Sunday Audio Service – Lent 4 – Mothering Sunday – Holy Communion – 10/3/24
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!
Early in the morning
Our song shall rise to Thee:
Holy, holy, holy, merciful, and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns
Around the glassy sea.
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who were, and are, and ever more shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man
Thy glory may not see.
Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love and purity.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name,
In earth, and sky, and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful, and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Reginald Heber.
_______________________________________________
COME, LET US SING OF A WONDERFUL LOVE,
Tender and true.
Out of the heart of the Father above,
Streaming to me and to you:
Wonderful love
Dwells in the heart of the Father above.
Jesus, the Saviour, this gospel to tell,
Joyfully came.
Came with the helpless and hopeless to dwell,
Sharing their sorrow and shame.
Seeking the lost,
Saving, redeeming at measureless cost.
Jesus is seeking the wanderers yet.
Why do they roam?
Love only waits to forgive and forget.
Home, weary wanderer, home!
Wonderful love
Dwells in the heart of the Father above.
Come to my heart, O Thou wonderful love,
Come and abide,
Lifting my life, till it rises above,
Envy and falsehood and pride,
Seeking to be
Lowly and humble, a learner of Thee.
Robert Walmsley.
______________________________________________
HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there,
Until it was accomplished.
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Stuart Townend
_______________________________________________
AND CAN IT BE that I should gain,
An interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the first-born seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
’Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace.
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race.
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.
My chains fell off, my heart was free.
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread.
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold, I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Charles Wesley.
