26 May 2010

Holy Spirit, God and Lord

I was on staff retreat last week, and did not get to Knowing the Score. My intent had been to close Ascension with a hymn bridging to Pentecost:

All authority and power, every status and domain,
now belongs to him who suffered our redemption to obtain;
angels, demons, kings and rulers, over all shall Jesus reign!
Christopher Idle, 1971
(c) 1973 Hope Publishing Co.

As you see, it is a hymn based on Jesus' final words to his disciples, as he departed from their sight and told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit.

All the time he will be with us, always, to the end of days;
with his own believing people who keep steadfast in his ways;
God the Father, Son and Spirit, bless us, and to God be praise!
Christopher Idle

Today's hymn is for Pentecost, marking the arrival of the Spirit ten days after the Ascension, fifty days after the Resurrection. Some mark the sending of the Spirit as the birthday of the Church. All recognize it as the inauguration of the promises of the prophets, as noted in Peter's Pentecost sermon and referenced in the epistles. From henceforth God's Law is written on the hearts of his people. So, as we have been memorizing: "the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:4)

Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord!
Be all thy graces now outpoured
on each believer's mind and heart;
thy fervent love to us impart.
   Lord, by the brightness of thy light,
   thou in the faith dost all unite
   from every land and every tongue;
   this to thy praise, O Lord, be sung.
Thou holy light, our guide divine,
Oh, cause the Word of life to shine!
teach us to know our God aright
and call him Father with delight.
   From every error keep us free;
   let none but Christ our master be
   that we in living faith abide,
   in him with all our might confide.
Thou holy fire, our comfort true,
grant us the will thy work to do
and in thy service to abide;
let trials turn us not aside.
   Lord, by thy power prepare each heart
   and to our weakness strength impart
   that bravely here we may contend,
   through life and death to thee ascend.
Martin Luther, 1524
trans. Catherine Winkworth, 1855 (alt.)

The scriptures attest - the Holy Spirit is God, he is a member of the Holy Trinity. To him, let such a prayer as this be made: that he would guide us into all truth, through Jesus; and equip us to walk in that truth and persevere to the end.

Pastor Luther knew a thing or two about the Holy Spirit. And so too, let us follow his example and depend on the Spirit, as we

Sing on!

12 May 2010

Hail the Day!

The presentation of a hymn by Charles Wesley almost always begs explanation. This most prolific of English hymn writers (over 6,000 known hymns and poems) is by default also the most edited of our hymn writers. The beloved "O for a thousand tongues to sing" is a case in point. In fact, it is the case that most often makes the point: our hymnal's 5 stanzas are selected from the 17 that Wesley published, and even at that the stanzas we know as "O for a thousand tongues" do not appear in that order in the original poem.

No, Charles Wesley could be the chief witness against hymnal editors. "Look what they've done to my song!" And not just the order of stanzas, but over time and in many ways for many reasons, his words have been changed, up-dated, put through theological filters, and yet presented as his own. (Sometimes, but not always, with the subtle acknowledgement, alt.) Still, for those of us on the other side of these decisions, the clarity and simplicity and force of his texts still ring through and ring true. The disciplined biblicism and robust theology and clear thinking and passionate experience continue to stir our devotion and our praise.

So, when we look at Charles Wesley's Ascension Hymn (written as such) it is only fair to acknowledge that what we sing and what he wrote do not always neatly line up. For one thing, the "Alleluias" are editorial tropes, perhaps added to allow the core text to work with a given tune, specifically the Welsh tune LLANFAIR. (Warning: only click the link to the tune if you can stand cheesy electronic piano/organ sounds!)

Given its presence in Hymns for the Living Church, I will begin the hymn with Alleluias. In the interest of space, and for the sake of seeing the text more or less as Wesley intended, will then continue without them. I rather like the Alleuluias, as noted earlier because they are the Easter acclamation, and certainly are fitting for the occasion of Jesus' ascension to the right hand of the Father. Indeed, it is on the basis of that great work on our behalf that we have the certain faith to say, "alleluia - praise the Lord!"

Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia!
To his throne above the skies; Alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, Alleluia!
Enters now the highest heaven, Alleluia!
    There for him high triumph waits;
    lift your heads, eternal gates.
    He has conquered death and sin;
    take the King of glory in.
See, he lifts his hands above!
See, he shows the prints of love!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow
blessings on his church below.
    Lord, beyond  our mortal sight,
    raise our hearts to reach thy height;
    there thy face unclouded see,
    find our heaven of heavens in thee!
Charles Wesley (1739)

Tomorrow, May 13, is the 40th day following Resurrection Sunday: Ascension Day. Rejoice!

Sing on!

04 May 2010

Sound the note of praise above

Continuing our Ascension hymns, this week's is an oldie that I am disappointed to say we do not sing at College Church. To my discredit, I must admit. Let us begin the restoration process by setting out this marvelous text by Thomas Kelly.

Hark! ten thousand harps and voices
sound the note of praise above;
Jesus reigns and heaven rejoices,
Jesus reigns, the God of love.
See, he sits on yonder throne:
Jesus rules the world alone.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Sing how Jesus came from heaven,
how he bore the cross below,
how all power to him is given,
how he reigns in glory now.
'Tis a great and endless theme -
Oh, 'tis sweet to sing of him.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Jesus, hail! Thy glory brightens
all above and gives it worth;
Lord of life, thy smile enlightens,
cheers and charms thy saints on earth.
When we think of love like thine,
Lord, we own it love divine.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
King of glory, reign forever!
Thine an everlasting crown.
Nothing from thy love shall sever
those whom thou hast made thine own:
Happy objects of thy grace,
destined to behold thy face.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Savior, hasten thine appearing!
Bring, oh bring the glorious day,
when, the awful summons hearing,
heaven and earth shall pass away.
Then with golden harps we'll sing,
"Glory, glory to our King!"
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.
Thomas Kelly (1806)
tune in Hymns for the Living Church: HARWELL (Lowell Mason, 1840)

A common, and completely biblically based, theme of Ascension hymns is the assurance of Jesus' return. In fact, as a logical matter, Jesus can not return to us from heaven if he has not ascended to heaven in the first place. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:3) And the first word of the angels to the disciples, watching Jesus taken up: "Why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)

Oh, this day is important in the redemption history, it is one of the mighty acts of God for his people. At the culmination of Jesus' teaching ministry, post-resurrection, we find Jesus highly exalted, understand that he takes his throne, have confidence in his rule, and rest in his promised return.

"Glory, glory, to our King!"

Sing on!