ZionFireFriends - Lenten Hymn Meditations

Ride on to die

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 12:58:00 +0000

Ride on to die, Michael Card

Poignant and hauntingly beautiful Palm Sunday meditation.

My Jesus, I love thee

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:41:00 +0000

My Jesus I love thee, was penned by a 16 year old William Featherson of Montreal, Canada in the mid 1800's. He had come to Christ at an early age, but he obviously had a deep walk with the Lord to be able to write this love poem to the Savior. He tragically died at the age of 27. The composer of the music, Adoniram Judson Gordon, a baptist pastor, also loved Christ and wrote the music to go along with Featherson's poem to be sung at his funeral. Both men were everyday people who led quiet lives, but their offerings expressing their deep love of Christ live on to give honor to our Lord's saving grace.

https://youtu.be/7O8ba0-A-Ps

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,

And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree.

I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I'll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,

And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;

And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,

I'll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;

I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:31:00 +0000

This is a hymn usually associated with Advent and Christmas season, but it carries rich meaning in Lent as well. Sometimes the use of a seeming "out of season" hymn can jar our thinking and bring us to deeper appreciation of the the musical intent.

The video is a meditation set to an simple arrangement of this haunting melody using movie passion scenes and bits of artwork and scripture. The video production is not high quality, but I think you can appreciate the intent of the editing.

To listen to this hymn melody: http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh626.sht

1.Let all mortal flesh keep silence,

and with fear and trembling stand;

ponder nothing earthly-minded,

for with blessing in his hand,

Christ our God to earth descendeth,

our full homage to demand.

2.King of kings, yet born of Mary,

as of old on earth he stood,

Lord of lords, in human vesture,

in the body and the blood;

he will give to all the faithful

his own self for heavenly food.

3.Rank on rank the host of heaven

spreads its vanguard on the way,

as the Light of light descendeth

from the realms of endless day,

that the powers of hell may vanish

as the darkness clears away.

4.At his feet the six-winged seraph,

cherubim, with sleepless eye,

veil their faces to the presence,

as with ceaseless voice they cry:

Alleluia, Alleluia,

Alleluia, Lord Most High!

Lamb of God, we Worship You

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:45:00 +0000

A sacramental hymn glorifying the Christ in the Communion. Beautiful and haunting, we have choreographed a moving worship dance to this piece that expresses the awe and wonder of the mystery of the Eucharist.

From Intimate Worship, Integrity Music, by Jim Cowan

King of Kings, Lord of Lords

Faithful and true,

Lamb of God, we worship You

King of Kings, Lord of Lords

Faithful and true,

Lamb of God we worship You

If blood of lambs once poured on the altar

Brought freedom from sin

How much more this offering of Christ our Lord

Shall cleanse our hearts again.

If we but touch the hem of His garment

We shall be healed

How much more consuming our Risen Lord

has power to restore

Praise the Bread of Life, Emmanuel

God with us, the One Who saves

Praise the Cup of Life that glorious stream

That washes our sins away.

That washes our sins away

King of Kings, Lord of Lords

Faithful and true,

Lamb of God, we worship You

King of Kings, Lord of Lords

Faithful and true,

Lamb of God we worship You

At the cry of the first bird

Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:16:00 +0000

"At The Cry of the First Bird" is an ancient Irish poem, which has been set to music in a choral arrangement by Gilbert W. Martin. The text for the song derives from an ancient collection of Irish homilies known as The Speckled Book (Leabhar Breac). They were written partly in Latin and partly in Irish and constitute the most remarkable Irish ecclesiastical record of the period. An unknown Christian scribe wrote the vivid words of this passion scene sometime in the 12th century. The "cry of the first bird" is a musical motif throughout the brief composition.I learned the Samuel Barber version as a vocal student in college...the melody and words have never ceased to haunt me.

Sunrise

Dawning of a New Day

At the cry of the first bird,

They began to crucify thee,

0 cheek like a swan.

It was not right ever to cease lamenting;

It was like parting of day from night.

Ah, though sore the suffering put upon the body of Mary's Son,

Sorer to him was the grief that was upon her for his sake.

At the cry of the first bird,

They began to crucify thee,

0 cheek like a swan.

J.D. Weaver Wrote:Analyzing poetry can be a risky exercise. A poet tries to transmit feelings and images rather than specific details. The anthem speaks to me so strongly that I feel compelled to share some of the feelings and images evoked by this moving piece of music.

I recall an occasion when my family and I were camping in southeastern Pennsylvania. I got up before daybreak to go out in a nearby field to watch the sunrise. As I looked down the valley to the East, I spotted a lone hawk winging its way toward me. It flew straight as an arrow, while periodically giving out a shrill cry as it signaled the dawn. Within a few minutes it disappeared into the West, and the sun broke over the mountain to the East. So Jesus spent but a short time on earth, signaling the dawning of the new Kingdom. He gave a loud cry and was gone; the victim of a cruel death.

l recall the feeling of sadness in my heart as the hawk disappeared from view. It is right that we should lament the passing of a majestic moment. In the same way we must grieve the suffering of Mary's Son. But as the poem says, he suffered more for Mary's grief and that of the Church, than he did from his own physical pain.

At the moment of his death his thoughts were on the plight of his own. John records that from the cross Jesus asked the disciple whom he loved to care for his mother. Mary is symbolic of the Church in this passage. He turned the care of the church over to his disciples.

As the hawk disappeared, the sun broke forth in all its glory. A new day had begun. At the moment of Jesus' death the Kingdom was dawning. Easter came. Like the parting of day from night, the new Kingdom replaced the old regime. But before the day could dawn, it was necessary that death have its due.

At the cry of the first bird,

They began to crucify thee,

0 cheek like a swan.

Jesus' life's blood had been drained from his very being. His cheek, which he had turned again and again to his tormentors, was now white like a swan. According to an ancient legend, just before a swan dies, it sings its most beautiful song. This is quite a miracle, since a swan has no song at all. Jesus gave out a loud cry and died. In that cry he took upon himself the suffering of all mankind. This is the song of our redemption; the most beautiful song of all; the song of Moses and the Lamb.

The music that Martin wrote for this anthem also deserves some comment. Written in a minor key, as befits a lament, the music evokes strong feelings of pain and sadness. The most Striking feature of the music is a pulsating bass pedal, which simulates the human heart beat. If you listen closely near the end, the heart skips a beat, then another, then two beats, and two more. It is finished.

http://www.jdweaver.com/essays/crybird.htm Copyright Jay D Weaver - January 17, 2002, excerpted

Unfortunately, I could not locate an audio for the Gilbert Marting version, but I can share with you this YouTube video of a dancer working out a choregraphy to a version of Barber's art song.

https://youtu.be/9NBTNB-0gZs

The Crucifixion" Hermit Songs, Samuel Barber

At the cry of the first bird,

They began to crucify thee, 0 swan.

Never shall lament cease because of that;

It was like parting of day from night.

Ah, sore was the suffering born by the body of Mary's Son,

But sorer still to him was the grief that for his sake

Came upon his mother.

lackJaPanther 1995 choreography session

I need Thee every hour

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 01:26:00 +0000

Annie Sherwood Hawks gives this history to the poem she wrote, "I Need Thee Every Hour."

I remember well the morning . . . when in the midst of the daily cares of my home . . . I was so filled with the sense of nearness to the Master that, wondering how one could live without Him either in joy or pain, into my mind, the thought at once taking full possession of me . . . For myself the hymn was prophetic rather than expressive of my own experience at the time it was written, and I do not understand why it so touched the great throbbing heart of humanity.

She gave the simple poem to her pastor Dr. Robert Lowry. As he read and re-read it he realized that Anne had produced her finest work of poetry. He sat at his organ and composed the tune and then added a chorus to complete the work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou near by;

Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour, teach me Thy will;

And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, Most Holy One;

O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son!

refrain:

I need Thee, O I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

O bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee!

I cannot tell

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:51:00 +0000

Take a moment to ponder the amazing thought that the King of the Universe, heir and creator of all that is, humbled himself to the lowest common denominator of human life to be born into this world and give his life for us.

Words: William Y. Fuller, 1929.
Music: Londonderry, traditional Irish melody

A beautiful instrumental arrangement with video meditation:

I cannot tell why He whom angels worship

Should set His love upon the sons of men

Or why, as shepherd, He should seek the wanderers

To bring them back, they know not how or when

But this I know, that He was born of Mary

When Bethlehem's manger was His only home

And that He lived at Nazareth and laboured

And so the Saviour, Saviour of the world is come.

I cannot tell how silently He suffered

As with His peace He graced this place

of tears

Or how His heart upon the cross was broken

The crown of pain to three and thirty years

But this I know, He heals the broken-hearted

And stays our sin and calms our lurking fear

And lifts the burden from the heavy laden

For yet the Saviour, Saviour of the worldis here.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship

When at His bidding every storm is stilled

Or who can say how great the jubilation

When all the hearts of men with love are filled

But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture

And myriad, myriad human voices sing

And earth to heaven, and heaven to earth will answer

At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world is King!

Lenten Song

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:34:00 +0000

LENTEN SONG :

(to the tune of My Favorite Things)

Sackcloth and ashes, and days without eating,

Mortification and wailing and weeping,

A hair shirt that scratches, a nettle that stings,

These are a few of my favorite things.

Penitence, flagellants, memento mori,

Spending nights sleeping on rocks in a quarry,

The sound of a cloak'd solemn cantor who sings,

These are still more of my favorite things.

Tossing and turning and yearning I'm spurning,

Passions aflame like an ember-day burning,

Corpus and carnis and wild drunken flings,

Forsaken are they for my favorite things!

When it's Christmas,

When the tree's lit,

When the cards are sent,

I simply remember my favorite things,

And then I can't wa-a-a-a-it till Lent!

Ah, Holy Jesus

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:21:00 +0000

Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended

Text: Johann Heermann, 1585-1647; trans. by Robert S. Bridges, 1844-1930

Music: Johann Cruger, 1598-1662

Tune: HERZLIEBSTER JESU

Johann Heerman took his inspiration for "Ah, Holy Jesus" from a Latin text attributed to either Augustine (354-430) or Jean de Fecamp (c.1000-1079). The poetry was originally published in a fifteenth-century devotional book entitled Meditationes sanctorum patrum. Heerman's hymn version first appeared in his Devoti Musica Cordis, ca. 1630.

Heerman wrote during the Thirty Years War, a time when many hymn writers became introspective. Writing during this time of uncertainty and trouble, Heerman's hymn emerged from a backdrop of his own personal suffering. In the lyrics, Heerman describes the afflictions of Jesus, and admits his own part in Jesus' death.

An exquiste choral arrangement by Timothy Shaw

Ah, holy Jesus, how hast Thou offended,

That man to judge Thee hath in hate pretended?

By foes derided, by Thine own rejected,

O most afflicted.

Who was the guilty- Who brought this upon Thee?

Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee.

'Twas I, Lord, Jesus, I it was denied Thee!

I crucified Thee.

For me, kind Jesus, was Thine incarnation,

Thy mortal sorrow, and Thy life's oblation;

Thy death of anguish and Thy bitter passion,

For my salvation.

Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;

The slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered;

For our atonement, while he nothing heedeth,

God intercedeth.

Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay Thee,

I do adore Thee, and will ever pray Thee,

Think on Thy pity and Thy love unswerving,

Not my deserving.[/i]

The world is filled with examples of finger pointing and blaming. When trouble hits close to home, we sometimes try the same tactic. Whether it's a strained relationship, a mistake at work, or a church conflict, we'll often try to blame others for the problem.

When it comes to Jesus' death, however, our blame games fall apart. As the hymn, "Ah, Holy Jesus" so poignantly points out, our sin was to blame for causing Jesus death. In a heartfelt confession to Jesus, the hymn writer admits, "Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee."

Innocent and godly in every way, Jesus didn't deserve the brutal torture of crucifixion. Yet he suffered that horrible death anyway, because there was no other way to save us from our sin. Standing before the cross, we have no one else to blame: It was our sin that nailed the spikes into his hands.

How do we respond to that kind of love? How can we repay Jesus for taking our blame? As the hymn writer puts it: "I cannot pay Thee." And in the last verse, we're led to the only fitting response we can give-to adore Jesus and reflect on his sacrifice.

O Come and Mourn with Me Awhile

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 23:11:00 +0000

O Come and Mourn with Me Awhile

Holy Week calls us to watch as the Lord of Life walks obediently into the greedy arms of death. Each year we identify again with those who betray Jesus, those who wash their hands of the whole affair, and those who observe in fear from a distance. Hopefully, we also identify more and more each year with Christ's willing offering of his life. The relentless phrase Jesus, our Lord, is crucified is amplified with personal reflections on the crucifixion: A broken heart, a fount of tears, Ask, and they will not be denied; a broken heart love's cradle is. May Jesus' crucifixion break our hearts again so that love may be born in us anew.

LISTEN: http://www.chantcd.com/lyrics/o_come_and_mourn.mid

O come and mourn with me awhile;

O come now to the Saviour's side;

O come, together let us mourn;

Jesus, our Love, is crucified.

Have we no tears to shed for Him,

While soldiers scoff and foes deride?

Ah! look how patiently He hangs;

Jesus, our Love, is crucified.

Seven times he spake, seven words of love;

And all three hours His silence cried

For mercy on the souls of all;

Jesus, our Love, is crucified.

A broken heart, a fount of tears,

ask, and they will not be denied;

a broken heart love's cradle is:

Jesus, our Love, is crucified.

O love of God! O sin of man!

In this dread act your strength is tried;

and victory remains with love;

Jesus, our Love, is crucified.

Jesus, Priceless Treasure

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 08:16:00 +0000

Another one of my favorite hymns that you don't see too often anymore is this song, "Jesus, Priceless Treasure" by Johann Franck to a traditional German melody. Get a good vocal quartet singing this accapello and be ready to be blessed!

"Jesus, priceless treasure - Source of purest pleasure - Truest Friend to me.

Long my heart hath panted - 'Til it well nigh fainted - Thirsting after Thee.

Thine I am O spotless Lamb, I will suffer naught to hide Thee,

Ask for naught beside Thee.

In Thy strength I rest me - Foes who would molest me - Cannot reach me here.

Tho' the earth be shaking - Ev'ry heart be quaking - God dispels our fear.

Sin and hell in conflict fell - With their heaviest storms assail us;

Jesus will not fail us.

Banished is our sadness! For the Lord of gladness - Jesus enters in.

Those who love the Father - Tho the storms may gather - Still have peace within.

Yea, whatever we here must bear - Still in Thee lies purest pleasure,

Jesus, priceless treasure."

I will admit that some of the meaning might get lost in the King James English for those who are not familiar with it - but the song rings so true! Jesus is our Priceless Treasure. What a Name for the Lord!!! (No need to look for it in the Bible - it's not an "official" name)!!!! Those who seek Him will never find Him pushing them away - His heart will always melt for the humble of heart who make Him their Treasure. Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also. May our's be the Lord Jesus.

Sandy K

Music: Jesu, Meine Freude, in Praxis Pietatis Melica, 1653; harmony by Johann S. Bach, 1723

O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:33:00 +0000

I have several favorite hymns I'd love to share - but one at a time.

I tend to be a lover of the minor mode, and some of the hymns that I love best tend to have a wonderful blend of both major and minor chords. One of these hymns is

"O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" - written by Sauel Trevor Francis to a traditional Welsh melody.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus

Vast unmeasured, boundless free.

Rolling as a mighty ocean

In its fullness over me.

Underneath me, all around me,

Is the current of Thy love

Leading onward, leading homeward,

To Thy glorious rest above

O the deep, deep love of Jesus

Spread His praise from shore to shore

How He loveth, ever loveth,

Changeth never, never more.

How He watches o'er His loved ones,

Died to call them all His own

How for them He intercedeth

Watcheth o'er them from the throne.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus

Love of every love the best

Tis an ocean vast of blessing

Tis a haven sweet of rest

O the deep, deep love of Jesus

"Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me

And it lifts me up to glory

For it lifts me up to Thee.

This blesses my heart so to be reminded of the perfect love God has for me. Infinite, boundless, without reserve, without constraint...THAT is God's love for me. I love to swim in that ocean and to feel His waves wash over me...to let the water carry me from the cares of this world into the bosom of the Father's arms. How can one not be enraptured by the Father with words in our hearts such as this. What a wonderful hymn. What we miss by not having hymnody such as this around anymore.

Respectfully submitted

Sandy Knoerr

What the Lord has done in me

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:21:00 +0000

A contemporary hymn classic by Darlene Zschech availalble Hillsong Live!. A wonderful song anytime, but especially meaningful on Palm Sunday and easter, highlighting the work of the resurrection. Our dance team does a choreography to this using processional palms.

Mark 5:18 .......As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.

19 Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

What the Lord Has Done in Me

Verse 1
Let the weak say I am strong
Let the poor say I am rich
Let the blind say I can see

It's what the Lord has done in me

Chorus

Hosanna, hosanna to the Lamb that was slain
Hosanna, hosanna Jesus died and rose again

Verse 2

Into the river I will wade
There my sins are washed away
From the heavens mercy streams
Of the Savior's love for me

(to verse 3) C G - Asus A

Verse 3
I will rise from waters deep
Into the saving arms of God
I will sing salvation songs
Jesus Christ has set me free

Chorus in D: |:A - Bm - G - D - A - Bm - D 1

Before the Throne of God Above

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 20:23:00 +0000

Before the Throne of God Above

A beautiful hymn traditionally sung to the same tune as Sweet Hour of Prayer. But Vikki Cooks contemporary melody is so much more elegant and fitting of the powerful acclamations of the words of this hymn. I was reminded of it because it was included in our songlist this morning. I'm pleased to share it with you. In the audio clip available, there is a bit too much rhythmic stuff happening for my taste. I think a very straight treatment of the whole-tone melody is much more in keeping with the tenor and intent of the lyrics.

Beautiful word pictures capture your soul as you sing "my name is graven on His hands, my name is written on His heart..." and the culminating declaration of "one with Himself I cannot die..." brings up waves worship and overwhelming gratitude.

Contemporary Version: Written by: Vikki Cook & Charitie Lees Bancroft

Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is "Love,"
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heav'n He stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me.
to look on him and pardon me.

Behold him there! the risen Lamb,
my perfect, spotless Righteousness,
the great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!

One with Himself I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Savior and my God
with Christ, my Savior and my God

Tradutional version:
Words: Charitie Bancroft, 1863. Music: William Bradbury, 1861.

Now the Silence

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 18:05:00 +0000

Now the Silence

I was introduced to this modern hymn when I was introduced to what was then the "new" Lutheran Book of Worship, one heck of a nice source for hymns of several styles. This one caught my attention for several reasons. It's sort of a hymn for all seasons. It actually describes a liturgical service pretty well, but it also is a picture of the liturgical year. Lent is a sort of silent season, meant to get us to think about the incredible sacrifice. From the silence of it all to the Peace that Jesus bestowed on the disciples in the upper room, through the spilled blood and then the joyful celebration of His resurrection, to forgiveness, Pentecost, and in it all, Father's blessing. And all of that without a complete sentence!

I could not find a good recording on line. It is a rocking sort of melody and is very meditative when done at an appropriate tempo. It's really hard to sing when the tempo is pushed, however. -_- Cyberhymnal has the score as well as a recording, but unless you know the tune (designated as "Irregular Meter" for good reason), their rendition is pretty confusing.

[edit: this youtube version would be better at a slower tempo]

Now the silence, now the peace,
Now the empty hands uplifted;
Now the kneeling, now the plea,
Now the Father's arms in welcome;

Now the hearing, now the power,
Now the vessel brimmed for pouring;
Now the body, now the blood,
Now the joyful celebration;

Now the wedding, now the songs,
Now the heart forgiven, leaping;
Now the Spirit's visitation,

Now the Son's epiphany;
Now the Father's blessing,

Now.
Now.
Now.