God So Loved the World

It was a splendid service today. Scriptures and hymns were all wonderful. The Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent were:
Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:14-21

Our introit hymn was Christ Is the World’s Light written by Fred Pratt Green in 1968 and set to the tune Christe Sanctorum which dates from about 1681. Fred Pratt Green was the greatest Methodist hymn writer since Charles Wesley. His hymns are both contemporary and theologically sound, something one can't say about many contemporary hymns.

Christ is the world's Light, Christ and no other;
Born in our darkness, he became our Brother.
If we have seen Christ, we have seen the Father:
Glory to God on high.

Christ is the world's Peace, Christ and no other;
No man can serve Christ and despise his brother
Who else unites us, one in God the Father?
Glory to God on high.

Christ is the world's Life, Christ and no other;
Sold one for silver, murdered here, our Brother -
Christ who redeems us, reigns with God the Father:
Glory to God on high.

Give God the glory, God and no other;
Give God the glory, Spirit, Son and Father;
Give God the glory, God in Man my brother:
Glory to God on high.

Our first hymn was Amazing Grace
"I was blind but now I see!” John 9:25
This is probably the most popular hymn in the English language. The words were written by John Newton (1725-1807), a slave trader who came to Christ and turned his life around. The tune is called New Britain and is by James Carrell and David S. Clayton, published in 1831. It is undoubtedly a based on a much older folk melody.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

The second hymn was the hymn that’s my second favorite hymn ever.
I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light, text and music by Kathleen Thomerson. I could find no midi file for this hymn, but the text is the important thing. In my Google search for midi files I found several testimonials about this hymn. Several people wrote that this is the one hymn that they felt MUST be sung at their memorial services. I feel the same way. It is a wonderful hymn.

I want to walk as a child of the Light.
I want to follow Jesus
God sent the stars to give light to the world,
The Star of my life is Jesus.

In Him there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The love is the Light of the city of God
Shine in my heart Lord Jesus.

I want to see the Brightness of God
I want to look at Jesus
Clear Son of righteousness shine on my path
And show me the way to the Father.

In Him there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The love is the Light of the city of God
Shine in my heart Lord Jesus.

I'm looking for the coming of Christ.
I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race,
We shall know the joy of Jesus.

In Him there is no darkness at all
The night and the day are both alike
The love is the Light of the city of God
Shine in my heart Lord Jesus.

Our anthem was God So Loved the World by John Stainer. This old favorite is from Stainer's cantataThe Crucifixion It's one of those old romantic pieces that most choir directors turn up their noses at, but which congregations adore. It is not easy to sing wel. It takes better breath control than my old body has these days.

Our final hymn was O God Beyond All Praising The text is Michael Perry, based on Hebrews 13:15. The tune is called Thaxted by Gustav Holst. It is the theme from “Jupiter” in Holst’s The Planets.I have read that this is the second most popular hymn in the United Kingdom, the most popular being Jerusalem.

O God beyond all praising,
we worship you today
and sing the love amazing
that songs cannot repay;
for we can only wonder
at every gift you send,
at blessings without number
and mercies without end:
we lift our hearts before you
and wait upon your word,
we honor and adore you,
our great and mighty Lord.

Then hear, O gracious Savior,
accept the love we bring,
that we who know your favor
may serve you as our king;
and whether our tomorrows
be filled with good or ill,
we'II triumph through our sorrows
and rise to bless you still:
to marvel at your beauty
and glory in your ways,
and make a joyful duty
our sacrifice of praise.