Today’s hymn comes from Thomas Benson Pollock (1836-1896), a curate in the Anglican Church. He was most successful as a writer of metrical litanies, which we have today. I’ve included a version by my favourite music group, Emu Music. Enjoy!

Jesus, with thy church abide;
be her Saviour, Lord, and Guide,
while on earth her faith is tried:
we beseech thee, hear us.

Keep her life and doctrine pure;
grant her patience to endure,
trusting in thy promise sure:
we beseech thee, hear us.

May she one in doctrine be,
one in truth and charity,
winning all to faith in thee:
we beseech thee, hear us.

May she guide the poor and blind,
seek the lost until she find,
and the broken-hearted bind:
we beseech thee, hear us.

Judge her not for work undone,
judge her not for fields unwon,
bless her work in thee begun:
we beseech thee, hear us.

Save her love from growing cold,
make her watchmen strong and bold,
fence her round, thy peaceful fold:
we beseech thee, hear us.

May her lamp of truth be bright,
bid her bear aloft its light
through the realms of heathen night:
we beseech thee, hear us.

Arm her soldiers with the cross,
brave to suffer toil or loss,
counting earthly gain but dross:
we beseech thee, hear us.

May she holy triumphs win,
overthrow the hosts of sin,
gather all the nations in:
we beseech thee, hear us.

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Today’s hymn comes from Timothy Dwight (1752-1817), grandson of the famous pastor and Theologian Jonathan Edwards. He served as a chaplain under George Washington during the Revolutionary War and wrote songs and sermons for the men in his regiment. When Dwight returned from military service in 1778, he became a successful farmer, a Congregational minister at Greenfield, Connecticut, a state legislator, and a member of the faculty at Yale, where he was named president in 1795. Dwight was also was one of the first American hymn writers. He wrote 33 hymns, with the one for this week perhaps being his best known. This hymn was published in 1800 at the beginning of the Second Great Awakening¹. This is a good one to mediate on before the Lord’s Day; enjoy!

I love thy kingdom, Lord,
the house of thine abode,
the church our blest Redeemer saved
with his own precious blood.

I love thy church, O God:
her walls before thee stand,
dear as the apple of thine eye
and graven on thy hand.

For her my tears shall fall,
for her my prayers ascend;
to her my cares and toils be giv’n,
’til toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heav’nly ways,
her sweet communion, solemn vows,
her hymns of love and praise.

Jesus, thou Friend divine,
our Savior and our King,
thy hand from ev’ry snare and foe
shall great deliv’rance bring.

Sure as thy truth shall last,
to Zion shall be giv’n
the brightest glories earth can yield,
and brighter bliss of heav’n.

¹umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-i-love-thy-kingdom-lord-by-timothy-dwight

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Today’s hymn on church unity comes from Edward H. Plumptre (1821-1891), a classical and biblical scholar. He was ordained in the Church of England in 1846. Plumptre served as a preacher at Oxford and a professor of pastoral theology at King’s College, and held a number of other prestigious positions. His writings include A Life of Bishop Ken (1888), translations from Greek and Latin classics, and poetry and hymns. Plumptre was also a member of the committee that produced the Revised Version of the Bible¹. Enjoy!

Thy hand, O God, has guided
Thy flock from age to age;
The wondrous tale is written,
Full clear, on every page;
Our fathers owned Thy goodness,
And we their deeds record;
And both of this bear witness,
“One Church, one Faith, one Lord.”

Thy heralds brought glad tidings,
To greatest, as to least;
They bade men rise, and hasten
To share the great King’s feast;
And this was all their teaching,
In every deed and word,
To all alike proclaiming,
“One Church, one Faith, one Lord.”

When shadows thick were falling,
And all seemed sunk in night,
Thou, Lord, didst send Thy servants,
Thy chosen sons of light.
On them and on Thy people
Thy plenteous grace was poured,
And this was still their message:
“One Church, one Faith, one Lord.”

Through many a day of darkness,
Through many a scene of strife,
The faithful few fought bravely,
To guard the nation’s life,
Their Gospel of redemption,
Sin pardoned, man restored,
Was all in this enfolded,
“One Church, one Faith, one Lord.”

And we, shall we be faithless?
Shall hearts fail, hands hang down?
Shall we evade the conflict,
And cast away our crown?
Not so: in God’s deep counsels
Some better thing is stored:
We will maintain, unflinching,
“One Church, one Faith, one Lord.”

Thy mercy will not fail us,
Nor leave Thy work undone;
With Thy right hand to help us,
The victory shall be won;
And then, by men and angels,
Thy Name shall be adored,
And this shall be their anthem,
“One Church, one Faith, one Lord.”

¹hymnary.org/person/Plumptre_EH

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Today’s hymn comes from George Askin (died 1816). Little is know about this Irish minister other than he made his way to the United States by 1801 as an adult Methodist where he was given a charge as a trial itinerate preacher. Regardless of the lack of personal information about the author, this hymn is a great one to reflect on before the Lord’s Day. Let us go to gather with God’s people ready to be changed, to be encouraged, and to worship. Enjoy both renditions below!

Brethren, we have met to worship
And adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power,
While we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit
Of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna 
Will be showered all around.

Brethren, see poor sinners round you
Slumb’ring on the brink of woe;
Death is coming, hell is moving,
Can you bear to let them go?
See our fathers and our mothers,
And our children sinking down;
Brethren, pray and holy manna
Will be showered all around.

Sisters, will you join and help us?
Moses’ sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners
Who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Saviour,
Tell them that He will be found;
Sisters, pray, and holy manna
Will be showered all around.

Let us love our God supremely,
Let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners,
Till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to heaven,
At His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself, and serve us
With sweet manna all around.

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Today’s song comes from James E Seddon (1915-1983), and it’s based on 1 Peter 2. Seddon received his musical training at the London College of Music and Trinity College in London and his theological training at the Bible Churchmen’s Theological College (now Trinity College) in Bristol. He served various Anglican parishes in England and was a missionary in Morocco from 1945 to 1955 (many of his thirty hymns are based on mission­ary themes), as well as the home secretary for the Bible Churchmen’s Missionary Society from 1955 to 1967¹. Enjoy!

Church of God, elect and glorious,
holy nation, chosen race;
called as God’s own special people,
royal priests and heirs of grace:
know the purpose of your calling,
show to all his mighty deeds;
tell of love which knows no limits,
grace which meets all human needs.

God has called you out of darkness
into his most marvellous light;
brought his truth to life within you,
turned your blindness into sight.
Let your light so shine around you
that God’s name be glorified;
and all find fresh hope and purpose
in Christ Jesus crucified.

Once you were an alien people,
strangers to God’s heart of love;
but he brought you home in mercy,
citizens of Heaven above.
Let his love flow out to others,
let them feel a Father’s care;
that they too may know his welcome
and his countless blessings share.

Church of God, elect and holy,
be the people he intends;
strong in faith and swift to answer
each command your master sends:
royal priests, fulfil your calling
through your sacrifice and prayer;
give your lives in joyful service –
sing his praise, his love declare.

¹hymnary.org/text/church_of_god_elect_and_glorious#Author

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Today’s song is from my favourite group, Emu Music. This prayer is one for God’s church to remain steadfast, immovable, and abounding in the work of the Lord. I hope you enjoy this and mediate on these words before we gather with God’s people tomorrow; enjoy!

Jesus, with your church abide
Be our Saviour, Lord, and guide
While on earth our faith is tried
Lord, our Saviour, hear us

May our lamp of truth be bright
May we raise on high its light
Through the realms of darkest night
Lord, our Saviour, hear us

Refrain
We praise you for your mercy and grace
You go with us to the end of the age
We hold on to your unfailing love
‘Til the fullness of your kingdom comes

May we serve the poor and blind,
Seek the lost so they may find
And the brokenhearted bind
Lord, our Saviour, hear us

May your victory over death 
Be the hope that we profess
All our failures we confess
Lord, our Saviour, hear us

Keep us while we wait below
Safely, till you call us home
When we gather ‘round your throne 
Lord, our Saviour, hear us

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Edward Plumptre (1821-1891) is the writer of today’s hymn on Christian unity. He was an eminent classical and biblical scholar who gained prominence in both church and university. Educated at King’s College, London, and University College, Oxford, he was ordained in the Church of England in 1846. Plumptre served as a preacher at Oxford and a professor of pastoral theology at King’s College, and held a number of other prestigious positions. His writings translations from Greek and Latin classics, poetry and hymns. He was also a member of the committee that produced the Revised Version of the Bible¹. Enjoy!

Your hand, O God, has guided
your flock from age to age;
your faithfulness is written
on history’s open page.
Our fathers owned your goodness,
and we their deeds record;
and both to this bear witness:
one church, one faith, one Lord!

Your heralds brought the gospel
to greatest and the least;
they summoned men and women
to share the great King’s feast.
And this was all their teaching
in ev’ry deed and word,
to all alike proclaiming:
one church, one faith, one Lord!

Your mercy will not fail us
nor leave your work undone;
with your right hand to help us
the vict’ry shall be won.
And then by earth and heaven
your name shall be adored;
and this shall be our anthem:
one church, one faith, one Lord!

¹hymnary.org/person/Plumptre_EH

Today’s hymn on this Lord’s Day is written by Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926). He was educated at Pembroke College and Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and has served the Church of England since his ordination in 1950. He has occupied a number of church posi­tions, including parish priest in the diocese of Southwark (1953-1962), archdeacon of Norwich (1973-1981), and bishop of Thetford, Norfolk, from 1981 until his retirement in 1992. He also edited a Christian magazine, Crusade, which was founded after Billy Graham’s 1955 London crusade. Many of his several hundred hymn texts have been collected in Lift Every Heart: Collected Hymns 1961-1983 (1984), Songs of Deliverance: Thirty-six New Hymns (1988), and A Voice of Singing (1993). committee that published Psalm Praise (1973)¹. You’ll notice it has the same time to the hymn “I Cannot Tell”, also known as the Londondery Air tune. Enjoy!

Lord of the church we pray for our renewing
Christ over all our undivided aim
Fire of the Spirit burn for our enduing
Wind of the Spirit fan the living flame
We turn to Christ amid our fear and failing
The will that lacks the courage to be free
The weary labours all but unavailing
To bring us nearer what a church should be

Lord of the church we seek a Father’s blessing
A true repentance and a faith restored
A swift obedience and a new possessing
Filled with the Holy Spirit of the Lord
We turn to Christ from all our restless striving
Unnumbered voices with a single prayer-
The living water for our souls’ reviving
In Christ to live and love and serve and care

Lord of the church we long for our uniting
True to one calling by one vision stirred
One cross proclaiming and one creed reciting
One in the truth of Jesus and His word
So lead us on till toil and trouble ended
One church triumphant one new song shall sing
To praise His glory risen and ascended
Christ over all the everlasting King

¹/hymnary.org/person/DudleySmith_T

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Hi friends! I am now back to regular posting. I recently heard this song and loved the triumphant melody and words. I love these lines: “For though the hordes of hell may rage, Their power will not endure; Our times are in the Father’s hand, Our anchor is secure. Isn’t this the truth we need during tough times? Enjoy this one from Matt Boswell!

O Church of Christ invincible,
The people of the Lord;
Empowered by the Spirit’s breath,
And nourished by His word.
His covenant of grace will be
Our portion evermore;
For he who called us will not change,
Our help and our reward.

O chosen people called by grace,
The sons of Abraham,
Who walk by faith in things unseen
And on His promise stand,
That every nation of the earth
Will hear of boundless love
That causes broken hearts to heal
And pays our debts with blood.

O Church of Christ in sorrow now,
Where evil lies in wait,
When trials and persecutions come
This light will never fade.
For though the hordes of hell may rage,
Their power will not endure;
Our times are in the Father’s hand
Our anchor is secure.

O Church of Christ upon that day,
When all are gathered in,
When every tear is wiped away
With every trace of sin;
Where justice, truth and beauty shine,
And death has passed away;
Where God and man will dwell as one,
For all eternity!

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At the end of the 16th Century, the Dutch people prayed for freedom from Spanish rule. Among other harsh decrees, the Spanish king had denied them the freedom to worship. In 1597, the Spaniards were defeated, and a cry of victory can be heard in this hymn someone wrote for the occasion. The Dutch text was translated to English in 1894 by Theodore Baker, an American musicologist¹. Perhaps this is fitting for your congregation this morning?

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
Sing praises to his name; he forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Whose kingdom calls all to the love which endures.
So from the beginning the fight we were winning:
You, Lord, were at our side; all glory be yours!

We all do extol you, our leader triumphant,
And pray that you still our defender will be.
Let your congregation escape tribulation:
Your name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

¹page 228 – Leeman, D. and Leeman, B., 2022. Our Hymns, Our Heritage: A Student Guide to Songs of the Church

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