Attempting to summarise scripture teaching in brief verse
Unfounded hope,
a rotted rope,
to hold in stormy sea,
a cobweb frail
to no avail –
a hope as weak as me.
Oh, why deny
a God on high,
the God his Son disclosed?
a God who’ll teach,
and all can reach,
before whom all’s exposed.
His power clothed earth,
and conquered death –
only the meek reach out
who know their need
to trust and plead:
of hope secure they shout!
Tune: CM eg ‘Amazing Grace’
For fellowship no longer fit –
see how they tried to hide,
but in that perfect place they now
could not, must not abide.
God spoke – his words were stern, but showed
that he would one day bring
a way of mercy so they could
approach the holy King.
God spoke when Cain, in jealousy
his brother Abel killed;
and when with violent godlessness
and evil, earth was filled,
God spoke to Noah of his grief –
he’d send a world-wide flood,
but told him how to build a vast
safe vessel out of wood.
God spoke to Abram, so that he
might pass the teaching on
to his descendants, who’d expect,
await the Christ to come.
God spoke through prophets to rebuke
unkindness, pride and greed,
and taught them to turn back, and pray
for mercy, grace in need.
God spoke how he would come one day,
to teach, redeem and save,
foretold Messiah’s birth and death,
and then the empty grave.
And so God spoke by his own Son,
the Priest, the living Word
– himself revealing: will his words
be scorned, repressed, ignored?
DCM eg Noel tune of ‘It came upon a midnight clear’
‘In the past God spoke … at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son …” Hebrews 1:1,2
‘Whoever is wise let him attend to these things; … consider the steadfast love of the Lord’ Psalm 107:43 as reminded in the rest of that Psalm
Remember what God’s love can do,
his steadfast love can shatter through
the binding dark, enslaving sin,
and life and love and freedom bring.
Think again! think again!
of all God’s love to sinful men!
Remember what his love can do,
give thanks for steadfast love to you:
Think and praise! think and praise!
for all his strong and loving ways!
Some lonely, restless, and athirst,
drift in unsettled wilderness,
but when they cry in faith for help,
he rescues out of such distress.
If you rebel against God’s words,
despising truth and laws revealed,
his mercy slighted, then you find
your growing plight is unrelieved;
but in this desperate estate,
turn, trust, and in your anguish cry –
he’ll rescue out of darkness, gloom,
and break your chains, rich grace supply.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures for ever … they cried to their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”
Psalm 107:verse 6
tune: Happy Day LM +refrain
Where is the kingdom of the Lord?
the victory divine?
accomplishing by powerful Word,
immutable design?
Mysterious mercy: mutineers
transformed invisibly –
a multitude of volunteers
now serve Christ willingly.
Astonishing and splendid grace
that gives the blind true sight
to gladly turn and leave the ranks
of hostile, hopeless night.
The Son is promised Priest and King,
and perfect Sacrifice.
He’s at Jehovah’s side to bring
his help for my distress.
Enthroned in heaven, his rule extends
amidst his enemies –
he saves, but when forbearance ends,
he’ll crush his foes with ease.
Magnificent display of power,
his final Day of war;
Christ will not faint in conquest’s hour,
– we’ll praise him evermore
The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.
… Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, … (Psalm 110:1,3)
Tune: DCM eg tunes of ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ – Forest Green (English Traditional Melody arr by Ralph Vaughan Williams ) or Christmas Carol by H W Davies
A leap of joy from a foetal boy,
his mother stirred to prophetic word
for the mother of Jesus had come,
(the Son of God enclosed in her womb).
Mary sang of God’s praise
and redeeming ways,
of her poor position,
and sinful condition,
of blessed experience,
God’s touch and sustenance
as taught in his Word,
and by Gabriel revealed;
those who approach him in reverent fear
find his rescuing mercy is near
but those who ignore, no regard for his name
are scattered, judged, empty, and end up in shame;
sang of covenant mercy to Abraham’s seed,
Messiah is coming to meet all our need.
“… and blessed is the child you will bear” … “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble estate of his servant … His mercy extends to those who fear him … he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. … remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants for ever, even as he said to our fathers. “ Luke 1:39-56
In the past God spoke to our fore-fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heri of all things, and through whom he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1,2
There is a mighty Sovereign God
transcendent, yet concerned
for men and women, boys and girls,
revealing all we’ve learned
by teaching through the prophets down
the years to Is-ra-el,
and finally he sent his Son
– Jesus – good news, No-el.
DCM eg ‘Noël’, tune of ‘He came upon a midnight clear’
Wholehearted praise, through all my days;
reflective gaze, on all your ways:
creation beautiful I see,
and purchased full salvation free.
Your grace has taught of freedom bought –
your peace we sought, by mercy caught;
taste help each day, delight to stay,
to fellowship, and walk your way.
Rejoice, content for you are near,
from condemnation cleansed and clear,
pardoned, no judgement need to fear,
upheld, preserved to persevere.
From hearts made wise, our songs arise,
and praises swell, of him to tell
who is the universe’s King,
kind Sovereign over everything.
‘I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing to your name, O Most High.’ Psalm 9:1,2
Tune: LM eg Morning Hymn by F H Barhelemon (tune of ‘Awake, my soul, and with the sun’ )
or Duke Street by J Hatton (tune of ‘Fight the good fight’)
So is it to yourself you pray,
or words up to the ceiling say?
do you just bow towards the ground,
enacting for your friends around?
True prayer must be to Someone who
you wish to speak, give honour to,
and ask for that which he alone
can give you, and you long to own.
With sense of poverty and need
and real desire to ask and plead
adoption by the heavenly King,
with childlike love and faith in him,
look up to pray, expectantly
and trust him, not reluctantly;
as constant as you breathe, then pray,
turn problems into payer today.
Our Father’s honour, for his praise
more people following his ways,
provisions to live life for him
and help to keep away from sin.
And ask forgiveness, as you will
forgive those who have done you ill;
eternal powerful King, always
be given glory, awesome praise.
(cf the Lord’s Prayer)
Tune: LM eg Old Hundredth (All people that on earth do dwell)
or Samson (Handel) or Church Triumphant (James Elliott) (tuen of ‘I know that my Redeemer lives)
By power almighty my son was conceived
before I was married – God’s word I believed.
He also told Joseph this all was his will,
for this was the way he’d salvation fulfil.
Then when he was born, and in manger bed laid,
some shepherds arrived who amazing things said.
So much I’d been told of the role of my son
– his future, I pondered on what was to come.
His ministry, labour would start in due time,
displaying, revealing his nature divine.
Soon after beginning to teach and prepare,
we saw, at a wedding, a glimpse of his power.
His brothers (all younger) at first were concerned,
could not understand him, but later discerned
his saving commission as Lamb and as Lord,
and my heart was bleeding as his life was outpoured.
He saw from the cross, and asked John to be son
to comfort me, caring as he would have done.
You know that from death he returned by God’s power;
soon leaving for heaven, we waited his hour:
We gathered to pray, for his Spirit would come,
on all who now realised my babe was God’s Son,
our Saviour who’d purchased salvation, kind Lord:
this news must be spread out around all the world.
Tune: 11 11 11 11 eg St Denio, tune of ‘Immortal, Invisible, God only wise’)
(cf for instance, Luke 1:32-35; 2:19,20, 33-35; John 2:1-11; 19:26,27; Acts 1:14)
A birth by miracle – a son,
God forms within the mother
before her marriage union, one
who’s human and a Saviour.
See! See! the Son has come,
the only perfect Saving One.
Sing! Sing! the joy he’ll bring
to all who find our Jesus.
For God exists, and truly can
do what would seem impossible,
and no denial by mere man
can prove it is incredible.
Exclusive claim, unique, not my
opinion or invented tale.
Will you ignore it, or rely?
– his help will never ever fail.
It’s indescribable, we’re speechless,
for why such truth and kindness?
A real solution (for the helpless),
for death, and guilt, and sadness!
87 87 if with refrain Greensleves
rhiannonshymns.co.uk 
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