Redeemed to live for him,
to love his laws that show
how to depart from sin –
immense the debt we owe.
Regenerated, find
our bonds have been cut through,
renewed desires of mind,
enabled good to do.
Now reconciled, with awe
we’re friends with God, agree,
and reverently adore –
from enmity set free.
Tune: 66 66 eg St Cecilia
One day in every seven days,
right from the world’s creation,
a pause from work for rest and praise
– a weekly celebration.*
Then Israel for one week each year
the exodus remembered –
out from enslavement, murder, fear –
the rescue by their Shepherd.**
Each Sunday let your joy resound
remembering redemption
– our Shepherd rescued, and we’ve found
such cause for celebration.***
[*Sabbath **Passover ***Resurrection Day]
Tune: 87 87 (Iambic) eg St Columba, tune of ‘The King of love my Shepherd is’
Present needs can fill the mind:
Jesus says what’s best to find
is himself, and life he’ll give
evermore with him to live.
Life-transforming offer this!
on-call service do not miss!
help in struggles is at hand –
soon we’ll reach the glorious land!
Don’t just ask for daily bread,
him receive, and so be fed
in your soul with what will last
when these present needs are past.
So with thinking realigned,
following in deed and mind
fully his direction wholly
for all else is failing folly.
Tune: 77 77+ eg tune of ‘See amid the winter snow’ or 77 77 eg Nottingham, tune of ‘Take my life, and let it be’
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. … I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry … “ John 6:27, 35
Christ had compassion, not contempt
upon a leper, ill, unkempt,
He touched him – no infection passed,
but for the leper, joy at last:
from Jesus cleansing flowed to cure
the symptoms he’d had to endure.
A man was paralysed, his friends
who heard that Jesus heals and mends
all disabilities and pain,
approached the house – it seemed in vain
– they couldn’t pass the crowd, but then
down through the roof they lowered him.
First, Jesus pardoned him – some sneered,
‘That’s blasphemy!’, their thinking jeered
– he then healed this paralysis
(– one day he’ll right all that’s amiss):
he is divine, as thus he showed,
grace, mercy is by him bestowed.
Tune: 88 88 88 eg Melita (tune of ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’)
(based on Luke 5:12-26)
On Psalm 113
We praise the God transcendent
who dwells beyond, so high
above the stars, resplendent,
but notices a sigh.
In every place his greatness
with awe and praise proclaim;
tell always that his goodness,
delights to save from shame.
He cares for those lost, helpless,
who feel their desperate need,
hungry for grace, and fruitless,
those longing to be freed.
This could not be invented
– One infinitely great
who’s willing and committed
to be compassionate.
He must be disappointed
at folly, mess and sin,
and yet Christ was anointed
redemption full to bring.
We serve our saving Saviour,
we worship him who served,
we’ll soon be where for ever
contentment full’s reserved.
Tune: 76 76 D eg Morning Light (tune of ‘Stand up, Stand up for Jesus’)
With signs of power, of wind and flame,
the promised Holy Spirit came.
Jesus had promised when he left
he would not leave them weak, bereft.
His Spirit would empower, so they
could tell of pardon, teach the Way
of reconciliation, peace
– the cross of Christ had brought release.
By miracle, upon that day
from all the world, they heard them say
in all their languages, that now
the whole wide world God’s grace could know.
Tune: LM eg Church Triumphant, tune of ‘The Lord is King’
This all occurred –
as man on earth
God brought true Word
and died our death
– the fine he paid
that we had earned
on him was laid.
He then returned
and showed the debt
had been wiped clean
– come, bow, and let
him rule, redeem.
88 88 88 eg’On Christmas night all Christians sing’
Jesus was beaten, crucified –
the soldiers checked he’d really died
with spear thrust deep into his side:
some try to say he this survived,
and in the tomb awoke, unwound,
th’anointed cloths removed that bound,
escaped the guard, removed the rock,
and somehow staggered, scheming, back?!
Such thoughts do not make any sense,
the implications are immense:
It was the powerful living Lord
who rose with energising Word.
Some say they all mistook the tomb,
or someone moved, by means unknown
the corpse – removed and never found.
His followers, friends were beaten, bound
for saying he’s alive to save
– for lies would they have been so brave?
They were not charged with body-theft;
no longer mourning, sad, bereft.
Men, women changed by joyful news
they can’t deny, though crowds abuse.
The evidence makes legal sense,
the implications are immense.
Recorded clear accounts we have
of, after days within the grave
some met him live upon the third –
for forty days he then appeared,
and often unexpectedly,
once with five hundred there to see,
and sent them out this to proclaim
– ‘repent, Christ saves, and soon will reign’.
Men, women changed by joyful news
they can’t deny, though crowds abuse.
The evidence makes legal sense,
the implications are immense.
Tune: DLM+ ‘Ye banks and braes’, but repeat the last 4 lines of the tune
… the mouth speaks*
Life flows from the heart,
guiding lips and eyes –
do they help you do things
that are good and wise?
Purify your heart,
guard it well each day,
let it cleanse your lips, be
kind in what you say.
Take it to the fount,
cleansed by water, blood.
God can wash it clean, and
give delight in good.
*Mathew 12:34
Proverbs 4:20-27
Tune: This is 55. 55. but can be sung to Gott ein Vater by F Silcher arr W Tschirsch which is 55 65
Transcendent God took human form
in order to make known, inform,
and live the life we could not live,
and die our death,
his body on a cross impaled,
his life to give
as ransom for the many failed,
then he was raised –
life-giving Conqueror:
Come, quench your thirst,
drink more, and more …
