched along in place during the chorus.
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!
Refrain
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
Refrain
Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
Refrain
What the saints established that I hold for true.
What the saints believèd, that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, men the faith will hold,
Kingdoms, nations, empires, in destruction rolled.
Refrain
Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
But the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise, and that cannot fail.
Refrain
Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor unto Christ the King,
This through countless ages men and angels sing.
Refrain
Sung to St. Gertrude. But you know that. Don't you?
Communion hymn was by Charles Wesley. Any Sunday is a good Sunday when it has a Wesley hymn in it!
Glory, love, and praise, and honor
for our food
now bestowed
render we the Donor.
Bounteous God, we now confess thee:
God who thus
blessest us,
meet it is to bless thee.
Thankful for our every blessing,
let us sing
Christ the Spring,
never, never ceasing.
Source of all our gifts and graces,
Christ we own;
Christ alone
calls for all our praises.
He dispels our sin and sadness,
life imparts,
cheers our hearts,
fills with food and gladness.
Who himself for all has given,
us he feeds,
us he leads
to a feast in heaven.
Sung to Benifold, but I can't find a MIDI for it. Sorry!
And finally, a song with one of the nicest tunes. The opening sounds like bells ringing.
O praise ye the Lord!
Praise him in the height;
rejoice in his word,
ye angels of light;
ye heavens, adore him
by whom ye were made,
and worship before him,
in brightness arrayed.
O praise ye the Lord!
Praise him upon earth,
in tuneful accord,
ye sons of new birth;
praise him who hath brought you
his grace from above,
praise him who hath taught you
to sing of his love.
O praise ye the Lord!
All things that give sound;
each jubilant chord
reecho around;
loud organs, his glory
forth tell in deep tone,
and sweet harp, the story
of what he hath done.
O praise ye the Lord!
Thanksgiving and song
to him be outpoured
all ages along!
For love in creation,
for heaven restored,
for grace of salvation,
O praise ye the Lord!
Sung to Laudate Dominum. It can also be sung to Hanover, but I like the other version better.
