God Is Working His Purpose Out

    Arthur Campbell Ainger (1841-1919)

    God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year,
    God is working his purpose out, and the time is drawing near;
    nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
    when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

    From utmost east to utmost west wheree'er man's foot hath trod,
    by the mouth of many messengers goes forth the voice of God,
    'Give ear to me, ye continents, ye isles, give ear to me,
    that the earth may be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.'

    What can we do to work God's work, to prosper and increase
    the brotherhood of all mankind, the reign of the Prince of Peace?
    What can we do to hasten the time, the time that shall surely be,
    when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea?

    March we forth in the strength of God with the banner of Christ unfurled,
    That the light of the glorious gospel of truth may shine throughout the world.
    Fight we the fight with sorrow and sin, to set their captives free,
    that the earth may be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

    All we can do is nothing worth unless God blesses the deed;
    vainly we hope for the harvest-time till God gives life to the seed;
    yet nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
    when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea

    God Moves In A Mysterious Way

    William Cowper (1731-1800)

    God moves in a mysterious way
    His wonders to perform;
    He plants his footsteps in the sea,
    And rides upon the storm.

    Deep in unfathomable mines
    Of never-failing skill
    He treasures up his bright designs,
    And works his sovereign will.

    Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
    The clouds ye so much dread
    Are big with mercy, and shall break
    In blessings on your head.

    Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
    But trust him for his grace;
    Behind a frowning providence
    He hides a smiling face.

    His purposes will ripen fast,
    Unfolding every hour;
    The bud may have a bitter taste,
    But sweet will be the flower.

    Blind unbelief is sure to err,
    And scan his work in vain;
    God is his own interpreter,
    And he will make it plain.

    God Of All Ages And Lord Of All Time

    Philip Coutts

    God of all ages and Lord of all time,
    Creator of all things in perfect design:
    For fields ripe for harvest, for rich golden grain,
    For beauty in nature, we thank you again.

    God of all nations and Lord of all lands,
    Who placed the world's wealth in the palm of our hands,
    We pray for your guidance to guard against greed.
    Though great the resources, still great is the need.

    God of compassion and Lord of all life,
    We pray for your people in conflict and strife.
    The earth you created a vast treasure store,
    Yet hunger still thrives while men fight to gain for.

    God of all wisdom, take us by the hand
    And insight bestow when we ruin your land.
    For rivers polluted, for forests laid bare,
    We pray for forgiveness for failing to care.

    God of all greatness and giver of light,
    With each sunlit morning we worship your might,
    Our half-hearted service your only reward:
    For love beyond measure, we thank you O Lord.

    God of mercy and compassion

    Edmund Vaughan (1827-1908)

    God of mercy and compassion,
    look with pity upon me;
    Father, let me call Thee Father,
    'tis Thy child returns to thee.
    Jesus, Lord, I ask for mercy,
    knowing it is not in vain:
    all my sins I now detest them,
    help me not to sin again.

    By my sins I have deserved
    death and endless misery,
    hell with all its pain and torments,
    and for all eternity.
    Refrain

    By my sins I have abandon’d
    Right and claim to heaven above,
    where the saints rejoice for ever,
    in a boundless sea of love.
    Refrain

    See our Saviour, bleeding, dying
    on the cross of Calvary;
    to that cross my sins have nailed Him,
    yet He bleeds and dies for me.
    Refrain

    God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

    God rest you merry, gentlemen,
    Let nothing you dismay,
    For Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
    Was born upon this day
    To save us all from Satan's power
    When we were gone astray.
    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    comfort and joy;
    O tidings of comfort and joy!

    From God our heavenly Father
    A blessèd angel came,
    And unto certain shepherds
    Brought tidings of the same,
    How that in Bethlehem was born
    The Son of God by name.
    Chorus

    The shepherds at these tidings
    Rejoicèd much in mind,
    And left their flocks a-feeding
    In tempest, storm and wind,
    And went to Bethlehem straightway
    This blessèd Babe to find.
    Chorus

    But when to Bethlehem they came,
    Whereat this Infant lay,
    They found him in a manger
    Where oxen fed on hay;
    His mother Mary, kneeling,
    Unto the Lord did pray.
    Chorus

    Now to the Lord sing praises,
    All you within this place,
    And with true love and brotherhood
    Each other now embrace.
    The holy tide of Christmas
    All others doth efface.
    Chorus

    God Sent His Son, They Called Him Jesus

    Gloria L Gaither (born 1942) and William J Gaither (born 1936)

    God sent his Son, they called Him Jesus;
    He came to love, heal, and forgive;
    He lived and died to buy my pardon,
    An empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives.
    Because He lives I can face tomorrow;
    Because He lives all fear is gone;
    Because I know He holds the future,
    And life is worth the living
    Just because He lives.

    How sweet to hold a new-born baby,
    And feel the pride and joy he gives;
    But greater still the calm assurance,
    This child can face uncertain days because He lives.
    Refrain

    And then one day I'll cross the river;
    I'll fight life's final war with pain;
    And then as death gives way to victory,
    I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.
    Refrain

    God That Madest Earth And Heaven

    Reginald Heber (1783-1826), Richard Whately (1787-1863)

    God that madest earth and heaven,
    darkness and light;
    who the day for toil hast given,
    for rest the night;
    may thine angel-guards defend us,
    slumber sweet thy mercy send us,
    holy dreams and hopes attend us,
    this livelong night.

    Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
    and, when we die,
    may we in thy mighty keeping
    all peaceful lie:
    when the last dread call shall wake us,
    do not thou our God forsake us,
    but to reign in glory take us
    with thee on high.

    God’s Spirit is in my heart

    Hubert J Richards (born 1921) based on Luke 4: 18, in the version by Alan Taylor Dale

    God's Spirit is in my heart,
    he has called me and set me apart,
    this is what I have to do,
    what I have to do.
    He sent me to give the good news to the poor,
    tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more;
    tell blind people that they can see,
    and set the down-trodden free,
    and go tell everyone
    the news that the kingdom of God has come,
    and go tell everyone
    the news that God's kingdom has come.

    Just as the Father sent me
    so I'm sending you out to be
    my witnesses throughout the world,
    the whole of the world.
    Chorus

    Don't carry a load in your pack,
    you don't need two shirts on your back;
    a workman can earn his own keep,
    can earn his own keep.
    Chorus

    Don't worry what you have to say,
    don't worry because on that day
    God's Spirit will speak in your heart,
    will speak in your heart.
    Chorus

    Going Home, Moving On

    Michael L Forster (born 1946)

    Going home, moving on,
    through God's open door;
    hush, my soul, have no fear,
    Christ has gone before.
    Parting hurts, love protests,
    pain is not denied;
    yet, in Christ, life and hope
    span the great divide.
    Going home, moving on,
    through God's open door;
    hush, my soul, have no fear,
    Christ has gone before,
    Christ has gone before.

    No more guilt, no more fear,
    all the past is healed:
    broken dreams now restored,
    perfect grace revealed.
    Christ has died, Christ is ris'n,
    Christ will come again:
    death destroyed, life restored,
    love alone shall reign.
    Going home, moving on,
    through God's open door;
    hush, my soul, have no fear,
    Christ has gone before,
    Christ has gone before.

    Going home

    Going home, going home,
    I’m a going home,
    Quiet like, some still day,
    I’m just going home
    It’s not far, just close by,
    through an open door
    Work all done, care laid by,
    going to fear no more
    Mother’s there expecting me,
    father’s waiting too.
    Lots of folk gathered there,
    all the friends I knew,
    All the friends I knew.

    Morning star lights the way
    restless dreams all done.
    Shadows gone, break of day,
    Real life just begun,
    There’s no break, there’s no end,
    Just a living on,
    Wide awake with a smile,
    Going on and on.
    Going home, going home
    I’m just going home,
    It’s not far, just close by
    Through an open door,
    I’m just going home

    Good King Wenceslas looked out

    John M Neale (1818-1866)

    Good King Wenceslas looked out
    On the feast of Stephen,
    When the snow lay round about,
    Deep and crisp and even;
    Brightly shone the moon that night,
    Though the frost was cruel,
    When a poor man came in sight,
    Gath'ring winter fuel.

    Hither, page, and stand by me;
    If thou know'st it, telling-
    Yonder peasant, who is he?
    Where and what his dwelling?'
    'Sire, he lives a good league hence,
    Underneath the mountain,
    Right against the forest fence,
    By Saint Agnes' fountain.'

    Bring me flesh, and bring me wine!
    Bring me pine logs hither!
    Thou and I will see him dine
    When we bear them thither.'
    Page and monarch forth they went,
    Forth they went together,
    Through the rude wind's wild lament
    And the bitter weather.

    Sire, the night is darker now,
    And the wind blows stronger;
    Fails my heart, I know not how,
    I can go no longer.'
    'Mark my footsteps, good my page,
    Tread thou in them boldly:
    Thou shalt find the winter's rage
    Freeze thy blood less coldly.'

    In his master's steps he trod,
    Where the snow lay dinted;
    Heat was in the very sod
    Which the saint had printed.
    Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
    Wealth or rank possessing,
    Ye who now will bless the poor
    Shall yourselves find blessing.

    Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost

    Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885)

    Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost,
    taught by thee, we covet most
    of thy gifts at Pentecost,
    holy, heavenly love.

    Faith that mountains could remove,
    tongues of earth or heaven above,
    knowledge, all things, empty prove
    without heavenly love.

    Love is kind, and suffers long,
    love is meek, and thinks no wrong,
    love than death itself more strong;
    therefore give us love.

    Though I as a martyr bleed,
    give my goods the poor to feed,
    all is vain, if love I need;
    therefore give me love.

    Prophecy will fade away,
    melting in the light of day;
    love will ever with us stay;
    therefore give us love.

    Faith will vanish into sight,
    hope be emptied in delight.
    love in heaven will shine more bright;
    therefore give us love.

    7Faith and hope and love we see
    joining hand in hand agree;
    but the greatest of the three,
    and the best, is love.

    8From the overshadowing
    of thy gold and silver wing
    shed on us, who to thee sing,
    holy, heavenly love.

    Great Is Thy Faithfulness, O God My Father

    Thomas O Chisholm (1866-1960)

    Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
    there is no shadow of turning with thee;
    thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not,
    as thou hast been thou for ever wilt be.
    Great is thy faithfulness!
    Great is thy faithfulness!
    Morning by morning new mercies I see;
    all I have needed thy hand hath provided -
    great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

    Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest,
    sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
    join with all nature in manifold witness
    to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
    Chorus

    Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
    thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
    strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
    blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
    Chorus

    Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer

    William Williams (1717 – 1791)

    Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
    pilgrim through this barren land;
    I am weak, but thou art mighty;
    hold me with thy powerful hand:
    Bread of heaven,
    feed me now and evermore.

    Open now the crystal fountain
    whence the healing stream doth flow;
    let the fiery cloudy pillar
    lead me all my journey through:
    Strong deliverer,
    be thou still my strength and shield.

    When I tread the verge of Jordan,
    bid my anxious fears subside;
    death of death, and hell’s destruction,
    land me safe on Canaan’s side
    songs and praises
    I will ever give to thee.

    Hail, Queen Of Heaven, The Ocean Star

    Hermann the Lame (1013-1054) tr John Lingard (1771-1851)

    Hail, Queen of heaven, the ocean star;
    guide of the wanderer here below;
    thrown on life's surge, we claim thy care:
    save us from peril and from woe.
    Mother of Christ, star of the sea,
    pray for the wanderer, pray for me.

    O gentle, chaste and spotless maid,
    we sinners make our prayers through thee';
    remind thy Son that he has paid
    the price of our iniquity.
    Virgin most pure, star of the sea,
    pray for the sinner, pray for me.

    Sojourners in this vale of tears,
    to thee, blest advocate, we cry:
    pity our sorrows, calm our fears,
    and soothe with hope and misery.
    Refuge in grief, star of the sea,
    pray for the mourner, pray for me.

    And while to him who reigns above,
    in godhead one, in persons three,
    the source of life, of grace, of love,
    homage we pay on bended knee,
    do thou, bright Queen, star of the sea,
    pray for thy children, pray for me.

    Hail, glorious Saint Patrick

    Sister Agnes

    Hail, glorious Saint Patrick, dear saint of our isle,
    on us thy poor children bestow a sweet smile;
    and now thou art high in the mansions above,
    on Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.
    On Erin's green valleys, on Erin's green valleys,
    on Erin's green valleys look down in thy love.

    Hail, glorious Saint Patrick! thy words were once strong
    against Satan's wiles and an infidel throng;
    not less is thy might where in heaven thou art;
    O, come to our aid, in our battle take part.
    Chorus

    In the war against sin, in the fight for the faith,
    dear saint, may thy children resist unto death;
    may their strength be in meekness, in penance, in prayer,
    Their banner the Cross which they glory to bear.
    Chorus

    Thy people, now exiles on many a shore,
    shall love and revere thee till time be no more;
    and the fire thou hast kindled shall ever burn bright,
    Its warmth undiminished, undying its light.
    Chorus

    Ever bless and defend the sweet land of our birth,
    where the shamrock still blooms as when thou wert on earth,
    and our hearts shall yet burn, wheresoever we roam,
    For God and Saint Patrick, and our native home.
    Chorus

    Hark,! Hark, My Soul! Angelic Songs Are Swelling

    Frederick William Faber (1814-1863)

    Hark,! hark, my soul! angelic songs are swelling
    o'er earth's green fields and ocean's wave-beat shore:
    how sweet the truth those blessèd strains are telling
    of that new life when sin shall be no more!
    Angels of Jesus, angels of light,
    singing to welcome the pilgrims of the night!

    Onward we go, for still we hear them singing,
    'Come, weary souls, for Jesus bids you come,'
    And through the dark, its echoes sweetly ringing,
    the music of the Gospel leads us home.
    Chorus.

    Far, far away, like bells at evening pealing,
    the voice of Jesus sounds o'er land and sea,
    and laden souls by thousands meekly stealing,
    kind Shepherd, turn their weary steps to thee.
    Chorus.

    Rest comes at length: though life be long and dreary,
    the day must dawn, and darksome night be past;
    faith's journey ends in welcome to the weary,
    and heaven, the heart's true home, will come at last.
    Chorus.

    Angels, sing on, your faithful watches keeping,
    sing us sweet fragments of the songs above;
    till morning's joy shall end the night of weeping,
    and life's long shadows break in cloudless love.
    Chorus.

    Hark, My Soul! It Is The Lord

    William Cowper (1731-1800)

    Hark, my soul! It is the Lord;
    'Tis thy Saviour, hear his word;
    Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee:
    'Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me?

    I delivered thee when bound,
    And, when bleeding, healed thy wound;
    Sought thee wandering, set thee right,
    Turned thy darkness into light.

    Can a woman's tender care
    Cease toward the child she bare?
    Yes, she may forgetful be,
    Yet will I remember thee.

    Mine is an unchanging love,
    Higher than the heights above,
    Deeper than the depths beneath,
    Free and faithful, strong as death.

    Thou shalt see my glory soon,
    When the work of grace is done;
    Partner of my throne shalt be;
    Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me?'

    Lord, it is my chief complaint
    That my love is weak and faint;
    Yet I love thee, and adore;
    O for grace to love thee more!

    Hark, The Herald-Angels Sing

    Charles Wesley, (1707-1788), George Whitfield (1714-1770), Martin Madan (1726-1790)

    Hark, the herald-angels sing
    glory to the new-born King,
    peace on earth, and mercy mild,
    God and sinners reconciled.
    Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
    join the triumph of the skies;
    with the angelic host proclaim,
    'Christ is born in Bethlehem.'
    Hark, the herald-angels sing
    glory to the new-born King.

    Christ, by highest heaven adored,
    Christ, the everlasting Lord,
    late in time behold him come,
    offspring of a Virgin's womb.
    Veiled in flesh the Godhead see:
    hail, the incarnate Deity,
    pleased as man with man to dwell,
    Jesus, our Emmanuel.
    Hark, the herald-angels sing
    glory to the new-born King.

    Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace:
    hail, the Sun of Righteousness.
    Light and life to all he brings,
    risen with healing in his wings.
    Mild he lays his glory by,
    born that man no more may die,
    born to raise the sons of earth,
    born to give them second birth.
    Hark, the herald-angels sing
    glory to the new-born King.

    He Who Would Valiant Be

    Percy Dearmer (1867-1936) after John Bunyan (1628-1688)

    He who would valiant be
    'Gainst all disaster,
    Let him in constancy
    Follow the Master.
    There's no discouragement
    Shall make him once relent
    His first avowed intent
    To be a pilgrim.

    Who so beset him round
    With dismal stories,
    Do but themselves confound -
    His strength the more is.
    No foes shall stay his might,
    Though he with giants fight:
    He will make good his right
    To be a pilgrim.

    Since, Lord, thou dost defend
    Us with thy Spirit,
    We know we at the end
    Shall life inherit.
    Then fancies flee away!
    I'll fear not what men say,
    I'll labour night and day
    To be a pilgrim.

With Grace