Here I Am, Lord

Here I Am Lord
Words and Music are by Daniel L. Schutte, copyright 1981. Mr. Schutte's Web site is at http://www.danschutte.com/main.htm

Today none of the hymns matched the readings for the day. Our anthem was a choral arrangement of one of the most popular of “modern” hymns. Catholics and Protestants of every kind seem to have this in their hymnbooks. It’s one of those hymns that will make the charismatics in your congregation raise their hands as they sing. It’s also one of those hymns that will make you cry. If you’re afraid of weeping and wallowing in religious sentimentality just think of this – the tune is very similar to the theme from “The Brady Bunch”. Ok, I hope I didn’t spoil it for you. It’s a wonderful hymn. I have a link to the tune at the end. I don’t understand MIDI files, but I appreciate those who have put them on the Internet for us.

1. I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.

Chorus
Here am I, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

2. I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Chorus

3. I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.

Chorus

4. I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?

Chorus

5. I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.

Chorus

6. Finest bread I will provide,
'Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Chorus

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~sorem002/here_i_am_lord.mid

Isn’t that wonderful? Well done, Daniel Shutte.

Our opening hymn today was God Hath Spoken by His Prophets. The hymn is by George Wallace Briggs.

God has spoken by His prophets,
Spoken His unchanging Word,
Each from age to age proclaiming
God, the one, the righteous Lord.
Mid the world's despair and turmoil,
One firm anchor holding fast;
God is King, His throne eternal,
God the first, and God the last.

2God has spoken by Christ Jesus,
Christ, the everlasting Son,
Brightness of the Father's glory,
With the Father ever one;
Spoken by the Word incarnate,
God of God, ere time began,
Light of light, to earth descending,
Man, revealing God to man.

3God yet speaks by His own Spirit
Speaking to the hearts of men,
In the age-long Word expounding
God's own message, now as then;
Through the rise and fall of nations
One sure faith yet standing fast,
God is King, His Word unchanging,
God the first, and God the last.

This is sung to the hymn tune “Ebenezer” by Thomas John Williams. In the last edition of The Methodist Hymnal this tune was used with Once to Every Man and Nation, a poem by James Russell Lowell. It’s a stirring hymn that I wish had made it to the new United Methodist Hymnal. I guess “By the Light of burning Martyrs” wasn’t PC enough for the hymnal committee. There were tremendous fights about our new hymnal. There was insistence on “inclusive” language. Inclusive language is a good idea, except sometimes it means either butchering or ignoring some wonderful old hymns. Here are the words. Play the midi file and sing along.

Once to every man and nation,
comes the moment to decide,
in the strife of truth with falsehood,
for the good or evil side;
some great cause, some great decision,
offering each the bloom or blight,
and the choice goes by forever,
'twixt that darkness and that light.

Then to side with truth is noble,
when we share her wretched crust,
ere her cause bring fame and profit,
and 'tis prosperous to be just;
then it is the brave man chooses
while the coward stands aside,
till the multitude make virtue
of the faith they had denied.

By the light of burning martyrs,
Christ, thy bleeding feet we track,
toiling up new Calvaries ever
with the cross that turns not back;
new occasions teach new duties,
ancient values test our youth;
they must upward still and onward,
who would keep abreast of truth.

Though the cause of evil prosper,
yet the truth alone is strong;
though her portion be the scaffold,
and upon the throne be wrong;
yet that scaffold sways the future,
and behind the dim unknown,
standeth God within the shadow,
keeping watch above his own.

Ebenezer