We sing to God

We sing to God; we sing our thanks and praises.

Honor and reverence to our Lord we bring.

Yet too we sing our suffering and longing; 

We lift our voice to God in every thing.

In Christ redeemed, by Holy Spirit strengthened,

In all our worship to our God we sing.

We sing for God; we join the endless chorus 

Of all who learn by heart the holy song: 

The cloud of witnesses, the host of heaven,

Lifting their voices through the ages long.

In Christ redeemed, by Holy Spirit strengthened,

In holy union for our God we sing.

 

We sing of God; our chorus bears our witness. 

We show God’s goodness in our songful play.

In song from every corner of creation,

We witness to the truth, the life, the way.

In Christ redeemed, by Holy Spirit strengthened,

To this world’s yearning, of our God we sing.

 

We sing with God; the Singer of creation

Leads in the song we join with boundless glee:

The song of ages, new and yet eternal,

Of all that was, and is, and is to be.

In Christ redeemed, by Holy Spirit strengthened,

Now and forever, with our God we sing.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, November 2020

MUSIC: Tune FINLANDIA, Jean Sibelius, 1899.

 

 

Truthfully, I can’t say where this one came from. Frankly I’ve been quite blocked in every kind of writing of late (I can’t even write a postcard without fighting through existential angst), and somehow my brain got from there to a song about singing. I suppose the one thing that might make this one stand apart from other hymns about song is that (as I’ve had to learn in recent years) not all songs are songs of big exuberant joy, and yet God wants us to sing them all (or so I hope).

NOTE: while Sibelius’s stalwart tune has passed into public domain, be advised that any arrangement you find in your hymnal is likely under some copyright or other. 

A hymn set suitable for Advent wreath candle lighting

 Five hymns, from Advent 1 through Christmas Eve, suitable for lighting the candles of the Advent wreath on a typical hope/peace/joy/love cycle. Will gladly send PDFs upon request.

Advent 1: When the world tells us

When the world tells us “all is lost,” God still says “all is loved in me.”

All is loved and all is forgiven; open your eyes, behold and see!

Love! Love! Show us that Christ is coming!

Love! Love! Show us that Christ is near!

 

When the darkness says “light is gone,” Light reminds us to be surprised:

See the fire igniting before us; see how the dawn invades the skies!

Light! Light! Show us that Christ is coming!

Light! Light! Show us that Christ is near!

 

Fear says “cover your eyes and ears”; Hope says “listen and watch and wait.”

Stand and watch, redemption is coming; now hope will come and not be late!

Hope! Hope! Show us that Christ is coming!

Hope! Hope! Show us that Christ is near!

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, November 2018 

MUSIC: Tune BRING A TORCH, French melody

Advent 2:A voice cries out in the wilderness

A voice cries out in the wilderness: “Prepare the Lord a way!”

A voice calls out of our loneliness for night to break into day.

We cry that wars and violence and rank injustice cease: 

We pray the holy peace of God; come now, O Prince of Peace.

 

A choir sings into the silent night, “O come, Emmanuel!”

The song breaks into our darkened hearts, our frightened voices now swell.

We cry for healing and for hope, for broken souls’ release:

We pray the holy peace of God; come now, O Prince of Peace.

 

O every valley shall be filled up, and every heart elate;

For peace is stronger than violence, and love is louder than hate.

We cry for joy and yearn for love and grace now to increase:

We pray the holy peace of God; come now, O Prince of Peace.

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2018

MUSIC: Tune CAROL, Richard Storrs Willis, 1850.

Advent 3: Rejoice! Always rejoice! (Now the world says to worry)

Now the world says to worry and fret all day;

Rejoice! Always rejoice!

But the children of God do not live that way!

Rejoice! Always rejoice!

 

Refrain: 

Joy! Joy! Rejoice! Always rejoice!

We pray for hope and peace and joy; rejoice! Always rejoice!

 

“Be afraid! Be afraid!” That’s the noise we hear;

Rejoice! Always rejoice!

But the children of God will not live in fear!

Rejoice! Always rejoice!

 

Refrain

 

Now the world says “be happy and laugh and smile!”

Rejoice! Always rejoice!

But the church lives to follow the extra mile.

Rejoice! Always rejoice!

 

Refrain

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2018

MUSIC: Tune FOLLOW, African American Spiritual

Advent 4: When Isaiah spoke a word

When Isaiah spoke a word of holy grace

Of a child born for the people of his place, 

Hope and peace and promise filled that sacred space

At the working of God’s almighty hand.

 

When the angel Gabriel came to Nazareth town,

Mary’s faith was kindled, God’s great hope to crown;

Joy and peace and promise all came pouring down

Through the working of God’s almighty hand.

 

When to Bethlehem she came that holy day,

Carrying that child just as our Lord did say,

Love and peace and promise joined her on the way,

For the working of God’s almighty hand.

 

Let us all give thanks for Who was born that night,

And for Mary’s journey – faith that came to sight,

And that death and darkness all were put to flight

By the working of God’s almighty hand.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2018

MUSIC: Tune CRANHAM, Gustav Holst, 1906, adapted

Christmas Eve: Hope is born

Hope is born, this night in Bethlehem.

The star leads on and calls us ever to One who forsakes us never.

Hope is born, this night in Bethlehem.

 

“Peace on earth,” a heavenly choir sings on,

“For now our God who reigns on high in this child has come down nigh.”

“Peace on earth,” a heavenly choir sings on.

 

“Great, great joy!” the angels sing their song.

“For you is born a Savior holy; yet he rests in manger lowly.”

“Great, great joy!” the angels sing their song.

 

Love has come; our life is now made new;

For like a candle breaks the night, this child comes as sacred light.

Love has come; our life is now made new.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, revised August 2020

MUSIC: Tune STILL, STILL, STILL, Austrian Carol