Today’s hymn is from Swiss reformer Huldrych Zwingli. In August 1519, Zwingli was on a mineral-springs vacation when the Black Death broke out in Zurich. Though weak already from exhausting work, he hurried back to his city to minister to victims. Before long he himself caught the disease and seemed likely to perish. But his work not yet done, Zwingli recovered. His famous “plague hymn” recounts his sense of trust and then his joy at regaining health. Stanzas 1 and 2 were written as the disease first struck, stanzas 3 and 4 as his health deteriorated. Upon his recovery he finished the final 2 stanzas¹. Enjoy!

Help me, O Lord,
My strength and rock;
Lo, at the door
I hear death’s knock.
Uplift thine arm,
Once pierced for me,
That conquered death.
And set me free.

Yet, if thy voice,
In life’s midday.
Recalls my soul,
Then I obey.
In faith and hope
Earth I resign.
Secure of heaven.
For I am thine.

My pains increase;
Haste to console;
For fear and woe
Seize flesh and soul.
Death is at hand.
My senses fail.
My tongue is dumb;
Now, Christ, prevail.

Lo! Satan strains
To snatch his prey;
I feel his grasp;
Must I give way?
He harms me not,
I fear no loss,
For here I lie
Beneath thy cross.

My God! My Lord!
Healed by thy hand.
Upon the earth
Once more I stand.
Let sin no more
Rule over me;
My mouth shall sing
Alone to thee.

Though now delayed,
My hour will come.
Involved, perchance.
In deeper gloom.
But, let it come;
With joy I’ll rise,
And bear my yoke
Straight to the skies.

¹christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-4/black-death-inspires-zwinglis-plague-hymn.html

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“Will Your Anchor Hold” (sometimes titled “We Have an Anchor”) was written in 1882 by Priscilla Jane Owen. Owen was a Sunday school teacher at the Union Square Methodist Episcopal Churchin Baltimore, Maryland. She wrote a number of hymns and songs for her pupils; this is the best known today. The hymn has always been closely associated with the Boys’ Brigade which has the motto, “Sure and Stedfast”. It is the official hymn of Dollar Academy, an independent day and boarding school in Scotland, where it is known as the “Dollar Anthem”. The words were inspired by Hebrews 6:19: “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast…”, although other Biblical texts are also referenced in the verses of the hymn¹. Ask yourself the same rhetorical questions before the Lord this morning and answer honestly “what is your anchor in life?”. I pray your answer will be the refrain of this song; enjoy!

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

Refrain
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!

Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,
when the breakers roar and the reef is near?
While the surges rage, and the wild winds blow,
shall the angry waves then your bark o’erflow?

Refrain

Will your anchor hold in the floods of death,
when the waters cold chill your latest breath?
On the rising tide you can never fail,
while your anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

Will your eyes behold through the morning light
the city of gold and the harbour bright?
Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,
when life’s storms are past for evermore?

Refrain

¹wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Your_Anchor_Hold

This hymn was originally written in German around 1680 by Joachim Neander, author of the popular hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”. In 1899, it was freely translated into English by Robert Bridges. He was, at the time, living in the British Berkshire village of Yattendon, where he was choir master for the parish church of St Peter and St Paul. Disappointed with the range of hymns available, he made his own collection which he entitled the Yattendon Hymnal and included this hymn, number 69 ¹. It was sung at the funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II last year – enjoy!

All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew.
Me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone calls my heart to be his own.

Human pride and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple, fall to dust.
But God’s power,
hour by hour, is my temple and my tower.

God’s great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light, and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
new-born worlds rise and adore.

Daily doth th’ Almighty giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.

Still from earth to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ his Son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.

¹wikipedia.org/wiki/All_My_Hope_on_God_is_Founded

Todays hymn was written by Ray Palmer in 1830. Palmer is often considered to be one of America’s best nineteenth-century hymn writers. After completing grammar school he worked in a Boston dry goods store, but his conversion prodded him to study for the ministry. He attended Yale College (supporting himself by teaching) and was ordained in 1835. This hymn was written as a personal response to the realisation of what Christ meant to him. It is a prayer, acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the only source of forgiveness, love, comfort, and salvation¹. Enjoy!

My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
take all my guilt away;
O let me from this day
be wholly Thine.

May Thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart,
my zeal inspire;
as Thou hast died for me,
O may my love to Thee
pure, warm, and changeless be,
a living fire.

While life’s dark maze I tread,
and griefs around me spread,
be Thou my Guide;
bid darkness turn to day,
wipe sorrow’s tears away,
nor let me ever stray
from Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream,
when death’s cold, sullen stream
shall o’er me roll,
blest Saviour, then in love,
fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above,
a ransomed soul.

¹hymnary.org/text/my_faith_looks_up_to_thee

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