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I Danced In The Morning When The World Was Begun

Sydney Carter (1915 – 2004)

I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
and I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth;
at Bethlehem I had my birth:
Dance then wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he,
and I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.

I danced for the scribe and the pharisee,
but they would not dance and they wouldn’t follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
they came with me and the dance went on:
Chorus

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame:
the holy people said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high,
and they left me there on a cross to die:
Chorus

I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black;
it’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.
They buried my body and they thought I’d gone;
but I am the dance and I still go on:
Chorus

They cut me down and I leapt up high;
I am the life that’ll never, never die;
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me:
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he:
Chorus

I do not know what lies ahead

Alfred B Smith (born 1916) and Eugene Clarke

I do not know what lies ahead,
the way I cannot see;
yet One stands near to be my guide,
He'll show the way to me:
I know who holds the future,
and He'll guide me with His hand;
with God things don't just happen,
everything by Him is planned.
So as I face tomorrow,
with its problems large and small,
I'll trust the God of miracles,
give to Him my all.

I do not know how many days
of life are mine to spend;
but One who knows and cares for me
will keep me to the end:
Chorus

I do not know the course ahead,
what joys and griefs are there;
but One is near who fully knows,
I'll trust His loving care:
Chorus

I Hear Thy Welcome Voice

Lewis Hartsough (1828-1919)

I hear thy welcome voice
That calls me, Lord, to thee,
For cleansing in thy precious blood
That flowed on calvary.
I am coming, Lord,
Coming now to thee:
Wash me, cleanse me, by the blood
That flowed on calvary.

Though coming weak and vile,
Thou dost my strength assure;
Thou dost my vileness fully cleanse,
Till spotless all and pure.
Chorus

Tis Jesus calls me on
To perfect faith and love,
To perfect hope, and peace, and trust,
For earth and heaven above.
Chorus

Tis Jesus who confirms
The blessèd work within,
By adding grace to welcomed grace,
Where reigned the power of sin.
Chorus

And he the witness gives
To loyal hearts and free,
That every promise is fulfilled,
If faith but brings the plea
Chorus

All hail, atoning blood!
All hail, redeeming grace!
All hail, the gift of Christ our Lord,
Our strength and righteousness!
Chorus

I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say

Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

I heard the voice of Jesus say:
'Come unto me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon my breast.'
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary and worn and sad,
I found in him a resting-place,
And he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say:
'Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink and live.'
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say:
'I am this dark world's Light;
Look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
And all thy day be bright.'
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In him my star, my sun;
And in that light of life I'll walk,
Till travelling days are done.

I lift my eyes to the quiet hills

Timothy Dudley-Smith (b.1926) from Psalm 121

I lift my eyes
to the quiet hills
in the press of a busy day;
as green hills stand
in a dusty land
so God is my strength and stay.

I lift my eyes
to the quiet hills
to a calm that is mine to share;
secure and still
in the Father's will
and kept by the Father's care.

I lift my eyes
to the quiet hills
with a prayer as I turn to sleep;
by day, by night,
through the dark and light
my Shepherd will guard his sheep.

I lift my eyes
to the quiet hills
and my heart to the Father's throne;
in all my ways
to the end of days
the Lord will preserve his own.

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

I know that my Redeemer lives,
And ever prays for me;
A token of his love he gives,
A pledge of liberty.

I find him lifting up my head,
He brings salvation near,
His presence makes me free indeed,
And he will soon appear.

He wills that I should holy be;
What can withstand his will?
The counsel of his grace in me
He surely shall fulfil.

Jesus, I hang upon thy word;
I steadfastly believe
Thou wilt return and claim me, Lord,
And to thyself receive.

Thy love I soon expect to find
In all its depth and height,
To comprehend the eternal mind,
And grasp the Infinite.

When God is mine, and I am his,
Of paradise possessed,
I taste unutterable bliss
And everlasting rest.

I met the good Shepherd

Edward Caswall (1814-1878)

I met the good shepherd
But now on the plain,
As homeward he carried
His lost one again.
I marvelled how gently
His burden he bore;
And, as he passed by me,
I knelt to adore.

O shepherd, good shepherd,
Thy wounds they are deep;
The wolves have sore hurt thee,
In saving thy sheep;
Thy raiment all over
With crimson is dyed;
And what is the rent
They have made in thy side?

Ah me! How the thorns
Have entangled thy hair,
And cruelly riven
That forehead so fair;
How feebly thou drawest
Thy faltering breath;
And lo, on thy face
Is the shadow of death.

O shepherd, good shepherd!
And is it for me
This grievous affliction
Has fallen on thee?
Ah, then let me strive,
For the love thou hast borne,
To give thee no longer
Occasion to mourn!

I Need Thee Every Hour

Annie Sherwood Hawks (1835-1918)

I need Thee every hour,
most gracious Lord:
no tender voice like Thine
can peace afford.
I need Thee, O I need Thee!
every hour I need Thee;
O bless me now, my Saviour!
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour,
stay Thou near by;
temptations lose their power
when Thou art nigh.
Chorus

I need Thee every hour,
in joy or pain;
come quickly and abide,
or life is vain.
Chorus

I need Thee every hour,
teach me Thy will;
and Thy rich promises
in me fulfil.
Chorus

I need thee every hour,
most Holy One;
O make me Thine indeed.
Thou blessed Son!

I, the Lord of sea and sky

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright,
Who will bear my light to them?
Who shall I send?
Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard your calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me,
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?
Refrain

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and the lame.
I will set the feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Refrain

I Think, When I Read That Sweet Story Of Old,

Jemima Luke (1813-1906)

I think, when I read that sweet story of old,
When Jesus was here among men,
How He called little children as lambs to His fold,
I should like to have been with them then;
I wish that His hands had been placed on my head,
That His arms had been thrown around me,
And that I might have seen His kind look when He said:
Let the little ones come unto Me!

Yet still to His footstool in prayer I may go,
And ask for a share in His love;
And if I now earnestly seek Him below,
I shall see Him and hear Him above,
In that beautiful place He is gone to prepare
For all who are washed and forgiven;
And many dear children are gathering there,
For of such is the kingdom of heaven.

But thousands and thousands who wander and fall
Never heard of that heavenly home;
I should like them to know there is room for them all,
And that Jesus has bid them to come.
I long for the joy of that glorious time,
The sweetest and brightest and best,
When the dear little children of every clime
Shall crowd to His arms and be blessed.

I To The Hills Will Lift Mine Eyes

Francis Rous (1579-1659), William Barton (c.1597-1678), Scottish Psalter (1650)

I to the hills will lift mine eyes:
from whence doth come mine aid?
My safety cometh from the Lord,
who heaven and earth hath made.

Thy foot he'll not let slide, nor will
he slumber that thee keeps.
Behold, he that keeps Israel,
he slumbers not, nor sleeps.

The Lord thee keeps; the Lord thy shade
on thy right hand doth stay;
the moon by night thee shall not smite
nor yet the sun by day.

The Lord shall keep thy soul; he shall
preserve thee from all ill;
henceforth thy going out and in
God keep for ever will.

I Vow To Thee, My Country

Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice (1859 – 1918)

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love:
The love that asks no questions, the love that stands the test,
that lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
the love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
the love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago,
most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
we may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
and soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
and her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.

I Watch The Sunrise

John Glynn (b. 1948)

I watch the sunrise lighting the sky,
casting its shadows near.
And on this morning, bright though it be,
I feel those shadows near me.
But you are always close to me,
following all my ways.
May I be always close to you,
following all your ways, Lord.

I watch the sunlight shine through the clouds,
warming the earth below.
And at the mid-day, life seems to say:
'I feel your brightness near me.'
For you are always close to me,
following all my ways.
May I be always close to you,
following all your ways, Lord.

I watch the sunset fading away,
lighting the clouds with sleep.
And as the evening closes its eyes,
I feel your presence near me.
For you are always close to me,
following all my ways.
May I be always close to you,
following all your ways, Lord.

I watch the moonlight guarding the night,
waiting till morning comes.
The air is silent, earth is at rest-
only your peace is near me.
Yes, you are always close to me,
following all my ways.
May I be always close to you,
following all your ways, Lord.

I Will Be With You Wherever You Go

Gerard Markland (born 1953)

I will be with you wherever you go.
Go now throughout the world!
I will be with you in all that you say.
Go now and spread my word!

Come, walk with me on stormy waters.
Why fear? Reach out, and I'll be there.
Chorus

And you, my friend, will you now leave me,
or do you know me as your Lord?
Chorus

Your life will be transformed with power
by living truly in my name.
Chorus

And if you say: 'Yes, Lord, I love you,'
then feed my lambs and feed my sheep.
Chorus

I Will Sing The Wondrous Story

Francis H Rowley (1854-1952)

I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me,
How he left the realms of glory
For the cross on Calvary:
Yes, I'll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ who died for me,
Sing it with his saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.

I was lost; but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
Raised me up, and gently led me
Back into the narrow way:
Refrain

Faint was I, and fears possessed me,
Bruised was I from many a fall;
Hope was gone, and shame distressed me;
But his love has pardoned all:
Refrain

Days of darkness still come o'er me;
Sorrow's paths I often tread;
But the Saviour still is with me,
By his hand I'm safely led:
Refrain

He will keep me till the river
Rolls its waters at my feet;
Then he'll bear me safely over,
Where the loved ones I shall meet:
Refrain

Here I Am Lord, Is It I Lord

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright,
Who will bear my light to them?
Who shall I send?
Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard your calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me,
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?
Refrain

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and the lame.
I will set the feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?
Refrain

I’ll Be with You til the End of the World

I’ll be with you til the end of the world,
I’ll be near you, I will love you
If you need me, only call me
And I’ll be there at your side
I’ll bring peace, peace, peace,
Yes I’ll bring peace, peace, peace
I’ll bring you peace, peace, peace
Peace unto you

I will love you til the end of your days,
I’ll be near you, I’ll watch o’er you
And when sorrows overwhelm you,
Only call me – I’ll be there
And I’ll bring peace, peace, peace
Yes, I’ll bring peace, peace, peace
I’ll bring you peace, peace, peace
Peace unto you

And when death comes at the end of the world
I’ll be near you, you’ll be near me
And you’ll see me, and you’ll touch me,
And you’ll be here at my side
And there’ll be peace, peace, peace
And there’ll be peace, peace, peace
Yes there’ll be peace, peace, peace
Peace unto you

I’ve Found A Friend

I’ve found a friend, O such a friend! He loved me ere I knew Him;He drew me with the cords of love, and thus He bound me to Him;And round my heart still closely twine those ties which naught can sever;For I am His, and He is mine, forever and forever.

I’ve found a friend, O such a friend! He bled, He died to save me; And not alone the gift of life, but His own Self He gave me!Naught that I have mine own I call, I’ll hold it for the Giver, My heart, my strength, my life, my all are His, and His forever.

I’ve found a friend, O such a friend! All pow’r to Him is given, To guard me on my onward course, and bring me safe to heaven. The eternal glories gleam afar, to nerve my faint endeavour; So now to watch, to work, to war, and then to rest forever.

I’ve found a friend, O such a friend! So kind and true and tender, So wise a Counsellor and Guide, so mighty a Defender! From Him who loves me now so well what power my soul can sever? Shall life or death, shall earth or hell? No! I am His forever.

I'll Praise My Maker

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) based on Psalm 146

I'll praise my Maker while I've breath,
and when my voice is lost in death,
praise shall employ my nobler powers;
my days of praise shall ne'er be past,
while life, and thought, and being last,
or immortality endures.

Happy the man whose hopes rely
on Israel's God! He made the sky,
and earth, and seas, with all their train:
His truth for ever stands secure;
he saves the oppressed, he feeds the poor,
and none shall find his promise vain.

The Lord gives eyesight to the blind;
the Lord supports the fainting mind;
he sends the labouring conscience peace;
he helps the stranger in distress,
the widow and the fatherless,
and grants the prisoner sweet release.

I'll praise him while he lends me breath,
and when my voice is lost in death,
praise shall employ my nobler powers;
my days of praise shall ne'er be past,
while life, and thought, and being last,
or immortality endures.

I've Reached The Land Of Corn And Wine

I’ve reached the land of corn and wine,
And all its riches freely mine;
Here shines undimmed one blissful day,
For all my night has passed away.
O Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land,
As on thy highest mount I stand,
I look away across the sea,
Where mansions are prepared for me,
And view the shining glory shore,
My heav’n, my home for evermore!

My Saviour comes and walks with me,
And sweet communion here have we;
He gently leads me by his hand,
For this is Heaven’s borderland.
Chorus.

A sweet perfume upon the breeze,
Is borne from ever vernal trees;
And flow’rs that never fading grow
Where streams of life forever flow.
Chorus.

The zephyrs seem to float to me,
Sweet sounds of Heaven’s melody;
As angels with the white-robed throng
Join in the sweet redemption song.
Chorus.

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