THE KING SHALL COME WHEN MORNING DAWNS
John Brownlie (1907)

The King shall come when morning dawns,
And light triumphant breaks;
When beauty gilds the eastern hills,
And life to joy awakes.

Not as of old, a little child
To bear, and fight, and die,
But crowned with glory like the sun,
That lights that morning sky.

O, brighter than the rising morn,
When He, victorious rose,
And left the lonesome place of death,
Despite the rage of foes;—

O, brighter than that glorious morn,
Shall this fair morning be,
When Christ, our King, in beauty comes,
And we His face shall see.

The King shall come when morning dawns,
And light and beauty brings;—
Hail! Christ the Lord; Thy people pray
Come quickly, King of kings.

VENI, O SAPIENTA
Traditional, 7th Century

Veni, O Sapientia,
Quae hic disponis omnia,
Veni, viam prudentiae
Ut doceas et gloriae.

Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, veni Adonai![16]
Qui populo in Sinai
Legem dedisti vertice,
In maiestate gloriae.

Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni o Jesse virgula!
Ex hostis tuos ungula,
De specu tuos tartari
Educ, et antro barathri.

Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni Clavis Davidica!
Regna reclude coelica,
Fac iter Tutum superum,
Et claude vias Inferum.

Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, veni O Oriens!
Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.

Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, Veni, Rex Gentium,
Veni, Redemptor omnium,
Ut salves tuos famulos
Peccati sibi conscios.

Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, veni Emmanuel!
Captivum solve Israel!
Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus Dei Filio,

Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
nascetur pro te, Israel.

RORATE CAELI DESUPER
Dom Guéranger, 1870

Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Ne irascaris Domine, ne ultra memineris iniquitatis:
Ecce civitas Sancti facta est deserta:
Sion deserta facta est: Jerusalem desolata est:
Domus sanctificationis tuae et gloriae tuae, ubi laudaverunt te patres nostri.

Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Peccavimus, et facti sumus tamquam immundus nos,
Et cecidimus quasi folium universi:
Et iniquitates nostrae quasi ventus abstulerunt nos:
Abscondisti faciem tuam a nobis,
Et allisisti nos in manu iniquitatis nostrae.

Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Vide Domine afflictionem populi tui,
Et mitte quem missurus es:
Emitte Agnum dominatorem terrae,
De Petra deserti ad montem filiae Sion:
Ut auferat ipse iugum captivitatis nostrae.

Rorate caeli desuper, et nubes pluant iustum.

Consolamini, consolamini, popule meus:
Cito veniet salus tua: quare maerore consumeris,
Quia innovavit te dolor?
Salvabo te, noli timere, ego enim sum Dominus Deus tuus,
Sanctus Israel, Redemptor tuus.

BRIGHT BUILDER OF THE HEAVN’LY POLES
Ambrosian, 7th century
Translation from the Primer 1685
and the Evening Office 1710

Bright builder of the heav’nly poles
Eternal light of faithful souls
Jesus, Redeemer of mankind,
Our humble prayers vouchsafe to mind.

Who, lest the fraud of hell’s black king
Should all men to destruction bring,
Didst, by an act of gen’rous love,
The fainting world’s physician prove.

Thou, that Thou mightst our ransom pay
And wash the stains of sin away,
Didst from a Virgin’s womb proceed
And to the Cross a Victim bleed.

Thy glorious power, Thy saving name
No sooner any voice can frame,
But heaven and earth and hell agree
To honour them with trembling knee.

Thee, Christ, who at the latter day
Shalt be our Judge, we humbly pray
Such arms of heav’nly grace to send
As may Thy Church from foes defend.

Be glory given and honour done
To God the Father, and the Son
And to the Holy Ghost on high,
From age to age eternally.

HARK! A HERALD VOICE IS CALLING
Ambrosian, 5th cent.
Translation by Rev. Edward Caswall, M.A (1814-1878)

Hark! a herald voice is calling:
‘Christ is nigh,’ it seems to say;
‘Cast away the dreams of darkness,
O ye children of the day!’

Startled at the solemn warning,
Let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, her Sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.

Lo! the Lamb, so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heaven;
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiven;

So when next he comes with glory,
Wrapping all the earth in fear,
May he then as our defender
Of the clouds of heaven appear.

Honour, glory, virtue, merit,
To the Father and the Son,
With the co-eternal Spirit,
While unending ages run. Amen.

The songsheet / songbook will be made available soon.

WHEN THE LOVING SHEPHERD / I’LL GO WHERE YOU WANT ME TO GO

“When the Loving Shepherd”
Adapted by St. Alfonso M. de Liguori
Written by Edmund Vaughan, 1827-1906

“I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go”
Charles H. Gabriel
Carrie E. Rounsefell

When the loving Shpeherd, Ere He left the earth
Shed, to pay our ransom, Blood of priceless worth,
These His lambs so cherished, Purchased for His own
He would not abandon In the world alone,
In the world alone.

Here, He makes us partners Of His realm on high
Happy and immortal With Him in the sky
Love immense, stupendous Makes Him here below
Parner of our exile, In the world of woe
In the world of woe

I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord
O’er mountain or plain or sea
I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord
I’ll be what You want me to be.

Soon, I hope to see You And enjoy Your love
Face to face sseet Jesus, In Your heav’n above
But on earth an exile, My delight shall be
Ever to be near You Veiled for love of me
Veiled for love of me

Both songs Public Domain

CHRIST THE LORD IS MY TRUE SHEPHERD
Sir Richard Runciman Terry

Christ the Lord is my true Shepherd
He doth rule me, He doth guide
Nothing can I lack if near Him
Constant I abide.

Where the verdant pasture springeth
Where the living waters flow
There His tender love has set me
On this earth below.

For His Name’s sake He has led me
In the paths of truth and right
And my drooping soul sustained
By His holy might.

Tho I walk through death’s dark valley
Yet no evil shall I fear
Powers of darkness have no terrors
Christ my Lord is near.

Where the wicked sore afflict me
He a table doth prepare
Furnished well with food celestial
By His bounteous care.

He with oil my head anointeth
In the midst of all my foes
And my cup with sweetness filleth
Till it overflows

So throughout life’s toilsome journey
Shall His mercy follow me
Till at length in radiant glory
I my Lord shall see.

Bliss supreme, O bliss supernal
Then to see Him and adore
In His Heav’nly radiant glory
Blest for evermore.

Public Domain

SAVIOR LIKE A SHEPHERD LEAD US

attr. to Dorothy A. Thrupp,
William B. Bradbury

Savior like a shepherd lead us
Much we need Your tender care;
In Your pleasant pastures feed us
For our use Your folds prepare:

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
You have bought us, Yours we are;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
You have bought us, Yours we are;

Early let us seek Your favor;
Early let us do Your will
Blessed Lord and only Savior
With Your love our bosoms fill:

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
You have loved us, love us still
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
You have loved us, love us still.

Public Domain

MY SHEPHERD WILL SUPPLY MY NEED
From “Southern Harmony”

My Shepherd will supply my need
Jehovah is His name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wand’ring spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me for His mercy’s sake,
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk thro the shades of death,
Your presence is my stay;
One word of Your supporting breath,
Drives all my fears away.
Your hand, in sight of all my foes
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows
Your oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God,
Attend me all my days
O may Your house be my abode,
And all my work be praise!
There would I find a settled rest
While others go and come
No more a stranger, nor a guest;
But like a child at home.

Public Domain

TU MANDASTI (Gregorian Chant)
English translation by Nick Alexander

Tu mandasti manda tuia
Custodiri nimis
Utinam d rigantur
viae meae
ad custodi endas justificationes tuas.

You have laid down the laws which You’ve made
To be guarded with care.
O, would I be resolute in ways that I go
To fully be safeguarding
the complete roster of statutes
You have given.

THE LORD IS NEAR / IF YOU ABIDE IN ME

The Lord is near
The Lord is near
Near to all who call upon Him

“If You abide in me
And My words abide in you,
You shall ask what you will
And it will be done;
if You abide in me
And My words abide in you,
You shall ask what you will
And it shall be done;

SHEPHERD OF SOULS (GOOD SHEPHERD)
ST AGNES (p.D.)
v. 1&2 J. MOntgomery (1771-1854) v. 3&4 anon.
arr. and new chorus by Nick Alexander

Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless
Your chosen pilgrim flock
With manna in the widerness
With water from the rock.

We would not live by bread alone
But by Your word of grace
In strength of which we travel on
To our abiding place.

Be known to us in breaking bread
But do not then depart
Saviour abide with us, and spread
Your table in our heart.

Lord, sup with us in love divine
Your body and your blood
That living bread, that heav’nly wine
Be our immortal food.

You are our shepherd
You are our shepherd
You know Your sheep as Your own
You are our shepherd
And we, Your beloved
Declare Your goodness alone.

New version copyright (c) 2014 by Nick Alexander

The Prayer Meeting Podcast is a worship podcast where you are invited to sing, play along, or just listen. Music notation of these songs are now available (read further). This week’s episode is an extended worship jam based on the songs of Pentecost. Many of these songs were based upon a detailed survey that many of you answered.

Episode Log Times
2:27 – Veni Creator Spiritus
4:46 – Come And Fill This Temple
7:29 – Every Time I Feel The Spirit
11:20 – Lord, I Need Your Holy Spirit
11:58 – Yes, He Did!
15:05 – Holy Ghost, Descend Upon Your Children
19:13 – Be Filled With The Spirit
20:07 – Set My Spirit Free
21:26 – The Comforter Has Come
26:35 – Beneath Our Lady’s Shadow
35:10 – Come, O Creator Spirit Blest

Feel free to pass this podcast along to anybody whom you feel would be blessed by it. Also, if you’re a musician or worship leader, feel free to use these songs in your own circles.

LYRIC SHEET (right click and select Save to Desktop)

You can purchase the songbook associated with this episode for only $7.99. With this you will have music, words and chords that I used when I crafted this worship set. Then you will be able to play along with these songs, and you will then be able to include them in your own circles. A portion of the proceeds will be going towards Mercy Corps.

Please share with me any ideas or song suggestions you would like in a future worship podcast. Survey Link

PLEASE LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW. THANK YOU!

Lyrics below:

VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS
PLAINCHANT, 9TH CENTURY

Veni, creator Spiritus              Come, Creator Spirit,
Mentes tuorum visita,             And with Your visit,
Imple superna gratia,             Fill, with Your grace from above
Quae tu creasti pectora.        These hearts which You have created.

Qui diceris Paraclitus,            You, who are called Counselor,
Donum Dei altissimi,              You are the gift of God the highest,
Fons vivus, ignis, caritas        Fountain of life, Fire of love,
Et spiritalis unctio.                  and spiritual unction.

Tu septiformis munere,          You who have sevenfold roles,
Dextrae Dei tu digitus             Finger of the right hand of God;
Tu rite promissum Patris        You are the rightly promise of the Father
Sermone ditans guttura.         Empower my throat for speaking.

Accende lumen sensibus,      Kindle our senses with light,
Infunde amorem cordibus,      Pour love upon our hearts
Infirma nostri corporis,            That our weak bodies
Virtute firmans perpeti.            May endure, and be confirmed in virtue.

Hostem repellas longius          Drive far away our enemy,
Pacemque dones protinus;     Peace, grant to us
Ductore sic te praevio             So You may guide us as before
Vitemus omne noxium.           And we may avoid all that brings hurt.

Per te sciamus da Patrem     Grant that, through You, let us know the Father,
Noscamus atque Filium,        And the Eternal Son,
Te utriusque Spiritum             And with you both, O Spirit,
Credamus omni tempore.     That we may believe, forever.

Deo Patri sit gloria,                 With God the Father is glory,
Et Filio, qui a mortuis              And the Son, who, from the dead,
Surrexit, ac Paraclito,             He arose! And the Paraclete
In saeculorum saecula.          For ever and ever,

Amen.

Public Domain

COME AND FILL THIS TEMPLE
Arlene Friesen

Come, O come, and fill this temple.
Fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
Come, O come, and fill this temple.
Fill this temple with the glory of the Lord.

Lord we wait, with open arms
We’re hungry for Your touch
Lord, we worship now Your Name, O Jesus
Forgive us Lord, for grieving You
Pour down, Your heart anew
With the fire and the zeal of Pentecost!

Public Domain

EVERY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT
Spiritual

Every time I, feel the Spirit
Movin’ in my heart, I will pray.
Every time I, feel the Spirit
Movin’ in my heart, I will pray.

Upon the mountain, when my Lord spoke
Out of His mouth came fire and smoke;
Looked all around me, it looked so fine,
Till I asked my Lord if it were mine.

Oh I have sorrows, and I have woe
And I have heartaches here below;
But my God leads me, I’m in His care.
And I can feel Him everywhere.

Copyright Unknown

LORD, I NEED YOUR HOLY SPIRIT
Author Unknown

Lord, I need Your Holy Spirit
Breathe into this heart of mine
And possess my inmost being
And give me, Lord, a heart like Thine.

Copyright Unknown

YES, HE DID!
Spiritual

I asked the Lord, that He’d show up,
Yes, I did, Yes, I did!
He came and filled my empty cup,
Yes, He did, Yes, He did!

I can tell the world about this
I can tell the nations, I’m blest
Tell them that Jesus made me whole
And He brought joy, joy, joy, to my soul!

He took my feet from the miry clay,
Yes, He did, Yes, He did!
And placed them on the Rock to stay,
Yes, He did, Yes, He did!

My Lord, did just what he said,
Yes, He did, Yes, He did!
He healed the sick and raised the dead.
Yes, He did, Yes, He did!

Public Domain

HOLY GHOST, DESCEND UPON YOUR CHILDREN
Frederick W. Faber (1814-1863)
PARACLETE Bernard Tours (b. 1835)
New arrangement by Nick Alexander

Holy Ghost, descend upon Your children
Grant us grace, and make us Thine
Your tender fires, within us kindle.
Blessed Spirit! Dove divine!

1. For all within us good and holy
Is from You, Your precious gift,
In all our joys and all our sorrows,
Wistful hearts, to You we lift.

2. For You to us are ever nearer,
Ever closer in Your love.
So gentle, patient, and forbearing
Holy Spirit, heav’nly Dove!

How we’ve grieved You, gracious Spirit
Wayward, wanton, cold are we;
Still our sins, new every morning,
Never yet have wearied Thee.

3. Now, let our hearts be not deceived,
Let us take You as our Lord!
O dearest Spirit! Make us faithful
To Your least and lightest Word.

New arrangement Copyright (c) 2014 by Nick Alexander

BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
Author Unknown

Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves
In Psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs,
Singing and making melody
In your heart to the Lord.

Copyright unknown.

SET MY SPIRIT FREE
Author Unknown

Set my Spirit free, that I may worship Thee
Set my Spirit free, that I may praise Your Name.
Let all bondage go, and let deliverance flow.
Set my Spirit free to worship Thee.

Public Domain

THE COMFORTER HAS COME
William J. Kirkpatrick, Frank Bottome (1870)

O spread the tidings round, wherever man is found
Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;
Let ev’ry Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
The Comforter has come!

The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come
The Holy Ghost from heav’n,
The Father’s promise giv’n;
O spread the tidings round, wherever man is found
The Comforter has come!

O boundless love divine, How shall this tongue of mine,
To wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine,
That I, a child of hell, should in His image shine!
The Comforter has come!

Public Domain

BENEATH OUR LADY’S SHADOW
Frederick W. Faber (1814-1863), alt.
Wolfgang A. Mozart .
Arrangement by Nick Alexander

1.Beneath Our Lady’s shadow
Were the Chosen of her Son
As they had pray’d in the upper room
Her pow’r and Spirit shone.
Her Son had left that heart to them;
For ten long nights and days.
The Savior gone, no Spirit come
She ruled their infant ways.

2. Queen of the Church! Around her shines,
The purest light of heav’n
And all created things to her,
As her domain’s been given!
Why does she wait, then, so abashed
Wrapt in ecstatic fear,
Speechless with adoration, hushed
As thought our God was near.
Was near. Was near.

Behold, He comes!
That mighty Breath from heav’ns eternal shores.

3. Earth quakes before that rushing blast,
Heav’n echoes back the sound,
And mightily the tempest wheels
That Upper Room around.
One moment and the Spirit hung
O’er her with dread desire;
Then broke upon the heads of all
In cloven tongues of fire.
Of fire. Of fire.

Who knows, just what
A sea of love Our Lady’s heart He drown’d?
Or what, new gifts
He gave her then? What ancient gifts He crown’d?

4. What gifts He gave those chosen men
Past ages can display;
E’en more their vigor still inspires
The weakness of today.
Those tongues still speak within our Church
That Fire is undecay’d;
Its wellspring was that Upper Room
Where Mary sat and pray’d.

Let us fall and worship Him
Consubstantial Breath of God
Humble Spirit, Holy God!
Sweet Your Presence be!

You’re the coeternal One
Love ‘tween Father and the Son
Jesus’ death has been our gain
As long as we have Thee!

5. Like Mary, You came to Your Church
With Your unfailing Pow’r.
Like them, descend on us with grace
Like them, descend on us with grace
Like them, descend on us with grace
In this very hour.

New arrangement copyright (c) 2014 by Nick Alexander

COME O CREATOR SPIRIT BLEST
Veni Creator Spiritus 9th century
Tr. by Edward Caswall, 19th cent.
New arr. by Nick Alexander

1. Come, O Creator Spirit Blest
And in our souls take up Thy rest
Come with Thy grace and heav’nly aid
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made

2. Kindle our senses from above
And make our hearts o’erflow with love
With patience firm and virtue high
The weakness of our flesh supply

Great Paraclete! O Fount of Life!
O Sweet Anointing from above!
O Highest Gift, of God Most High!
To Thee we cry, Fire of Love!

3. Far from us drive the foe we dread
And grant us Thy true peace instead
So shall we not, with Thee for guide
Turn from the path of life aside.

4. Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know
And Thee thru endless times confess’d
Of both th’eternal Spirit blest.

5. All glory, while the ages run
Be to the Father and the Son
Who rose from death: the same to Thee,
O Holy Ghost eternally.

Copyright (c) 2001 by Nick Kleszczewski Music

All songs are either in the public domain, or have been used by permission.

LYRIC SHEET (right click and select Save to Desktop)

Please share with me any ideas or song suggestions you would like in a future worship podcast. Survey Link

PLEASE LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW. THANK YOU!

Subscribe to the Prayer Meeting Podcast

Subscribe to the Prayer Meeting Podcast

The Prayer Meeting Podcast is a worship podcast where you are invited to sing, play along, or just listen. Music notation of these songs will be available shortly. This week’s episode is an extended worship jam based on the songs of Easter Sunday. Many of these songs were based upon a detailed survey that many of you answered.

2:27 Eternal King Of Realms On High
5:08 The Strife Is O’er
7:18 The Grave Now Is Empty
8:57 At The Name Of Jesus
13:05 Christ The Lord Is Ris’n Today
14:26 King Of Kings (Hallelujah Chorus)
18:53 O Sons And Daughters
24:06 Alleluia! Alleluia! Hearts And Voice
26:05 He Is Lord
28:05 Alleluia! Sing To Jesus
31:41 I Know That My Redeemer Lives
32:50 Jesus Christ Is Alive Today
36:48 All Hail, Dear Conqueror All Hail!
38:35 Thou Art The Resurrection
41:13 Crown Him With Many Crowns
43:31 Yours Be The Glory

Feel free to pass this podcast along to anybody whom you feel would be blessed by it. Also, if you’re a musician or worship leader, feel free to use these songs in your own circles.

LYRIC SHEET (right click and select Save to Desktop)

Please share with me any ideas or song suggestions you would like in a future worship podcast.  Survey Link

PLEASE LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW. THANK YOU!

Lyrics below:

ETERNAL KING OF REALMS ON HIGH
Rex Sempiterne caelitum.
Latin 6th c. Tr. by Ronald Knox (P.D.)

1. Eternal King of realms on high
Maker of all our thought can span
Who with the Father equally
Didst reign before the worlds began

2. Thou, craftsman of that primal day,
Thy image gavest to a Son
Whose spirit pure with baser clay
Mysteriously was joined in one.

3. Anon, when Satan’s envious will
Had warped our nature, thou didst take
This mortal flesh, with sovereign skill
The form Thou madest to remake.

4. Thou camest from a Virgin’s womb
A grave, new sealed, is now thy bed
Thou bid’st us, buried in thy tomb
Rise with thy rising from the dead.

5. Eternal Shepherd, thou thy sheep
Dost in baptismal waters dye;
Here let our hearts their nature steep
Here let our vices buried lie.

6. By that dear stream of life-blood spilt,
Nailed to the Cross thyself hast paid
The full requital of our guilt
So well deserved, so long delayed.

7. Jesus our joy in Paschal days
Could but that joy outlast the year!
Let not the souls thy love doth raise
In sin’s corruption persevere.

8. Praise we the Father, praise the Son
Who rose again from death this night
And Holy Ghost for ever one
With them in uncreated light.

THE STRIFE IS O’ER
Symphonia Sirenum, Cologne, 1695
Tr. Francis Pott (1861)
Tune: VICTORY (Palestrina 1591)
Adapted by William H. Monk (1861)

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

1. The strife is o’er, the battle done;
The victory of life is won;
The song of triumph has begun: Alleluia!

2. The powers of death have done their worst;
But Christ their legions hath dispersed;
Let shouts of holy joy outburst: Alleluia!

3. The three sad days are quickly sped;
He rises glorious from the dead;
All glory to our risen Head! Alleluia!

4. He closed the yawning gates of hell;
The bars from heaven’s high portals fell;
Let hymns of praise His triumphs tell! Alleluia!

5. Lord, by the stripes which wounded Thee,
From death’s dread sting Thy servants free,
That we may live, and sing to Thee: Alleluia!

THE GRAVE NOW IS EMPTY
Author Unknown

The grave now is empty
The stone has rolled away
And Christ is alive in my heart.
The death that He conquered
For me has no part
For Christ is alive in my heart.

AT THE NAME OF JESUS
Caroline M. Noel (1870)
alt. melody by Nick Alexander

1. At the name of Jesus,
every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess Him
King of Glory now;
’Tis the Father’s pleasure
We should call Him Lord,
Who from the beginning
Was the mighty Word.

2. Humbled for a season,
To receive a name
From the lips of sinners
Unto whom He came,
Faithfully He bore it,
Spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious
When from death He passed.

3. Bore it up triumphant
with its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures,
to the central height,
To the throne of Godhead,
to the Father’s breast;
Filled it with the glory
The glory of that perfect rest.

4. Name Him, Christians, name Him,
with love strong as death
But with awe and wonder,
and with bated breath!
He is God the Savior,
He is Christ the Lord,
Ever to be worshipped,
trusted and adored.

5. In your hearts enthrone Him;
There let Him subdue
All that is not holy,
All that is not true;
Crown Him as your captain
In temptation’s hour;
Let His will enfold you
Enfold you in its light and power.

6. Know that this Lord Jesus
Shall return again,
With His Father’s glory,
with His angel train;
For all wreaths of empire
meet upon His brow,
And our hearts confess Him
King of Glory now.

CHRIST THE LORD IS RIS’N TODAY
Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
LLANFAIR, 77 77 w alleluias
Robert Williams, 1781-1821

1. Christ the Lord is ris’n to day, Alleluia!
Sons of Men and Angels say! Alleluia!
Raise your Joys and Triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye Heav’ns, and Earth, reply. Alleluia!

2. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O Death, is now your sting? Alleluia!
Once he died our Souls to save; Alleluia!
Where’s your Victory, O Grave?” Alleluia!

3. Hail, the Lord of Earth and Heav’n! Alleluia!
Praise to thee by both be giv’n! Alleluia!
Thee we greet Triumphant now Alleluia!
Hail the Resurrection–thou! Alleluia!

4. King of Glory! Soul of bliss! Alleluia!
Everlasting Life is this– Alleluia!
Thee to know–thy Pow’r to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing, and thus to love. Alleluia!

KING OF KINGS (HALLELUJAH CHORUS)
George Frederick Handel
Arr. by Nick Alexander

King of kings,
Forever and ever,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
And Lord of lords,
Forever and ever,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

King of kings,
Forever and ever,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
And Lord of lords,
Forever and ever,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

King of kings,
Forever and ever,
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
And Lord of lords!

King of kings, and Lord of lords.
Hallelujah!

O SONS AND DAUGHTERS
Jean Tisserand; Tr. J. M. Neale
O FILII ET FILIAE
Melchior Vulpius, c. 1615

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

O sons and daughters, let us sing!
The King of heaven, the glorious King,
O’er death today rose triumphing. Alleluia!

That night the apostles met in fear;
Amidst them came their Lord most dear,
And said, “My peace be on all here.” Alleluia!

When Thomas first the tidings heard,
How they had seen the risen Lord,
He doubted the disciples’ word. Alleluia!

“My pierced hands, O Thomas, see;
My hands, my feet, I show to thee;
Not faithless, but believing be.” Alleluia!

No longer Thomas then denied,
He saw the feet, the hands, the side;
“Thou art my Lord and God,” he cried. Alleluia!

How blest are they who have not seen,
And yet whose faith has constant been,
For they eternal life shall win. Alleluia!

On this most holy day of days,
To God your hearts and voices raise,
In laud, and jubilee, and praise. Alleluia!

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! HEARTS AND VOICE TO HEAVEN’WARD RAISE
Christopher Wordsworth, 1862, alt.
EBENEZER 8.7.8.7.
Thomas J. Williams, 1890, P.D.

1. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hearts and voice to heavenward raise:
Sing to God a hymn of gladness,
Sing to God a hymn of praise:
He, Who on the cross a victim,
For the world’s salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of glory,
Now is risen from the dead.

2. Now the iron bars are broken,
Christ from death to life is born,
Glorious life, and life immortal,
On this holy Easter morn:
Christ has triumphed, and we conquer
By His mighty enterprise,
We with Him to life eternal
By His resurrection rise.

3. Christ, Thou-risen, we pray thusly:
Shed upon us heavenly grace,
Rain and dew and gleams of glory
From the brightness of Thy face:
That, with hearts in heaven dwelling,
We on earth may fruitful be,
And by angel-hands be gathered,
And be ever, Lord, with Thee.

HE IS LORD
Author Unknown

He is Lord, He is Lord
He is risen from the dead and He is Lord
Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord.

You are Lord, You are Lord
You have risen from the dead and You are Lord
Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord.

ALLELUIA! SING TO JESUS
W. Chatterton Dix (1866)
Tune: HYFRYDOL
Rowland Hugh Prichard (1830)

1. Alleluia! sing to Jesus!
His the sceptre, His the throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph,
His the victory alone:
Hark! the songs of peaceful Sion
Thunder like a mighty flood;
Jesus, out of every nation
Has redeemed us by His blood.

2. Alleluia! not as orphans
Are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us,
Faith believes, nor questions how:
Though the cloud from sight received Him,
When the forty days were o’er:
Shall our hearts forget His promise,
“I am with you evermore”?

3. Alleluia! King eternal,
Thee the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! born or Mary,
Earth Thy footstool, heaven Thy throne:
Thou within the veil hast entered,
Robed in flesh, our great High-Priest;
Thou on earth both Priest and Victim
In the Eucharistic feast.

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES
Samuel Medley (1775)
DUKE STREET
John Hatton, 1793

1. I know that my Redeemer lives,
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead,
He lives, my everlasting Head.

2. He lives, triumphant from the grace,
He lives, eternally to save;
He lives, all-glorious in the sky,
He lives, exulted there on high.

3. He lives to crush the pow’rs of hell,
He lives that he may in me dwell,
He lives to heal and make me whole
He lives to guard my feeble soul.

4. He lives my kind, my heavenly friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while he lives I’ll sing,
He lives my Prophet, Priest and King.

JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE TODAY
Author Unknown

Jesus Christ is alive today
We know we know it’s true
Sov’reign of the universe
We give Him homage due
Seated there at God’s right hand
We are with Him in the promised land.
Jesus lives and reigns in you,
That’s how we know it’s true.

ALL HAIL, DEAR CONQUEROR ALL HAIL!
Tune: Victor Rex
R.R. Terry (alt).

All hail, dear Conqueror, all hail
Oh what a victory is Thine
How beautiful Thy strength appears
Thy crimson Wounds, how bright they shine.

You came out at the dawn of day
Armies of souls around You were
Blest spirits thronging to adore
Your Flesh so marvelous, so fair.

The everlasting Godhead lay
Shrouded within those Limbs divine
Nor left untenanted one hour
That sacred human Heart of Thine.

They worshipped Thee, those ransomed souls
With the fresh strength of love set free;
O sin, you’ve been undone by love
O death, tell me, where is your sting?

They worshipped, while the beauteous soul
Paused by the Body’s wounded Side
Bright flashed, the cave before them stood
The living Jesus glorified.

THOU ART THE RESURRECTION
Author Unknown

Thou art the resurrection and the life
All that believeth in Thee though they be dead
Yet shall he live; yes shall he live and
Whosoever liveth and believeth in Thee
Shall never, never die
Shall never, never die.

CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS
Matthew Bridges (1851)
DIADEMATA
George J. Elvey (1868)
1. Crown Him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon His throne;
Hark how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of Him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.

2. Crown Him the Lord of Love,
Behold His hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified.
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends their wond’ring eyes
At mysteries so bright.

3. Crown Him the Lord of Life,
Who triumphed o’er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save.
His glories now we sing
Who died and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die.

4. Crown Him the Lord of heav’n,
Enthroned in worlds above,
Crown Him the King to whom is giv’n
The wondrous name of Love.
Crown Him with many crowns
As thrones before him fall;
Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns,
For He is King of all.

YOURS BE THE GLORY
Edmond Louis Budry
Tr. by Richard Birch Hoyle
‘Maccabaeus’
George Frederick Handel

1. Yours be the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
Endless is Your victory, which o’er death You’ve won;
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave clothes where Your body lay.

Yours be the glory, risen conqu’ring Son,
Endless is Your vict’ry,
Which o’er death You’ve won.

2. Now, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
Let the church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
For her Lord now lives, and, death hath lost its sting.

3. No more we doubt You, glorious Prince of life;
Life’s nothing without You; aid us in our strife;
Make us more than conqu’rors,
through Your deathless love:
Bring us safe through Jordan to Your home above.

EASTER PRAYER
Adapted by David Bennett
from Nisibene Hymn 36:17,18,
by St. Ephrem the Syrian
O Jesus, King,
receive my supplication,
and consider my supplication,
as a pledge to You.
For you, O living King,
have gone forth and gone up,
out of Hell,
as Conqueror.

Woe to those who have rejected you;
For, to evil spirits and demons,
You are sorrow,
to Satan and to Death,
You are pain,
To Sin and Hell,
You are mourning.

Yet, joy has come today,
for those who are born anew.
On this great day therefore,
We give great glory to You,
who died and is now alive,
that to all you may give
life and resurrection!

Source: http://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Easter.htm#ixzz2zGyfnO1B
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

EASTER PRAYER.
St. Gregory the Great

It is only right, with all the powers of our heart and mind,
to praise You Father and Your Only-begotten Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ:

Dear Father, by Your wondrous
condescension of loving-kindness toward us, Your servants,
You gave up Your Son.

Dear Jesus, You paid the debt of Adam for us to the Eternal Father by Your Blood poured fourth in loving-kindness.
You cleared away the darkness of sin

By Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection.
You broke the bonds of death and rose from the grave as a Conqueror.
You reconciled heaven and earth.

Our life had no hope of eternal happiness before You redeemed us.
Your Resurrection has washed away our sins, restored our innocence and brought us joy.

How inestimable is the tenderness of Your love!

TRADITIONAL EASTER DAY PRAYER
St. Hippolytus (AD 190-236)

Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate
Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen
Christ is Risen: The angels of God are rejoicing
Christ is Risen: The tombs of the dead are empty
Christ is Risen indeed from the dead, the first of the sleepers,
Glory and power are his forever and ever

GOD OF PROMISE AND GOD OF HOPE

God of Promise and God of Hope,
who through your great mercy have granted us new birth
through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
we praise your wonderful name!

God of Glory and God of Might
who through your great power have granted us new strength
to endure all things through faith in Christ our risen King,
we praise your wonderful name!

Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

PSALM 150
Douay-Rheims Translation

Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise ye him in the firmament of his power.
Praise ye him for his mighty acts: praise ye him according to the multitude of his greatness.
Praise him with sound of trumpet: praise him with psaltery and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and choir: praise him with strings and organs.
Praise him on high sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of joy: let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia.

All Songs and prayers are creative common license or are in the Public Domain.

LYRIC SHEET (right click and select Save to Desktop)

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The Prayer Meeting Podcast is a worship podcast where you are invited to sing, play along, or just listen. Music notation of these songs will be available shortly.  This week’s episode is an extended worship jam based on the songs of Holy Week, and in particular the events that transpired on Good Friday.  Many of these songs were based upon a detailed survey that many of you answered.

2:53 Were You There
5:30 Stabat Mater
7:49 What Wondrous Love Is This
10:05 O Come And Mourn With Me Awhile
13:11 Beneath the Cross of Jesus
16:47 When I Survey/The Old Rugged Cross
23:29 O Sacred Head Once Wounded
27:00 Glory Be To Jesus
32:59 O The Blood of Jesus / The King of Glory
38.20 Nothing But The Blood
41:03 When He Sees the Blood

Feel free to pass this podcast along to anybody whom you feel would be blessed by it.  Also, if you’re a musician or worship leader, feel free to use these songs in your own circles.  Right Click and select Save to Download the PDF Songsheet.

There is a new survey set up for the best songs for Holy Week.  Please complete a survey to help pick the best songs for the next podcast.

PLEASE LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW.  THANK YOU!

Lyrics below:

WERE YOU THERE
Spiritual

Were you there when they crucified my Lord
Were you there when they crucified my Lord

O, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?

STABAT MATER
Ascribed to Jacopone Da Todi OFM (d. 1306)
Tr. by R. A. Knox.

By the Cross her vigil keeping
Stands the Queen of sorrows weeping
While her Son in torment hangs;

Now she feels–O heart afflicted
By the sword of old predicted!
More than all a mother’s pangs.

Sad and heavy stands beside him
She who once had magnified him
One-begotten, only-born’

While she sees that rich atoning
Long the moaning, deep the groaning
Of her mother-heart forlorn.

Who, Christ’s Mother contemplating
In such bitter anguish waiting
Has no human tears to shed?

Who would leave Christ’s Mother, sharing
All the pain her Son is bearing,
By those tears uncomforted?

Earth and heaven His cause forsaking,
Now His noble heart is breaking,
Now the laboring breath is still.

Mother, fount whence love flows truest
Let me know the pain thou knewest,
Let me weep as thou hast wept.

WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS
Traditional (early U.S.)

1. What wondrous love is this o my soul o my soul
What wondrous love is this o my soul
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul for my soul
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul

2. When I was sinking down, sinking down sinking down
When I was sinking down, sinking down
When I was sinking down,
Beneath God’s righteous frown
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul for my soul
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul

3. To God and to the Lamb  I will sing, I will sing
To God and to the Lamb  I will sing
To God and to the Lamb
Who is the Great I AM
While millions join the theme I will sing I will sing
While millions join the theme I will sing

4. And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on I’ll sing on
And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing and joyful be
Throughout eternity I’ll sing on I’ll sing on
Throughout eternity I’ll sing on

Public Domain

O COME AND MOURN WITH ME AWHILE
JB Dykes 1823-76; FW Faber, 1814-63

O come and mourn with me awhile
See, Mary calls us to her side;
O come and let us mourn with her;
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and men deride?
Ah! look how patiently He hangs
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

How fast His feet and hands are nailed:
His blessed tongue with thirst is tied;
His failing eyes are blind with blood
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

Sev’n words He spoke, sev’n Words of love.
And all three hours, His silence cried
For mercy on the souls of men
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

O love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act, Your strength is tried;
And victory remains with love;
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

BENEATH THE CROSS OF JESUS
Elizabeth C. Clephane, Frederick C. Maker

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would make my stand;
The shadow of a mighty rock
Within a wary land,
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way
From the burning of the noontide heat
And the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus
Mine eyes at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me.
And from my smitten heart with tears,
Two woders I confess:
The wonder of His glorious love
And my unworthiness.

I take, O cross thy shadow
For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine
Than the sunshine of His face.
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain or loss,
My sinful self, my only shame,
My glory all the cross.

WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
Isaac Watts (1674-1748), Edward Miller (1731-1807)
[ROCKINGHAM]

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boaset,
Save in the death of Christ my God,
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small
Love so amazing so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
George Bennard

1. On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suff’ring and shame
And I loved that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

2. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world
has a wondrous attraction for me.
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown.

3. In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine
A wondrous beauty I see
For ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me.

4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true
Its shame and reproach gladly bear
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away
There His glory for ever I’ll share.

Public Domain

O SACRED HEAD ONCE WOUNDED
Bernard of Clairvaux (c. 1150); tr. Paul Gerhardt
Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612);
Arr. by J.S. Bach (1685-1750) [PASSION CHORALE]

O sacred Head, once wounded
With grief and shame bow’d down
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory
What bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory
I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered
Was all for sinners’ gain
Mine mine was the transgression
But Thine the deadly pain:
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace

What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest Friend
For this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever
And should I fainting be
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love for Thee.

GLORY BE TO JESUS
Edward Caswall, Friedrich Filitz

1. Glory be to Jesus, who in bitter pains
Poured for me the lifeblood, from His sacred veins

2. Grace and life eternal, in that blood I find
Blest be his compassion, infinitely kind!

3. Blest thru endless ages, be the precious stream
Which from sin and sorrow, doth the world redeem

4. Oft as earth exulting,  wafts its praise on hi
Angel hosts, rejoicing, make their glad reply

5. Lift ye then yr voices, swell the mighty flood
Louder still + louder, praise the precious blood

Public Domain

O THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Author unknown

O the Blood of Jesus
O the Blood of Jesus
O the Blood of Jesus
It washes white as snow.

THE KING OF GLORY
Author unknown

The King of Glory who died on the tree
Saved my soul and set me free
Fills my life with joy and glee
And this King of Glory is coming back for me.
The King of Glory who died on the tree
Saved my soul and set me free
Fills my life with joy and glee
And He’s just the same today.

Oh, King of Glory, You died on the tree
You saved my soul and You set me free
You fill my life with joy and glee
And as King of Glory You’re coming back for me.
Yes, King of Glory You died on the tree
You saved my soul and You set me free
You fill my life with joy and glee
And You’re just the same today.

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD
Author Unknown

What can wash away our sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

For our pardon this we see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
For our cleansing, this our plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

O precious is the flow
That makes us white as snow
No other fount we know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

WHEN HE SEES THE BLOOD
John G. Foot (1880)

Christ our Redeemer died on the cross
Died for the sinner, paid all His due;
Sprinkle your soul with the Blood of the Lamb,
And He will pass, will pass over you.

When He sees the blood,
When He sees the blood,
When He sees the blood,
He will pass, He will pass over you.

Chiefest of sinners, Jesus will save;
All He has promised, that He will do;
Wash in the fountain opened for sin
And He will pass, will pass over you.

Judgment is coming, all will be there,
Each one receiving justly His due;
Hide in the saving, sin-cleansing blood,
And He will pass, will pass over you.

Oh, great compassion! O boundless love!
O loving kindness, faithful and true!
Find peace and shelter under the blood,
And He will pass, will pass over you.

All Songs are in the Public Domain.

Thank you for listening.  The Easter survey is almost complete.

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The Prayer Meeting Podcast is a worship podcast where you are invited to sing, play along, or just listen.

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click here for Feedburner.

This week’s episode is an extended worship jam based on Lenten hymns, based upon a detailed survey that many of you answered.

3:03 Lord Who Throughout These 40 Days
7:55 Parce Domine
8:15 Turn Back O Man /
9:56 There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy
12:57 Parce Domine
13:20 Our Faith Looks Up To Thee
18:23 Lord Jesus Think on Me
19:55 When Jesus Wept /
21:00 O Lord Have Mercy /
21:36 God Of mercy God of Grace
25:01 Savior When In Dust To Thee
27:22 Cleanse Me
31:31 Attende Domine
34:07 O Love How Deep How Broad How High

Feel free to pass this podcast along to anybody whom you feel would be blessed by it. Also, if you’re a musician or worship leader, feel free to use these songs in your own circles.

If you want access to the Free Lenten Songbook for Guitar, please provide your email address and a link and password will be sent to you.

There is a new survey set up for the best songs for Holy Week. Please complete a survey to help pick the best songs for the next podcast.

PLEASE LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW. THANK YOU!

Lyrics below:

LORD WHO THROUGHOUT THESE 40 DAYS
Claudia Frances Mernaman, 1838-1898
St.FLAVIAN, from John Day’s Psalter

1 Lord! Who throughout these forty days,
For us didst fast and pray,
Teach us with Thee to mourn our sins,
And close by Thee to stay.

2 As Thou with Satan didst contend,
And didst the victory win,
Oh, give us strength in Thee to fight,
In Thee to conquer sin.

3 As Thou didst hunger bear and thirst,
So teach us, gracious Lord,
To die to self, and chiefly live
By Thy most holy Word.

4 And through these days of penitence,
And through Thy Passion-tide,
Yea, evermore, in life and death,
Jesus, with us abide.

5 Abide with us, that so, this life
Of suffering overpast,
An Easter of unending joy
We may attain at last!

PARCE DOMINE
Traditional Plainchant
Translation by Nick Alexander

Parce Domine, parce populo tuo
Ne in aeternum irascaris nobis.

TURN BACK O MAN
Clifford Bax, 1919
OLD 124th; Louis Bourgeois, 1551

THERE’S A WIDENESS IN GOD’S MERCY
Frederick W. Faber (1814-1863)
ST. MABYN

Turn back, O man, forswear thy foolish ways.
Old now is earth, and none may count her days.
Yet thou, her child, whose head is crowned with flame,
Still wilt not hear thine inner God proclaim,
“Turn back, O man, forswear thy foolish ways.”

Earth might be fair, and all men glad and wise.
Age after age their tragic empires rise,
Built while they dream, and in that dreaming weep:
Would man but wake from out his haunted sleep,
Earth might be fair and all men glad and wise.

1 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,
like the wideness of the sea.
There’s a kindness in God’s justice,
which is more than liberty.

2. There is welcome for the sinner
And more graces for the good
There is mercy with the Saviour
There is healing in His Blood.

Earth shall be fair, and all her people one:
Nor till that hour shall God’s whole will be done.
Now, even now, once more from earth to sky,
Peals forth in joy man’s old undaunted cry—
“Earth shall be fair, and all her folk be one!”

3. There is no place where earth’s sorrows
are more felt than up in heaven.
There is no place where earth’s failings
have such kindly judgment given.

4. There is plentiful redemption
In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrows of the Head.

PARCE DOMINE
Traditional Plainchant
Translation by Nick Alexander

Pardon us O Lord
Spare us all under Your Name
Do not forever hold Your anger against us.

OUR FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
Ray Palmer, 1830, alt.
OLIVET; Lowell Mason, 1832
New arrangement by Nick Alexander

1 Our faith looks up to thee,
Dear Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear us while I pray;
Please take our guilt away;
O let us from this day
be wholly thine!

2 May thy rich grace impart
strength to our fainting heart,
our zeal inspire;
as thou for us hast died,
O may our love betide
pure, warm, and changeless guide,
make us afire!

3 While life’s dark maze we tread
and griefs around us spread,
be thou our guide;
be thou our guide;
bid darkness turn to day;
wipe sorrow’s tears away;
nor let us ever stray
from thee aside.

4 When life’s swift race is run
Death’s cold work almost done
To us be nigh,
To us be nigh,
Blest Savior then in love
Fear and distrust remove.
O bear us safe above,
Redeemed, anew!

LORD JESUS THINK ON ME
Synesius of Cyrene, 5th century
Tr. by Allen W. Chatfield, 1876
SOUTHWELL, SM;
Damon’s Psalmes, 1579

1 Lord Jesus, think on me,
and purge away my sin.
From earth-born passions set me free,
and make me pure within.

2 Lord Jesus, think on me,
amid the battle’s strife.
In all my pain and misery
be thou my health and life.

3 Lord Jesus, think on me,
nor let me go astray.
Through darkness and perplexity
point thou the heavenly way.

4 Lord Jesus, think on me,
that, when this life is past,
I may th’eternal brightness see,
and share thy joy at last.

WHEN JESUS WEPT
William Billings, 1770

When Jesus wept, the falling tear
In mercy flowed beyond all bound;
When Jesus groaned, a trembling fear
Seized all the guilty world around.

O LORD HAVE MERCY
Nick Alexander

O Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

GOD OF MERCY GOD OF GRACE
John Taylor, 1795
AUS DER TIEFE RUFE ICH
Numberg, Gesanbuch, 1676

1 God of mercy, God of grace,
Hear our sad repentant songs
O restore Thy suppliant race
Thou, to Whom our praise belongs

Deep regret for follies past
Talents wasted, time misspent
Hearts debased by worldly cares
Thankless for the blessings lent.

Foolish fears and fond desires
Vain regrets for things as vain,
Lips too seldom taught to praise
Oft to murmur and complain

These and every secret fault
Filled with grief and shame we own
Humbled at Thy feet we lie
Seeking pardon from Thy Throne.

SAVIOR WHEN IN DUST TO THEE
J. Baptiste Calkin (1827-1905)
RAMOTH
New arrangement by Nick Alexander

1 Savior, when in dust to Thee
When, repentant, to the skies
Low we bow the adoring knee;
Scarce we lift our weeping eyes;
Suffered once for man below,
Bending from Thy throne on high,
O, by all Thy pains and woe
Hear our penitential cry!
Hear our penitential cry!

2 By Thy helpless infant years,
By Thy days of sore distress
By Thy life of want and tears,
In the savage wilderness,
By the dread, mysterious hour
Turn, O turn, a fav’ring eye;
Crush the insulting tempter’s pow’r,
Hear our penitential cry!
Hear our penitential cry!

3 By the sacred griefs that wept
By the boding tears that flow’d
O’er the grave where Laz’rus slept;
Over Salem’s loved abode
By the anguished sigh that told
Thee from Thy Seat ‘bove the sky
Treachery lurked within Thy fold.
Hear our penitential cry!
Hear our penitential cry!

CLEANSE ME
J. Edwin Orr
New arrangement by Nick Alexander

1 Search us, O God, and know our hearts today;
try us, O Savior, know our thoughts, we pray.
See if there be some wicked way in us;
cleanse me from every sin, Lord Jesus.

2 Lord, take our lives, come make them wholly Thine;
fill our poor hearts with Thy great love divine.
Take all our wills, our passions, selves, and pride;
We now surrender, Lord–in Thee we abide.

We praise Thee Lord, You cleanse us from sin
Fulfill Your Word, purify within
You fill us with fire, where we burned with shame
Come magnify Your Name.

ATTENDE DOMINE
Latin, 10th Century
Tr. by Nick Alexander
Melody From Paris Processional, 1824

Attende Domine, et miserere,
Quia peccavimus tibi.
Attend to our prayers, Lord
And grant us mercy
For we have trespassed against You.

1. Ad te Rex summe,
Omnium Redemptor,
Oculos nostros
Sublevamus flentes:
Exaudi, Christe,
Supplicantum preces.

To You King all Sovereign
You, the All Redeemer
The eyes of us all
Are lifted, yet weeping
Can you hear us, Christ
Our petitions and prayers?

2. Rogamus, Deus,
Tuam majestatem:
Auribus sacris
Gemitus exaudi:
Crimina nostra
Placidus indulge.

We beseech Thee God
To You, Your Majesty
Your ears, though, sacred
Our groanings You still hear
Our crimes against us
With calm, wilt Thou forgive.

O LOVE HOW DEEP HOW BROAD HOW HIGH
Ascribed to St. Thomas Aquinas, 15th c.
Tr. by Benjamin Webb, 1854, 1871
DEO GRACIAS (or AGINCOURT HYMN)
Anon. 1415

1 O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
beyond all thought and fantasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals’ sake.

2 For us baptized, for us he bore
his holy fast and hungered sore;
for us temptations sharp he knew,
for us, the tempter overthrew.

3 All glory laud, and honor be,
O Jesus virgin born to Thee;
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Ghost, forevermore.

All songs are in the public domain, or used by permission.

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1:57    Break Forth O Beauteous Heav’nly Light/Hark The Herald Angels Sing
6:17    The Huron Carol
10:08    Away in a Manger / Polish Lullaby
14:00    Dominus Dixit (chant)
15:14    Ring Out Ye Wild and Merry Bells
17:16    Hallelujah Hallelujah
19:03    Adeste Fideles/Gloria (ding dong merrily…)
23:56    O Holy Night
29:05    Come and Worship (Angels From The Realms of Glory)
31:43    While by my Sheep (How Great Our Joy)
33:30    Joy to the World
35:00    All My Heart This Night Rejoices
37:08    All Praise To You, Eternal Lord
41:04    Silent Night

Feel free to pass this podcast along to anybody whom you feel would be blessed by it.  Also, if you’re a musician or worship leader, feel free to use these songs in your own circles.

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There is a Free Christmas Carol Songbook For Guitar available to anybody who signs up to the Nick Alexander/Prayer Meeting Podcast mailing list.

BREAK FORTH O BEAUTEOUS HEAV’NLY LIGHT/HARK THE HERALS ANGELS SING
Johann von Rist (1641); Ermuntre Dich

Break forth O beauteous heav’nly light
And usher in the morning.
You shepherd, shudder not with afright
But hear the ange’s warning.
This Child now weak in infancy
Our confidence and joy shall be
The pow’r of Satan breaking
Our peace eternal making.

Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!

Break forth O beauteous heav’nly light
To herald our salvation.
He stoops to earth, the God of might
Our hope and expectation.
He comes in human flesh to dwell
Our God with us, Immanuel
The night of darkness ending
Our fallen race befriending.

Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!

Hail the heav’n born Prince of Peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth.

Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King!

THE HURON CAROL
Jean de Brebeuf (1643)
Tr. by J.E. Middleton, 1926; alt.

‘Twas in the moon of wintertime
When all the birds had fled
That mighty angel Gabriel
Sent angel choirs instead
Before their light the stars grew dim
And wondering hunters heard the hymn.

Jesus your King is born
Jesus is born
In excelsis gloria.

Within a cave of scattered hay
The tender babe was found
A ragged robe of warm sheep-skin
En-wrapped His beauty round
But as the shepherd boys drew nigh
The angel song rang loud and high.

Jesus your King is born
Jesus is born
In excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime
Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory
On the helpless Infant there
The Kings that knelt before Him were
With gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Jesus your King is born
Jesus is born
In excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free
O seed of Babylon
The holy Child of earth and Heav’n
For you this day was born.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.

Jesus your King is born
Jesus is born
In excelsis gloria.

Public Domain

AWAY IN A MANGER / POLISH LULLABY
Away in A Manger words anonymous;
Tune by William J Kirkpatrick
Polish Lullaby (Lulajze Jezuniu)
Tr. by Anonymous

Away In a Manger, no Crib For a bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky
Look’d down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes
I love Thee Lord Jesus!
Look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle Till morning is nigh.

Lullaby Jesus, O cease from Your crying
Here on your Mother’s warm breast softly lying.
Lullaby, Jesus, O sleep now, my treasure
Mother is watching with love none can measure.
Lullaby, Jesus, O sleep now, my treasure
Mother is watching with love none can measure.

See how the world lies
In sorrow and sadness
Give us Your blessing,
O bring Heaven’s gladness
Lullaby, Jesus, O sleep now, my treasure
Mother is watching with love none can measure.
Lullaby, Jesus, O sleep now, my treasure
Mother is watching with love none can measure.

Be near me Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, And love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care
And fit us for heaven,
To live with Thee there.

DOMINUS DIXIT (Chant)

Dominus dixit ad me
Filius meus es tu
Ego hodie genui te

Lord God had said to me:
Dearest Son, Mine own art Thou.
I have this very day begotten Thee.

RING OUT YE WILD AND MERRY BELLS
Words: unknown; Composer: C. Maitland

Ring out Ye wild and Merry Bells
Ring out the old old story
That first was told by angel tongues from out the realms of Glory.
Peace onearth was their sweet song
Glory in the Highest!
Echoing all the hills away,
Glory in the Highest!

Ring sweet bells, ring evermore
Peal from every steeple.
Christ the Lord shall be our God
And we shall be His people!

Ring out, ye silv’ry bells, ring out
Ring out your exultation
That God with man is reconciled
Go tell it to the nations.
Therefore let us all today
Glory in the Highest!
Banish sorrow far away
Glory in the Highest!

HALLELUJAH HALLELUJAH
Isaac Naylor

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!
Amen, Amen! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!

Public Domain

ADESTE FIDELES/GLORIA (DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH)
Adeste, fideles, Laeti triumphantes;
Venites, venite in Bethlehem;
Nahum videte Regem angelorum

Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus
Venite adoremus Dominum.

Deum de Deo, Lumen de lumine,
Gestant puellae viscera;
Deum verum, Genitum non factum:

Gloria, Hosanna in Excelsis.

Cantet nunc Io! Chorus angelorum:
Cantet nunc aula caelestium:
Gloria, gloria, In excelsis Deo!

Erego qui natus Die hodierna,
Jesu tibi sit gloria:
Patris aeterni Verbum caro factum!

O HOLY NIGHT
Adolphe Adam (1847); John Sullivan Dwight (1855)

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born

O night, O holy night! O night divine.

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here comes the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!

COME AND WORSHIP (ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY)
Come and Worship, Come and Worship
Worship Christ the Newborn King!

WHILE BY MY SHEEP
While by my sheep I watched at night
Glad tidings brought an angel bright.

How great my joy, great my joy
Joy Joy Joy! Joy Joy joy!
Praise to the Lord in Heaven on high.

There shall be born, so he did say
In Bethlehem, a Child today.

There shall He lie, in manger mean,
Who shall redeem the world from sin.

Lord, evermore to me be night
Then shall my heart be filled with joy!

JOY TO THE WORLD
Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing!
And heaven and nature sing!
And heaven and heaven and nature sing!

Joy to the world! The Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and gloods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy

ALL MY HEART THIS NIGHT REJOICES
Paul Gerhadt (1656),
Tr. Catherine Winkworth (1827-78)
WARUM SOLLTICH

All my heart this night rejoices
As I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices
“Christ is born!” their choirs are singing.
Till the air, ev’rywhere,Now with joy is ringing.

Hear! the conquereor has spoken:
“Now the foe, sin and woe,
Death and hell are broken!”
God is man, man to deliver,
And the Son, now is one with our blood forever.

Come, then, banish all your sadness!
One and all, great and small,
come with songs of gladness
We shall live with Him forever.
There on high, in that joy, which shall vanish never.

ALL PRAISE TO YOU, ETERNAL LORD
Martin Luther; FESTUS; Johann
New arrangement by Nick Alexander

All praise to You, eternal Lord
Who wore the garb of flesh and blood
And chose a manger for Your throne
While worlds on worlds were Yours alone

Once did the skies, before You bow
A virgin’s arms contain You now
While angels who in You rejoice
Now listen for Your infant voice.

Dear Little Child, You are Guest
That weary ones in You may rest;
Forlorn and lonely, that was Your birth
That we, that we may rise from heaven to earth.

You came down in that darkest night
To make us children of the light,
To make us in the realms divine
Like Your own angels round You shine.

All this for us Your love has done;
By this to You our love is won;
For this ourjoyful songs we raise
For this we sing Your ceaseless praise.

SILENT NIGHT

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

This week’s Prayer Meeting Podcast is an extended worship jam based on the theme of Advent.

1:27 Creator of the Stars of Night
3:25 Wake Awake for Night is Flying/All Our Trials
8:42 O Come, Divine Messiah
11:33 O Come O Come Emmanuel
15:40 Arise the Kingdom is at Hand
18:32 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus/ Be Still and Know
21:50 How Brightly Beams the Morning Star
25:47 Hark a Herald Voice is Sounding
28:15 Behold, the Bridegroom Comes

Feel free to pass this podcast along to anybody whom you feel would be blessed by it. Also, if you’re a musician or worship leader, feel free to use these songs in your own circles.

I have compiled all of the songs into one master Advent resource.  To download, right click “The Free Advent Hymn Songbook for Guitar“ and select “Save As.”  You have my permission to use these in your own circles.  Enjoy.

Lyrics below:

CREATOR OF THE STARS OF NIGHT
Latin 9th century
CONDITOR ALME

Creator of the stars of night
Thy people’s everlasting light
Jesus, Redeemer of us all
And hear Thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.

Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The spotless Victim all divine.

At Whose dread Name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
And things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

O Thou Whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From every insult of the foe.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.

WAKE AWAKE FOR NIGHT IS FLYING/ ALL OUR TRIALS
Philip Nicolai, 1599
Harm. by J.S. Bach, 1731

“All our trials” – Spiritual

1 “Wake, awake, for night is flying,”
the watchmen on the heights are crying;
“Awake, Jerusalem, arise!”
Midnight hears the welcome voices
and at the thrilling cry rejoices:
“Where are the maidens pure and wise?
The Bridegroom comes: Awake!
Your lamps with gladness take!
Alleluia!
With bridal care and faith’s bold prayer,
to meet the Bridegroom, come, prepare!”

2 Zion hears the watchmen singing,
and in her heart new joy is springing.
She wakes, she rises from her gloom.
For her Lord comes down all-glorious
and strong in grace, in truth victorious.
Her star is risen, her light is come!
Now come, O Blessed One,
Lord Jesus, God’s own Son.
Sing hosanna!
We answer all in joy your call;
we follow to the wedding hall.

All our trials, Lord, soon be over.

3 Lamb of God, the heavens adore you,
the saints and angels sing before you
with harp and cymbals’ clearest tone.
Of one pearl each shining portal,
where, joining with the choir immortal,
we gather round your radiant throne.
No eye has seen that light,
no ear the echoed might
of your glory;
yet there shall we in victory
sing shouts of joy eternally!

Public Domain

O COME DIVINE MESSIAH
Abbe Simon-Joseph Pellegrin 1663-1745
Tr. by Sr. Mary of St. Philip 1825-1904

O come, divine Messiah;
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph
And sadness flee away

O Christ, whom nations sigh for,
Whom priest and prophet long foretold
Come, break the captive’s fetters,
Redeem the long lost fold.

Dear Savior haste!
Come, come to earth.
Dispel the night and show Your face
And bid us hail the dawn of grace.
O come, divine Messiah;
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph
And sadness flee away

You come in peace and meekness
And lowly will Your cradle be
All clothed in human weakness
Shall we Your Godhead see.

O COME O COME EMMANUEL
Latin 9th Century
Arr. by Nick Alexander

1 O come, O come, Immanuel,
Come ransom captive Israel.
O come, Dear Wisdom from on high,
O come, yes, come, Great Lord of might,

Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel!
Behold, shall come, Emmanuel.

2. O come, You Bright and Morning Star,
Come, bring us comfort from afar!
O come, Great King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.

3. O come, teach us Your ways to go.
To us, Your path of knowledge show
O come, Dear Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home.

ARISE THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND
Johann Rist, 1651 Tr. by Cath. Winkworth, 1858
verses added H. Lewars, 1913
Mel. 1598

Arise, the Kingdom is at hand
The King is drawing nigh
Arise with joy, you faithful band
To meet the Lord most high!
Go forth in bright array
He comes salvation bringin
With loud hosannas singing
Go meet Him on His way.
Go meet Him on His way.

Look up, you drooping hearts today!
The King is very near:
Oh, cast your griefs and fears away
For lo, your Help is here!
He is your very Lord;
His kingdom with you sharing
High comfort to you bearing,
In Sacrament and Word
In Sacrament and Word

Arise with footsteps joyous
You Saviour King to greet
He comes, the Prince all glorious
Strong God, yet gentle, sweet.
Come all with one accord;
Your hearts with ardor yearning
Your lamps well trimmed and burning
Go forth to meet Your Lord.
Go forth to meet Your Lord.

Public Domain

COME THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS
HYFRODOL; Rowland H. Prichard, 1811-1887

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s hope and consolation
Hope of all the strength Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart.

Public Domain

BE STILL AND KNOW
Author unknown

Be still and know that He is God
He is the Lord that heals Thee.
In You, O Lord, we put our trust.

Copyright unknown.

HOW BRIGHTLY BEAMS THE MORNING STAR
Johann Adolf Schlegel 1765
Tr. by Catherine Winkworth 1863
Tune: WIE SCHON LEUCHTET

How brightly beams the morning star
What sudden radiance from afar
Doth glad us with its shining?
The ray of God that breaks our night
And fills the darkened souls with light
Who long for truth we’re pining
Thy Word, Jesus,
Truly feeds us, rightly leads us
Life bestowing.
Praise, oh praise such love o’erflowing.

Through Thee alone can we be blest;
Then deep be on our hearts imprest
The love that Thou hast borne us
So make us ready to fulfill
With burning zeal Thy holy will,
Though men may vex or scorn us;
Savior, let us,
Never lose Thee, For we choose Thee
Thirst to know Thee.
All we are and have we owe Thee!

O praise to Thee who came to save
You conquered death and burst the grave;
Each day new praise resoundeth.
You are the Lamb who once was slain,
The Friend whom none shall trust in vain
Whose grace always aboundeth;
Sing, you heavens:
Tell the story of His glory
Till His praises
Flood with light earth’s darkest places.

Public Domain

HARK A HERALD VOICE IS SOUNDING
Latin 6th Century
En clara vox redarguit
Tr. by Fr. E. Caswall, 1695
Tune: Merton (Monk) 1850

Hark a herald voice is sounding
“Christ is nigh!” it seems to say;
Cast away the dreams of darkness
O ye children of the day!

Startled at the solemn warning
Let the earthbound soul arise;
Christ her sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies

Lo! the Lamb so long expected
Comes with pardon down from heav’n.
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow.
One and all to be forgiv’n.

So when next He comes with glory,
Shrouding all the earth in fear
May He then as our Defender
On the clouds of heav’n appear.

Honour, glory, virtue, merit
To the Father and the Son
With the coeternal Spirit
While eternal ages run.

Public Domain

BEHOLD, THE BRIDEGROOM COMES
George A. Macfarren (alt.)
MIDNIGHT
New arrangement by Nick Alexander

Behold the Bridegroom comes
Arise in the middle of the night
And blest is he prepared and steeled
Whose lamp is burning bright;
But woe to that dull servant, whom his Master shall surprise
With lamp untrimmed, unburning and with slumber in his eyes.

Keep watch, my soul, keep watch, beware
Lest you in sleep, sink down
Unless you be giv’n o’er to death
And lose your golden crown
But see that you be sober
With a watchful eye, and thus
Cry “holy, holy, holy God
Have mercy upon us!”

That day of fear shall come
My soul, slack not your toil
But light your lamp and feed it well
Make it bright with oil
You do not know how soon may sound that cry at eventide
Behold our Bridegroom comes; Arise!
He comes to meet His Bride

Beware my soul, take your good heed
Let you in slumber lie
And like the five, remain withou,
And knock and vainly cry;
But watch and bear your lamp undimmed,
And Christ shall gird you on
His own bright wedding robe light
The Glory of the Son.

That day of joy shall come
My soul, slack not your toil
So light your lamp and feed it well
Make it bright with oil
You do not know how soon may sound that cry at eventide
Behold our Saviour comes; Arise!
He comes to meet His Bride

Public Domain

Do you have a favorite Advent song?  Share it in the comments box below.

NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD
Johann Cruger, Marin Rinkart

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom His world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

Public Domain

WE LIVE BECAUSE OF YOU
AUthor Unknown

We Live because of You, Lord
We Live because of You
Ev’rything You have is ours Lord
We Live because of You

Copyright unknown

PSALM 8
Author unknown

O Lord, our Lord how majestic Your Name is
How great is Thy Name in all the earth
Who hast set Your glory above the high heavens
And stilleth Your foes through a Child in its birth.

When I think on Your heavens the work of Your fingers
The moon and the stars which You have ordained
What is man in Your mem’ry a man that You mindest
The son of the man that You carest for him?

Copyright unknown

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING
Author unknown

Praise and thanksgiving let everyone bring
Unto our Father for ev’ry good thing!
All together joyfully sing.

Copyright unknown

WE PLOW THE FIELDS
Johann A.P. Schulz, 1800; CLAUDIUS

We plow the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.

Refrain

All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
For all His love.

He only is the Maker of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him, by Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread.

Refrain

We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, and food;
No gifts have we to offer, for all Thy love imparts,
But that which Thou desirest, our humble, thankful hearts.

O LORD I THANK YOU/THANK YOU THANK YOU JESUS
Author unknown/Author unknown

O Lord I thank You, I really thank You
I just thank You all the days of my life.
O Lord I thank You, I really thank You
I just thank You all the days of my life.

When I was hungry, Lord You fed me
When I was hungry, Lord You fed me
When I was hungry, Lord You fed me
And I just thank You all the days of my life.

When I was broken, Lord You healed me
When I was broken, Lord You healed me
When I was broken, Lord You healed me
And I just thank You all the days of my life.

When I was lonely, Lord You came to me
When I was lonely, Lord You came to me
When I was lonely, Lord You came to me
And I just thank You all the days of my life.

Thank You, thank You Jesus
Thank You, thank You Jesus
Thank You, thank You Jesus in my heart
O thank You, thank You Jesus
Thank You, thank You Jesus
Thank You, thank You Jesus in my heart

Copyright unknown

GIVE THANKS TO GOD MOST HIGH
Isaac Watts; Darwall’s 148th

Give thanks to God most high,
The universal Lord,
The sovereign King of kings;
And be His grace adored.
His power and grace
Are still the same;
And let His Name
Have endless praise.

How mighty is His hand!
What wonders He has done!
He formed the earth and seas,
And spread the heav’ns alone.
Your mercy, Lord,
It shall endure;
And ever sure,
Abide Your word.

He sent his only Son
To save us from our woe,
From Satan, sin, and death,
And every hurtful foe.
Your power and grace
Are still the same;
And let his name
Have endless praise.

Give thanks aloud to God,
To God the heav’nly King;
And let the spacious earth
His works and glories sing.
Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall still endure;
And ever sure
Abide Your word.

Public Domain

EGO AUTEM
Roman Gradual

Ego autem in Dómino sperávi:
Exsultábo, et laetábor in túa misericórdia
Quia respexísti humilitátem méam.

I profess now, the Lord, my God I do trust
I will exult and be joyful
in Your own steadfast love and mercy
because You have noticed this affliction upon me.

Public Domain

THANKS TO GOD FOR MY REDEEMER
August Ludvig Storm (1862-1914)  Tr. by Carl E. Backstrom (1901-1984), alt.
Tune: John A. Hultman (1861-1942)  TACK O GUD

Thank You God, You’re Our Redeemer
And for all that You provide
Thanks for times in all our mem’ries
You came, Jesus, to our side
Thank You for Your soothing springtime
Thanks for dark and dreary fall!
And our tears, now long forgotten
‘Twas Your peace placed in our souls!

Thank You for pray’rs that You’ve answered
And for pray’rs which You’ve denied!
And for storms that we’ve had weathered
Thanks for all that You’ve supplied
Thanks for pain and thanks for pleasure
Thanks for comfort in despair
Lord, Your grace no one can measure
And Your love’s beyond compare!

Thanks for roses by our wayside
And for thorns their stems contain!
Thanks for home and thanks for fireside
Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain
Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow
And Your gift of heav’nly peace!
And Your hope, today, tomorrow
And for all eternity!

Public Domain; Discovered at hymnary.com

Extended Thanksgiving Worship Set !!!!!!!!

This episode is the first podcast in its new format, namely, a straight worship session.  If you are interested in the music notation, right-click and download each of the titles.  This worship set was crafted by Nick Alexander.

1. LIFT JESUS HIGHER
Author Unknown
Lift Jesus higher, Lift Jesus higher
Lift Him up for the world to see
He said “If I be lifted up from the earth
I will draw all men unto me.”

Public Domain

2. COME GO WITH ME TO THAT LAND
Author Unknown

Come go with me to that land
Come go with me to that land
Come go with me to that land where I’m bound
Come go with me to that land
Come go with me to that land
To that land, to that land, where I’m bound.

2. Be singing and dancing n that land…
3. There’s milk + honey in that land…
4. You’re gonna meet Jesus in that land…
5. Well, don’tcha know heaven is…

Public Domain

3. IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE
Walter Chalmers Smith, 1824-1908; Welsh Melody (p.d.)
v.2 Nick Alexander (based on Introit)

1. Immortal, Invisible, God only wise
In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days
Almighty, victorious, Your Great Name we praise!

2. Our God says these words,     for He’s gracious and true:
“Just call upon Me,     and I will answer you.
I will think thoughts of peace, and not of affliction.
And I’ll lead back your captives from ev’ry nation.”

3. Great Father of glory, Pure Father of light
Your angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
Of all Your rich graces, Lord, this grace impart:
Take-the veil from our faces, this veil from our hearts.

Public Domain

4. SOFTLY AND TENDERLY
Will L. Thompson (1847-1909)

1. Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me;
See, on the portals – he’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home;
You who are weary – come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!

2. Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?

3. Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me;
Shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
Coming for you and for me.

4. O for the wonderful love  he has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, he has mercy + pardon,
Pardon for you and for me..

Public Domain

5. AMEN DICO VOBIS
Roman Gradual; Tr. by Nick Alexander

1. Amen díco vóbis, quídquid orántes pétitis,
crédite quia accipiétis, et fíet vóbis.

2. Verily, I say to you, ev’ry prayer that you request
Be confident that you have received it,
And it shall be yours.

Public Domain

6. O SAY, BUT I’M GLAD
Rev. James P. Sullivan, Mildred E. Sullivan

1. There is a song in our hearts today
Something we’ve never had
Jesus, You’ve taken our sins away
O say, but we’re glad!

O say, but we’re glad, we’re glad!
O say, but we’re glad!
Jesus, You’ve come and our cups’ overrun
O say, but we’re glad!

2. Wonderful, marvelous love You bring
Into a heart that’s sad
Through darkest tunnels the soul just sings
O say, but we’re glad!

Public Domain

7. I WILL BLESS THEE, O LORD
Author Unknown

We will bless You, O Lord,
We will bless You, O Lord
With a heart of thanksgiving,
We will bless You, O Lord

With our hands lifted up
And our mouths filled with praise
With a heart of thanksgiving,
We will bless You, O Lord

Copyright unknown

8. O, HOW I LOVE JESUS
Author Unknown

O, how we love Jesus
O, how we love Jesus
We love You so, Jesus
Because You have first loved us!

Copyright unknown

Nick, giving a presentation

Hear ye! Hear ye! The latest installment of the Prayer Meeting Podcast is now live.

In this podcast I share my experiences over the past weekend, where I had given a presentation and performed a comedy concert at a one-day church-affiliated conference.  Being fresh in my mind, I thought it would be good to share my process as to how I craft a parody song, and what I do to prepare for delivering an effective presentation for any type of crowd.

In fact, I happened to have crafted three new parody songs just for this conference.  At the end of this podcast (after the Doxology), I replay one of them, a parody of “Blurred Lines” (“Don’t Believe Lies”).  I hope you enjoy this.

There are two reasons as to why I am sharing this.  The first reason is to encourage my listeners, that if they have a desire to bring me in to keynote or deliver a talk, I can demonstrate what it is I would do for them.  The second reason is, if they wish to know how I create talks, so as to build upon their own skills, they could use some of my tips as well.

This podcast begins with a worship set, and the theme is about All Saints’ Day.  I had chosen a combination of hymns, praise choruses and chant that best befits this day that is celebrated across denominational lines.  I hope to have the music notation for these songs up soon, so you can play along.  (Update: they’re now up and live.  Right click the titles and select “Save As” to save on your local drive).

FOR ALL THE SAINTS
Text: William W. How, 1823-1897
Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sine Nomine (1906).  P.D.
Alt. melodies: Nick Alexander (c) 2013

1. For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Your Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

2. Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

3. For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee: Alleluia!

4. For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

5. The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise, be blessed: Alleluia!

6. O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Allelu – ia!

7. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Allelu – ia!

8. O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine: Alleluia!

9. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

New arrangement copyright (c) 2013 by Nick Alexander

LET SAINTS ON EARTH IN CONCERT SING
Text by Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Music by Scottish Psalter (1615)
“Jesus is Real”  Author Unknown
“As We Await” by Nick Alexander

Let saints on earth in concert sing
With those whose work is done;
For all the servants of our King
In Heav’n and earth are one.

Jesus is real, He’ll never fail.
Let’s serve Him now
and throughout all eternity.

One family, we dwell in Him,
One Church, above, beneath;
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death.

Jesus is real, He’ll never fail.
Let’s serve Him now
and throughout all eternity.

As we await Your mercy from afar
We watch and pray,
You’ll meet us where we are
We need Your grace
To bring us to Your throne
So to worship You alone.

Jesu, be Thou our constant Guide;
Then, when the word is given,
Bid Jordan’s narrow stream divide,
And bring us safe to Heav’n.

New arrangement copyright (c) 2013 by Nick Alexander

BEATI MUNDO CORDE
Roman Gradual; Translation by Nick Alexander

Beáti múndo córde, quoniam ípsi Déum vidébunt:
Beáti pacífici, quóniam fílii Déi vocabúntur
Beáti qui persecutiónem patiúntur propter justítiam,
quóniam ipsórum est régnum caelórum.

Blessed are the pure of heart
for it is indeed God that they shall see.
Blessed are the peacemakers
for it is “the children of God” that they shall be called.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
and who suffer for the sake of justice
for it is to be theirs, the kingdom of heaven.

Public Domain

What are your thoughts about parody songs, or presentations?  Leave them in the combox below.

Sing to the Lord a New Song!

The latest CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing, Inc.) survey results are in for the October 2012 to March 2013 season, and you can look at the CCLI Top 25 list results right here.

However, I am more interested in those songs that were added to most people’s song folios during this time. Coming up with such a list, to me, is far more interesting and practical.

Because I keep records of previous survey periods, I am able to compare the results of this period with that of before.  And in doing so, I am able to craft a unique list that focuses strongly on those songs that have risen the most in the ranks over a specific time period.

This list contains those songs that most worship musicians have discovered, and felt most compelled to introduce to their circles, over the 2012-2013 time period. It’s my attempt at a Top 10 list, but the way it worked out is that there were two ties, including a three-way tie.

So… 13 songs for 2013.

Although these surveys come out twice a year, I focused solely on doing a Top Ten (or Thirteen) for the full year, since the last time the list came out was during Lent, and I was already in the middle of a different series at that point.  Perhaps it makes better sense to focus on this annually; perhaps not.

It should be noted that just because the song is highly placed on this list does not connote that the song is a perfect fit for your circles.  Each song must be looked at individually, in terms of your mission statement, the unique framework of those who attend your church, the musicians you have at your disposal, and the music licenses that your church holds.

Even if your church is unable to play these songs, does not mean that you should ignore these.  They represent the best of what’s out there today, from the results of a large survey encompassing tens of thousands of worship musicians.  These songs play well in one’s music playlist, and their accompanying albums also contain more great songs well worth discovering.

I hope to create a worship resource incorporating these songs in the near future.  In the meantime, I am able to provide a worship songsheet for the opening worship set, the hymn On Christ the Solid Rock and the praise chorus You’re Not Your Own, You’re His.

Feel free to link to this podcast to those who would most benefit from this resource.  Thanks for listening!

1. Overcome by Desperation Band/Jeremy Camp
2. Break Every Chain and Set A Fire by Will Reagan (tie)
3. Holy Spirit by Bryan and Katie Torwalt (of Jesus Culture)
4. 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin
5. The Same Love by Paul Baloche and Michael Rossback
6. Jesus Son of God, Lay Me Down, and White Flag (three-way tie) by Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, and a few other artists.
7. Your Presence Is Heaven by Israel Houghton and Micah Massey
8. I Surrender by Matt Crocker
9. Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash and Scott Cash.
10. Cornerstone by Reuben Morgan, Jonas Myrin, Eward Mote, Eric Liljero, and William B.. Bradbury

Any comments on this list?  Any songs you’ve learned this past year that really touched your circles, that you’d like to have mentioned?  Share them in the comments!

Millions descended to Rio in 2013 to celebrate World Youth Day.

I share in this podcast my thoughts about sharing your faith with others, and in particular, how to do so. I get that this is hard; I get that this is something that most Catholics, let alone most young adult Christians, are weary to do. And yet, there’s that command addressed to all Christians, by Jesus Himself, at Matthew 28.

The bulk of my thoughts are based on one of the pope’s addresses, but I highly recommend you–regardless of your denomination–to read his addresses about evangelizing directly from the World Youth Day website.  You’re going to want to read the addresses in their unedited form.  They’re great.

Secondly, I refer to a previous Prayer Meeting Podcast, episode 22, whereas I discuss enacting lasting changes in your life. In that episode I discuss the practical approaches to establishing a new change in your life.  This exercise is a way to establish new routines, new goals, and I apply this to the desire to share your faith with others.

We can very easily lose sight of the goal to share our faith, but it is the calling of every Christian to do so.  The key is to incorporate subtle hints throughout your life to remind you to do this, while also preparing you for the task.  I list my own personal results from this exercise, as to what I would do; for you, it might be different.

I am working diligently on The Great Commission Songbook, and I give an updated status.  I am still whittling down the list of songs, but I am very pleased by the song selections thus far.  Thanks for being patient with me.

I refer to the song Evangelize — a parody I had written years ago.  I will have a lyric sheet book available on my own website shortly.

Lastly, I begin the podcast with a short worship set using a medley between Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling and Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.  Right click the titles to download the songsheets.  These are in the public domain.

HARK THE VOICE OF JESUS CALLING
Arthur Sullivan, 1842-1900;
Daniel March, 1868
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS
Composer unknown
Arr. by Nick Alexander

1. Hark the Voice of Jesus calling
“Who will go and work today?
Fields are white and harvest waiting,
Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Loud and long the Master calleth
Rich reward He offers free;
Who will answer, gladly saying,
“Here am I, send me, send me?”

2. If you cannot cross the ocean
And all other lands explore,
You can find the hurting nearer,
You can help them at your door;
If you cannot give your thousands
You can give the widow’s mite;
And the least you give for Jesus
Will be precious in His sight.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Never have I heard a name
that thrills my soul like Thine.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
O the wond’rous grace that links
that lovely Name with mine.

3. Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do”
While the souls of men are dying
And the Master calls for you
Take the task He gives you gladly;
Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when He calleth
“Here am I, send me, send me.”

Arrangement Copyright Pending

Any questions? Comments?  Leave below.

Nick singing Entirely To Thee

This podcast is changing direction. After a few weeks in sabbatical, I have come across a new approach to doing this podcast, one that would use the fullness of new media, and be the best approach for all who would be ministered to by this podcast.

First, I will focus this podcast to share with listeners the very best songs as pertains to a specific subject or topic. For example, the next podcast will focus on my favorite songs–both ancient and contemporary, both copyrighted and public domain–about The Great Commission. This is to introduce people to the power that songs can have in helping us grow in holiness and the calling God has for us.

The second big change is that these songs will be not only counted down, they will not only be linked to for your own downloads, but they will also be presented in a downloadable songbook. This will be a great resource for musicians and worship leaders to introduce such songs into their sets. In addition, this songbook will emphasize Cut-Capo Combinations and their corresponding chords, to bring out the very best tone of the song. If you are a guitarist who is interested in bringing his playing to the next level, you may want to consider using these tools.

The third big change is that I will take snippets of this podcast and put them onto YouTube. YouTube is the second biggest search engine out there, and is the best place for somebody to be introduced to songs quickly. I believe that with this format, these songs will have maximized their reach.

The next podcast will be aired in about one month from now, and I will focus on the best songs for The Great Commission. This is the upcoming theme of World Youth Day 2013, in Rio, later this month. It is the calling of all Christians to help do their part to fulfill the Great Commission. I do not have any false notions that the songs by themselves will singlehandedly turn an introvert into Billy Graham; but I do believe that songs of this nature are quite helpful in cheering us on, reminding us of our duty to be faithful witnesses of the great hope that is instilled in us.

Do you have any favorite songs/hymns/Scriptures on the Great Commission? Share below.

Speaking of The Great Commission, one great way to help fulfill the Great Commission is by the use of New Media, and in particular, podcasting. Podcasting brings forth an intimacy and a realness that blogging doesn’t have. It also is a venue for long-form speaking that YouTube does not have. Would you like to learn podcasting? My friend, Cliff Ravenscraft has crafted the http://www.podcastingatoz.com course with you in mind. This course starts on July 22, and you can save $100 off by using the coupon code ALEXANDER.

ENTIRELY TO THEE
by Nick Alexander and Ed Luchansky

I surrender all
Entirely to Thee
I pledge my life, my will
Entirely to Thee

I give unto Thee
All I am
Entirely to Thee
All I am

For You know all my needs
And I know You will provide
And You show me,
You’ll never leave my side.

Lord, You know all my needs
And I know You will provide
And You show me,
You’ll never leave my side.

Copyright (c) 2001 Nick Alexander Music

The songsheet for “Entirely To Thee”, which was used in this podcast, is available for free download. (Right-click and select “Save As”).

The Holy Spirit is a promise to those who follow Christ, to assist us in our talents, to assist us in following His will for our lives, and ultimately, to lead us to worship God, for all eternity.

Different denominations and churches have different approaches to worship, but the bottom line is to worship.

We worship because we are not God. (Psalm 95:6-7) It’s not about what we get out of it, but because God is worthy.

We worship because He has done marvelous things, especially for fearfully and wonderfully making us. (Psalm 98, 139).

We yearn for riches, power and fame, but God is the Creator, and sole recipient of all these. We’re to worship no matter what.

When we worship, we change into more of who we’re called to be.

A songsheet is available for this episode. Right Click Here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.

Episode Log Times
3:37 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
4:19 – When the Spirit Says Move
6:41 -Ruach (Spirit)
8:34 – Veni, Sante Spiritus (Vogler)
10:18 – Come Holy Ghost
12:20 – Come And Fill This Temple
14:56 – Every Time I Feel The Spirit
16:44 -This Joy That I Have
20:28 – Again The Slowly Circling Year
24:51 – Come O Creator Spirit Blest
28:55 – Veni Sancte Spiritus (Chant)
31:58 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
38:35 – Song of the Week (“Come Holy Spirit/Veni Sancte Spiritus” by John Michael Talbot)
46:53 – Reflections – Why Worship?
65:50 – Final Comments and Doxology

SONG OF THE WEEK
“Come Holy Spirit (Veni Sancte Spiritus)” by John Michael Talbot. Copyright (c) 1993 Troubadour For the Lord Music. Published by OCP Publications; From the album Meditiations in the Spirit (affiliate link).  YouTube link.

******************SONGS*******************

WHEN THE SPIRIT SAYS MOVE
SPIRITUAL

1.When the Spirit says move, you’ve gotta move.
When the Spirit says move, you’ve gotta move.
When the Spirit says move, you’ve gotta move,
oh, Lord.
When the Spirit says move, you’ve gotta move.

2. Sing. 3. Shout. 4. Clap 5. Laugh 6. Worship 7. Pray

Public Domain;

RUACH (SPIRIT)
Traditional Hebrew Melody

Spirit, Spirit, Spirit of God.
Spirit, Spirit, Spirit of God.

Not by might or power,
But by Your Spirit, oh God.

Copyright unknown

VENI, SANCTE SPIRITUS
George Vogler (1749-1814)
Veni, veni, veni, Sancte Spiritus
Veni, veni, veni, Sancte Spiritus

Public Domain

COME HOLY GHOST
Rabanus Maurus, 776-856;
tr. by Edward Caswall, 1814-1878
LAMBILLLOTTE, LM w repeat; Louis Lambillotte, SJ, 1796-1855

Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest
And in our hearts take up Thy rest
Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O Comforter, to Thee we cry
Thou heavn’ly gift of God most high
Thou Font of life, and Fire of love
And sweet anointing from above.
And sweet anointing from above.

Praise be to Thee, Father and Son
And Holy Spirit, Three in One;
And may the Son on us bestow
The gifts that from the Spirit flow.
The gifts that from the Spirit flow.

Public Domain
COME AND FILL THIS TEMPLE
Arlene Friesen

Come, O come, and fill this temple.
Fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
Come, O come, and fill this temple.
Fill this temple with the glory of the Lord

Lord we wait, with open arms
We’re hungry for Your touch
Lord, we worship now Your Name, O Jesus
Forgive us Lord, for grieving You
Pour down, Your hearts anew
With the fire and the zeal of Pentecost!

Public Domain

EVERY TIME I FEEL THE SPIRIT
Spiritual

Every time I, feel the Spirit
Movin’ in my heart, I will pray.
Every time I, feel the Spirit
Movin’ in my heart, I will pray.

Upon the mountain, when my Lord spoke
Out of His mouth came fire and smoke;
Looked all around me, it looked so fine,
Till I asked my Lord if it were mine.

Oh I have sorrows, and I have woe
And I have heartaches here below;
But my God leads me, I’m in His care.
And I can feel Him everywhere.

Copyright Unknown

THIS JOY THAT I HAVE
Author Unknown

This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it me.
This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it me.
This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it me.
The world didn’t give it, the world can’t take it away.
(The world can’t take it away.)

2. This fire that I have…

Public Domain

AGAIN THE SLOWLY CIRCLING YEAR
Edward Caswall, 1814-1878

1. Again the slowly circling year
Brings round the blessed hour
When on the Saints the Paraclete
Came down in grace and pow’r.

2. In fashion of a fiery tongue
On each and all He came
Their lips with eloquence He strung
And filled their hearts with flame. (cont…)

3. Straighway with divers tongues they speak
Instinct with grace divine
While wond’ring crowds the cause mistake
And deem them drunk with wine.

4. These things were mystically wrought
The Paschal time complete
When Israel’s law remission brought
Of every legal debt.

5. O God of grace, to Thee we pray
To Thee adoring bend
Into our hearts this sacred day
Thy Spirit’s fullness send.

6. Thou Who in ages past didst pour
Thy graces from above
Thy grace in us, where lost, restore
Establish peace and love.

7. All glory to the Father be
And to the Son Who rose
Glory O Holy Ghost to Thee
While age on ages flows.

Public Domain

COME O CREATOR SPIRIT BLEST
Nick Alexander, Veni Creator Spiritus

1. Come, O Creator Spirit Blest
And in our souls take up Thy rest
Come with Thy grace and heav’nly aid
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made

2. Kindle our senses from above
And make our hearts o’erflow with love
With patience firm and virtue high
The weakness of our flesh supply

Great Paraclete! O Fount of Life!
O Sweet Anointing from above!
O Highest Gift, of God Most High!
To Thee we cry, Fire of Love!

3. Far from us drive the foe we dread
And grant us Thy true peace instead
So shall we not, with Thee for guide
Turn from the path of life aside.

4. Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
The Father and the Son to know
And Thee thru endless times confess’d
Of both th’eternal Spirit blest.

Copyright (c) 2001 by Nick Kleszczewski Music

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS
Roman Gradual
Véni Sáncte Spíritus, réple tuórum córda fidélium:
et túi amóris in éis ígnem accénde.

Come down, Holy Spirit, now
And fill all the empty hearts of Your faithful
And pour Your great love in them
Through fire enkindling.

Public Domain

Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, at
http://www.prayermeetingpodcast/ or call 203/701-7771

Did you know that Nick Alexander is available for keynotes? For comedy? For worship? For teaching about the faith?
Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event: See him in action and check out his home page.

Jesus is alive! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

This episode is a special Easter-centric episode, focusing solely on Jesus’ victory over the grave.

It is also the 20th anniversary of my own conversion to the Catholic faith, which took place during the Easter Vigil.

I share my story as to the personal milestones that led me to decide to be a Roman Catholic, from my introduction to that personal encounter with Jesus Christ, to my years of anti-Catholic tendencies, to my embrace of charismatic prayer, to my serious questioning of Catholic doctrines, to ultimately my surmounting these roadblocks.

As I share this story, I note my gratitude for all the different people placed in my path, even those who did not share that of the Catholic faith, because all have helped me in my own walk with Jesus.

A songsheet is available for this episode. Right Click Here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.

Episode Log Times
3:36 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
3:47 – Christians, To The Paschal Victim
5:55 – He Is Risen! He Is Risen!
8:50 – Welcome, Happy Morning
11:07 – Hail Thee, Festival Day
13:29 – Vive Jesus, El Señor
15:40 – We Worship And Adore Thee
19:06 – Alleluia! Alleluia!
23:40 – Haec Dies (Chant)
25:45 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
33:33 – Song of the Week (“Alive Forever Amen” by Travis Cottrell, David Moffitt, and Sue C. Smith)
41:23 – Reflections – Why I’m a Catholic
60:18 – Final Comments and Doxology

SONG OF THE WEEK
“Alive Forever Amen” by Travis Cottrell, David Moffitt, and Sue C. Smith.
Copyright (c) 2003 New Spring / CCTB Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin TN 37067) / First Hand Revelation Music / Integrity’s Hosanna! Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing);
iTunes songlink.

********************SONGS***********************

CHRISTIANS, TO THE PASCHAL VICTIM
VICTIMAE PASCHALI
ascribed to WIPO c. 1030
Tr. from The English Hymnal (c) 1906

Christians, to the Paschal victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A lamb the sheep redeemeth;
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconcileth sinners to the Father
Death and life have contended
In that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life who died, reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring
What thou sawest wayfaring
“The tomb of Christ who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
Bright angels attesting
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yea Christ my hope is arisen:
To Galilee He goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen;
Our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, Victor King,
Ever reigning! Amen.

Public Domain;

HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN!
Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander, Joachim Neander

He is risen! He is risen!
Tell it out with joyful voice
He has burst His three days’ prison
Let the whole wide earth rejoice
Death is conquered we are free
Christ has won the victory

Come you sad and fearful-hearted
With glad smile and radiant face
Death’s long shadows have departed
Gloom with Easter joy replace
Sin’s dread sting for us He bore
Died He once to die no more

He is risen! He is risen!
He has opened heaven’s gate
We are free from sin’s dark prison
Risen to a holier state
And a brighter Easter beam
On our longing eyes shall stream

Public Domain

WELCOME HAPPY MORNING
Frances Ridley Havergal, John Ellerton
Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus

“Welcome happy morning!” age to age shall say
Hell today is vanquished, heav’n is won today
Christ once dead is living, God forevermore
Him their true Creator, all His works adore

“Welcome happy morning!” age to age shall say.

Maker and redeemer, life and health of all
God from heav’n beholding, human nature’s fall
You the true and only, Son of God above
Died as mortal man to save us by your love

Source of all things living, You came down to die
Plumbed the depths of hell, to raise us up on high
Come then true and faithful, come fulfill Your word
This is Your third morning, rise, O buried Lord

Free the souls long prison’d bound with Satan’s chain
All that once had fallen, raise to life again
Show your face in brightness, shine in ev’ry land
As in Eden’s garden, when the world began

Public Domain

HAIL THEE, FESTIVAL DAY
Ralph Vaughan Williams, Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus

Hail thee festival day
Blest day to be hallowed forever
Day when our Lord was raised
Breaking the kingdom of death

All the fair beauty of earth
From the death of the winter arising
Every good gift of the year
Now with its Master returns

Rise from the grave now O Lord
The author of life and creation
Treading the pathway of death
New life You give to us all
Public Domain

VIVE JESUS, EL SEÑOR
Author Unknown

Vive, Jesus, el Señor. Vive, Jesus, el Señor
Vive, Jesus, el Señor. Vive, Jesus, el Señor

El vive! El Vive! Vive! Vive!
Vive, Jesus, el Señor

Jesus, the Lord, is alive! Jesus, the Lord, is alive!
Jesus, the Lord, is alive! Jesus, the Lord, is alive!

He lives! He lives! Lives! Lives!
Jesus, the Lord, is alive!

Author Unknown

WE WORSHIP AND ADORE THEE
Author unknown

We worship and adore Thee
Bowing down before Thee
Songs of praises singing
Hallelujahs ringing

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen!

Copyright Unknown

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!
Christopher Wordsworth, Ludwig van Beethoven

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hearts to heaven and voices raise
Sing to God a hymn of gladness
Sing to God a hymn of praise
He who on the cross a victim
For the world’s salvation bled
Jesus Christ the King of glory
Now is risen from the dead

Alleluia! Christ is risen
Death at last has met defeat
See the ancient powers of evil
In confusion and retreat
Once He died and once was buried
Now He lives forevermore
Jesus Christ the world’s Redeemer
Whom we worship and adore

Christ is risen Christ the firstfruits
Of the holy harvest field
Which will all its full abundance
At His second coming yield
Then the golden ears of harvest
Will their heads before Him wave
Ripened by His glorious sunshine
From the furrows of the grave

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glory be to God on high
Alleluia to the Savior
Who has won the victory
Alleluia to the Spirit
Fount of love and sanctity
Alleluia! Alleluia!
To the triune Majesty
Public Domain

HAEC DIES
Roman Gradual

Haec díes, quam fécit Dóminus:
Excsultémus, et laetémur in éa.

This is the day that was made by the Lord;
Let us rejoice and be delighted in this day.

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, at
http://www.prayermeetingpodcast/
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Do you have original worship songs that you’d like to share? Do you want to do the worship set? Call me at the same number.

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event:
http://www.nickalexander.com

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!

Next week: Taking a few weeks off, be sure to subscribe so you’ll get the latest!

This episode I share about “The Gospel According to St. Matthew”, the sixth and last selection of the Lenten Movie Club, which, at the time of this writing, is available for free at Hulu.com, through streaming (although there will be commercial interruptions).

Pasolini who helmed this effort, was not a Christian when he made this film, and may or

may not have converted later in life. He was an artist, and was very much struck by the Gospel, which he had read when he was traveling to meet with Pope John XXIII upon his invitation.

Pasolini pulls off a very interesting approach to the material; he treats the material reverently, where every line of dialogue from the film is taken verbatim from the Scriptures… but there is no narrator. That means that for stretches of the film, he has the actors work as if in a silent film, trying to convey in pictures what a proper narration would provide.

The film is populated with non-actors. Therefore they bring to this film a natural approach to acting as if the material was happening before them was really happening.

The end result is a movie that has moments where the viewer is, at first, feels a little lost. But as each individual scene progresses, the viewer begins to recognize the material that is being portrayed. It has the affect of introducing you to the Gospel as if you were seeing it for the first time.
When Jesus tells his parables, these parables are not reenacted. Instead, you get facial reactions.There are scenes in this film that are not in many other Jesus films: the slaughter of the innocents, the dance of Salome, the withering of the bad fig tree.

I share my thoughts as to how this film compares with the other notable Jesus films, including “Jesus of Nazareth”, the animated “The Miracle Maker”, “The Passion of the Christ”, “The Gospel of John.”

While I am grateful to have watched this movie for free, the commercial interruptions were a terrible intrusion on the

Next week: The Mega-Easter celebration episode!

Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

A songsheet is available for this episode.  Right Click Here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.

Episode Log Times
3:36 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
5:12 – O Sacred Head / Saviour, When In Dust, To Thee
10:10 – Were You There / O The Blood of Jesus
15:02 – When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
17:49 – O Come And Mourn With Me Awhile
20:45 – When I Survey (Reprise)
22:04 – Glory Be To Jesus
26:30 – Christus Factus Est (Chant)
28:18 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
36:53 – Song of the Week (“O the Blood” by Thomas Miller and Mary Elizabeth Miller)
41:12 – Reflections (Lent Movie:”The Gospel According to St. Matthew”)
58:32 – Final Comments and Doxology

SONG OF THE WEEK
“O The Blood” by Thomas Miller and Mary Elizabeth Miller Copyright (c) 2010 Gateway Create Publishing;

********************SONGS***********************
O SACRED HEAD ONCE WOUNDED
attr to Bernard of Clairvoux (c1150);
tr Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676); tr James W Alexander (1804-1859);
Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612); arr J S Bach (1685-1750)

1. O sacred Head, once wounded
With grief and shame bow’d down.
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory,
What bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.

2. What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered,
Was all for sinner’s gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But Thine the deadly pain:
Lo, here I fall, my Saviour!
‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

3. What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee dearest Friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever;
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love for Thee.

4. Be near me when I’m dying,
O show Thy cross to me;
And to my succour flying
Come, Lord and set me free.
These eyes new faith receiving,
From Jesus shall not move;
For he, who dies believing,
Dies safely through Thy love.

Public Domain;

SAVIOUR, WHEN IN DUST, TO THEE
Sir Robert Grant, 1815; Spanish Melody

Saviour when, in dust to Thee
Low we bend th’adoring knee;
When, repentant to the skies,
Scarce we lift our streaming eyes;
O by all Thy pains and woe,
Suffer’d once for man below,
Bending from Thy throne on high,
Hear Thy people when they cry.

By Thine hour of dark despair,
By Thine agony of pray’r,
By Thy purple robe of scorn,
By Thy wounds–Thy crown of thorn,
By Thy cross–Thy pangs and cries,
By Thy perfect sacrfice;
Jesus look with pitying eye,
Hear Thy people while they cry.

Public Domain

WERE YOU THERE?
African Spiritual

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble,
tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?…

Were you there when they pierced Him in the side?…

Were you there when the sun refused to shine?…

Public Domain

O, THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Author unknown

O the blood of Jesus
O the blood of Jesus
O the blood of Jesus
It washes white as snow.

Copyright unknown

WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
Isaac Watts; Isaac Baker Woodbury

1. When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.

2. See from His head, His hands, His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

3. Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Public Domain

O COME AND MOURN WITH ME AWHILE
J.B. Dykes 1823-76; F.W.Faber, 1814-63

O come and mourn with me awhile;
See, Mary calls us to her side;
O come let us mourn with her
Jesus our Love, is crucified. …

Have we no tears to shed for Him,
While soldiers scoff and men deride?
Ah! look how patiently He hangs:
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

How fast His feet and hands are nailed:
His blessed tongue with thirst is tied;
His failing eyes are blind with blood;
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

Sev’n words He spoke, sev’n words of love.
And all three hours, His silence cried
For mercy on the souls of men;
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

O love of God! O sin of man!
In this dread act, Your strength is tried;
And victory remains with love;
Jesus our Love, is crucified.

Public Domain

GLORY BE TO JESUS
Edward Caswall, Friedrich Filitz

1. Glory be to Jesus, who in bitter pains
Poured for me the lifeblood, from His sacred veins

2. Grace and life eternal, in that blood I find
Blest be His compassion, infinitely kind!

3. Blest thru endless ages, be the precious stream
Which from endless torment, did the world redeem

4. There the fainting spirit, drinks of life her fill
There as in a fountain, laves herself at will.

5. Abel’s blood for vengeance, pleaded to the skies
But the blood of Jesus for our pardon cries.

6. Oft as it is sprinkled on our guilty hearts
Satan in confusion, terror-struck, departs.

7. Oft as earth exulting, wafts its praise on high
Angel hosts, rejoicing, make their glad reply

8. Lift then all your voices, swell the mighty flood
Louder still and louder, praise the precious blood

Public Domain

CHRISTUS FACTUS EST
Roman Gradual

Christus factus est pro nobis obédiens
usque ad mortem, mortem autem crucis.

The Christ became for all of us, obedient
even unto death, that death upon the cross! Amen

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, at
http://www.prayermeetingpodcast/
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event:
http://www.nickalexander.com

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!

Next week: The Mega-Easter Celebration!

This episode I share about “The Passion of Joan of Arc”, the fifth selection of the Lenten Movie Club, which, at the time of this writing, is available to all members of Hulu+ streaming (which may have a trial subscription).

This is considered to be, by many critics, to be one of the greatest movies ever made.

This is a different type of silent film than what we are used to. It is a powerful re-enactment and tragedy.

The film was created at the time where Joan of Arc was greatly celebrated, shortly after the Catholic Church had declared her a saint.

They tried to be accurate with the film, with the one stipulation that they took all the events in the last months of Joan of Arc’s life, and shortened it to just one day.

This was Leah Falconnetti’s only film performance, and is considered to be one of the greatest performances in the history of cinema.

This film had about triple the amount of edits than a normal silent film had in that day. This made the film somewhat disorienting, as if you are off-balance the whole movie.

I share my thoughts as to how this movie had influenced both the film adaptation of Les Misérables (2012), and The Passion of the Christ (2004).

The bigger question is why a movie like this needed to be made at all. Isn’t life hard enough? Why not have some light comedies instead?

This film demonstrates–in vivid detail–the sacrifices one must make if you were to bear the cross.

This world is temporary, and is not our home. The soul that clings to God will last forever.
“In your struggle against sin, you have yet to shed your blood.” -Hebrews 12:4

The trials we endure in this life will be “glory scars” in the next.

The schedule is as follows:

Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

A songsheet is available for this episode.  Right Click Here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.

SONG(s) OF THE WEEK
“Hosanna” by Carl Tuttle Copyright (c) 1982 Mercy Pubg;
“Hosanna” by Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown Copyright (c) 2006 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
“Hosanna” by Brooke Fraser Copyright (c) 2006 by Hillsongs.

Episode Log Times
3:50 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
4:22 – Hosanna To The Living Lord / Power In the Blood
7:40 – Ride On, King Jesus
11:33 – All Glory, Laud and Honor
15:24 – What Wondrous Love Is This
17:55 – Take Up Thy Cross
21:06 – Hosanna Filio David
22:23 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
30:28 – Song of the Week (“Hosanna” by Carl Tuttle, Paul Baloche, Brenton Brown and Brooke Frasier)
40:47 – Reflections (Lent Movie:”Ordet”)
55:33 – Final Comments and Doxology

********************SONGS***********************

HOSANNA TO THE LIVING LORD!
John B Dykes, 1865, Reginald Heber, 1827

1. Hosanna to the living Lord!
Hosanna to th’incarnate Word!
To Christ, Redeemer, Saviour King
Let earth let heav’n Hosanna sing!

Hosanna, Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

2. Hosanna Lord! Thine angels cry;
Hosanna, Lord! Thy saints reply;
Above, beneath us, and around
The dead and living swell the sound;

3. O Saviour with protecting care
Abide in this Thy house of pray’r,
Where we Thy parting promise claim
Assembled in Thy sacred Name.

Public Domain;

THERE IS POWER IN THE BLOOD
Author unknown

There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder working power
In the Blood of the Lamb.
There is pow’r, pow’r, wonder working power
In the precious Blood of the Lamb.

Public Domain

RIDE ON, KING JESUS!
African Spiritual

Ride on, King Jesus!
No man can a-hinder me.
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on!
No man can a-hinder me.
No man can a-hinder me.

In that great gettin’ up morning…
Fare thee well, fare thee well. [repeat]

When I get to heaven gonna wear my robes.
No man can a-hinder me.
Gonna see King Jesus sittin’ on the Throne.
No man can a-hinder me.
Gonna walk the streets that are paved with gold.
No man can a-hinder me.
Going to a land where I’ll never grow old.
No man can a-hinder me.

Public Domain

ALL GLORY LAUD AND HONOR
Theodulph of Orleans, ca. 760-821, tr. by John M Neale 181-66
ST. THEODULPH, Melchior Teschner, 1584-1635

All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer King!
To Whom the lips of children,
Made sweet hosannas ring!

1. Thou art the King of Israel
and David’s royal Son
Now in the Lord’s name coming
The King and Blessed One.

2. The company of angels
Are praising You on high
And mortals joined with all things
Created make reply

3. To You before Thy passion
They sang their hymns of praise
To You now high exalted
Our melody we raise

4. The people of the Hebrews
With palms before You went
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before You we present

5. Their praises You accepted.
Accept the prayers we bring
Great source of love and goodness
Our Saviour and our King.

Public Domain

WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS
Author Unknown

1. What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul.
What wondrous love is this, O my soul.
What wondrous love is this,
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse For my soul
To bear the dreadful curse For my soul

2. When I was sinking down,
Sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down
When I was sinking down,
beneath God’s righteous frown
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul

3. To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing
To God and to the Lamb I will sing
To God and to the Lamb, Who is the Great I AM
While millions join the theme I will sing, I will sing
While millions join the theme I will sing

4. And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on
And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing and joyful be
Throughout eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on.
Throughout eternity I’ll sing on.

Copyright Unknown

TAKE UP THY CROSS
Charles William Everest

Take up thy cross the Savior said
If thou wouldst my disciple be
Deny thyself the world forsake
And humbly follow after me

Take up Thy cross let not its weight
Fill Thy weak spirit with alarm
His strength shall bear Thy spirit up
and brace Thy heart And nerve thine arm

Take up thy cross nor heed the shame
Nor let thy foolish pride rebel
Thy Lord for thee the cross endured
To save thy soul from death and hell

Take up thy cross and follow Christ
Nor think till death to lay it down
For only those who bear the cross
May hope to wear the glorious crown

Public Domain

HOSANNA FILIO DAVID
Roman Gradual

Hosanna fílio Dávid:
Benedíctus qui vénit in nómine Dómini.
Rex Israel: Hosánna in excélsis.

Hosanna O son of David! Blessed be Him who now comes in the name of the Lord God.
King of Israel, Hosanna in the highest!

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, at
http://www.prayermeetingpodcast/
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event: http://www.nickalexander.com

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!

The movie is an allegory about the then current state of Christian belief, but also works as a comedy.

There is a father of three sons, one has retained his mainline denominational upbringing, one has become an agnostic, and one who has gone mad, thinking that he is “Jesus.”

The director and screenwriter seem to have two concerns about Christianity today: first, that people of faith seem to have lost a sense of the miraculous. Secondly, that we are far more interested in petty doctrinal differences than we need be.

The scenes where the two fathers are arguing over their doctrinal differences are both humorous, but they are grounded in reality that exists far too often today.

This is not to say that there isn’t a need for apologetics, nor does it excuse those who disagree with central historic Christian teaching, such as the Deity of Christ or the doctrine of the Trinity. But when it comes to lesser issues, it is more important to convey charity.

The acting in this film is not realistic; it’s more of an over-dramatization, something akin to what you’d find in a silent movie or an opera. That is your cue that this film is to be taken allegorically.

The brilliance of the film’s having a mad character–the one who thinks he is Jesus–is that it is a way to actually introduce Jesus in the movie, what He would actually say to these other characters (in the screenwriter’s opinion), today.

The story also introduces the parson, a religious authority figure, who plainly denies that he prays for miracles. The director seems to be challenging this position: why not pray for miracles?

The schedule is as follows:

Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

A songsheet is available for this episode.  Right-click here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.

SONG OF THE WEEK
“Kyrie Eleison” by Jodi Page Clark
From the album “Amazing Grace” by The Community of Celebration (c) 1992 Copyright (c) 1976 Celebration, P.O. Box 309, Aliquippa, PA 15001

There is a powerful CBS News Special from its time that has been posted on YouTube, detailing the rise of the renewal from this mainline denominational parish.

Episode Log Times
3:59 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
5:16 – O God, The Lot, Reward and Prize
8:02 – I Bind Unto Myself Today
13:46 – The Fast, As Taught By Holy Lore/Jesus, Jesus
17:24 – Make Me More Like Thee / Be Thou My Vision
20:26 – Opórtet Te Fíli
21:57 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
29:05 – Song of the Week (“Kyrie Eleison” by Jodi Page Clark)
40:05 – Reflections (Lent Movie:”Ordet”)
51:57 – Final Comments and Doxology

********************SONGS***********************

O GOD, THE LOT, REWARD AND PRIZE
M.L.Herold’s Gesangbuch, 1808 (AGM)

1. O God, the lot, reward and prize;
He crowns Thy martyr’s victories,
Grant, while we sing this martyr’s prais,
We may renounce our evil ways.

2. The world with specious cheats disguised,
He soon discovered and despised,
And labor’d for a nobler gain,
Than palling pleasures mixed with pain.

3. No force could make his mind relent,
No racks his resolution bent;
Fearless of death he sheds his blood,
And wades to heaven through the flood.

4. O vocal blood, now pierce the skies,
And deal with heav’n to hear our cries,
That on his glorious triumph we
May find indulgence, Lord with Thee.

5. May age to age for ever sing
The Virgin’s Son and angels’ King;
And praise with the celestial host
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Public Domain;

I BIND UNTO MYSELF TODAY
Bridge Arrangement by Nick Alexander
Cecil Frances Humphreys Alexander, St. Patrick

1. I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three

2. I bind this day to me forever
By power of faith Christ’s incarnation
His baptism in the Jordan River
His death on cross for my salvation

3. I bind unto myself the power
Of great love of cherubim
The sweet “well done!” in judgment hour
The service of the seraphim
Confessors’ faith apostles’ word
The patriarchs’ prayers the prophets’ scrolls
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls

4. I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead
His eye to watch His might to stay
His ear to hearken to my need
The wisdom of my God to teach
His hand to guide His shield to ward
The word of God to give me speech
His heavenly host to be my guard

Christ be with me Christ within me
Christ behind me Christ before me
Christ beside me Christ to win me
Christ to comfort and restore me
Christ beneath me Christ above me
Christ in quiet Christ in danger
Christ in hearts of all that love me
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger

5. I bind unto myself the name
The strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three

Public Domain

THE FAST, AS TAUGHT BY HOLY LORE
St. Gregory the Great, 540-604;
Tr. by J. M. Nealer (1818-1866)
‘Christliches Gesangbuchlein,’ 1568

The fast, as taught by holy lore,
We keep in solemn course once more:
The fast to all men known, and bound
In Forty days of yearly round.

Thy grace have we offended sore,
By sins O God, which we deplore;
But pour upon us from on high
O pard’ning One, Thy clemency.

Remember Thou, though frail we be
That yet Thine handiwork are we;
Nor let the honor of Thy Name
Be by another put to shame.

Forgive the sin that we have wrought
Increase the good that we have sought;
That we at length our wand’rings o’er,
May please Thee here and evermore.

Blest Three in One, and One in Three
Almighty God , we pray to Thee
That this our fast of forty days,
May work our profit and Thy praise.

Public Domain

JESUS, JESUS
Unknown, new arr by Nick Alexander

Jesus, Jesus, can I tell You what we know.
You have granted us forgiveness; we love You so.

Jesus, Jesus, can we tell You how we feel.
You have given us Your Spirit, that You might heal.

Public Domain

MAKE ME MORE LIKE THEE
Author Unknown

Make me more like Thee, Jesus
Make me more like Thee.
Give me a heart that’s filled with love
And make me more like Thee.

Copyright Unknown

BE THOU MY VISION
Traditional Irish Melody

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that for art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son
Thou in my dwelling, and I in Thee one.

Public Domain

OPORTET TE FILI
Roman Gradual

Opórtet te fíli gaudére, quia fráter túus mórtuus fúerat,
Et revíxit; períerat, et invéntus est.

It’s time for thee, O son, to rejoice!
Since that brother of yours, he had died and passed on.
And now he lives! He once was lost, but he’s alive now.

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests below.
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event:
http://www.nickalexander.com

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!

This episode I share about “Into Great Silence”, the third selection of the Lenten Movie Club, which, at the time of this writing, is available to all members of Netflix streaming (which may have a trial subscription).

The movie is a documentary chronicling the lives of the monks of Grand Chartreuse, of the Carthusian Order, founded by Bruno of Cologne, founded in 1084.

These monks are silent throughout most of the film, save for when they are chanting the entire Psalms, or other rare times. For the rest of the time there, they live a simple life, living off of the land.

There is a powerful interview near the end of the film with a person sharing God’s love for us.

The movie was a hit in New York City when it was released in 2006, because people wanted to escape from the craziness of everyday life and live the life of a monk for two and a half hours.

This is a hard film to sit through for the entirety of the film, but it works very well to watch in twenty-minute segments.

There is great power in praying with this film, and listening for God in the silence.

I share my experiences staying at a monastery for a time many years ago.

Psalms are very powerful to be used in personal prayer.

If you’re used to praying a very particular (modern American) way, you may want to have your prayer life shaken up a little, and participate in a very different style of praying.

Next week: Ordet

The schedule is as follows:

Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

A songsheet is available for this episode.  Right-click here and select “Save As” to retrieve it.

 SONG OF THE WEEK

“We Will Run” by Lisa Gungor
From the album “Beautiful Things” by Gungor (2010)
Copyright (c) 2010 worshiptogether.com songs

Episode Log Times

2:18 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
3:28 – O God Be Merciful To Me / Psalm 130
8:20 – Jesus Breaks Every Fetter/Good It Is to Keep the Fast
12:27 – Within Your House
15:44 – Worthy Is the Lamb
21:44 – Passer Invénit Síbi Dómum
23:34 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
30:59 – Song of the Week (“We Will Run” by Lisa Gungor)
39:13 – Reflections (Lent Movie:”Into Great Silence”)
51:22 – Final Comments and Doxology

********************SONGS***********************

O GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME
Thomas Campian, 1613, Cornelius Elven, 1852

1. With broken heart and contrite sight
A trembling sinner, Lord I cry:
Thy pard’ning grace is rich and free:
O God be merciful to me.

2. I smite upon my troubl’d breast,
With deep and conscious guilt oppress’d
Christ and His cross my only plea:
O God be merciful to me.

3. Far off I stand with tearful eyes
Nor dare uplift them to the skies
But Thou dost all my anguish see;
O God be merciful to me.

4. Nor alms nor deeds that I have done
Can for a single sin atone
To Calvary alone I flee
O God be merciful to me.

Public Domain;

PSALM 130
Nick Alexander, based on the Scottish Psalter (Psalm 130) circa 1635

Lord, from the depths I cry
My voice, Lord, do hear
Let supplication’s voice give attentive ear.

Lord, who shall stand if You mark iniquity?
Yet, Your forgiveness is available through Thee.

Copyright (c) 2013 Nick Alexander Music

JESUS BREAKS EVERY FETTER
v.1 unknown
v.2-5, Nick Alexander

Jesus breaks every fetter
Jesus breaks every fetter
Jesus breaks every fetter
And He sets me free!

He’s the rock of my salvation…
And He sets me free!

Jesus offers us redemption…
And He sets us free!

How He hears us when we call Him
And He sets us free!

Lord, we thank You for Your mercy…
And You set us free!

Public Domain

GOOD IT IS TO KEEP THE FAST
Gregory the Great, 6th Century

Good it is to keep the fast
Shadow’d forth in ages past
Which our own almighty Lord
Hallowed by His deed

Moses, while He fasted saw
God Who gave by Him the law
To Elijah, angels came
Steeds of fire and car of flame

So was Daniel meet to gaze
On the sight of latter days
And the Baptist to proclaim
Blessings through the Bridegroom’s Name.

Grant us Lord, like them to be
Oft in pray’r and fast with Thee
Fill us with Thy heav’nly might
Be our joy and true delight.

Father hear us through Thy Son
And the Spirit with Thee, One
Whom our thankful hearts adore
Ever and forevermore!

Public Domain

WITHIN YOUR HOUSE
Nick Alexander

The sparrow finds a home
The swallow, finds a nest
Where to place her young
Near to Your altars, Lord of hosts, my King.

My God, how happy are they
Who dwell within Your house
They will be praising You forever.

When we eat this bread and drink this cup
We will live in You and You in us
It’s a foretaste when we will be as one.

Copyright (c) 2013 Nick Alexander Music

WORTHY IS THE LAMB
Author Unknown

1. Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb

2. Jesus is the Lamb

3. Glory to the Lamb

Public Domain

PASSER INVENIT SIBI DOMUM (Ps 84:3-4)
Roman Gradual

Passer invénit síbi dómum,et túrtur nídum
ubi repónat púllos suos: altária tua Dómine virtútum,
Rex méus, et Déus méus: beáti qui hábitant in dómo túa,
in saéculum saéculi laudábunt te.

The sparrow hath found herself a home, the swallow a nest
Where she would leave there that young of hers
Near to the altars of Thine, Dearest Lord of Hosts.
Sovereign King and Great God of mine,
How happy are those who dwell in that home You live,
Where all those there, for all time, will worship You.

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests below.
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event:
http://www.nickalexander.com

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!

This episode I share about “A Man For All Seasons”, the second selection of the Lenten Movie Club, which, at the time of this writing, is available to all members of Amazon Prime (which may have a trial subscription).

The playwright and screenwriter is Robert Bolt, a man who does not have faith. It is a true love letter to those of faith, by one who does not have one.

By contrast, a current motif in a lot of religious-based movies today demonstrate the irrationality of faith, but because “life is hard”, faith is well-worth clinging to. This is a lie.

Faith can be based on logic and insight, as demonstrated by the writings of some of the great theologian/logicians, from St. Thomas Aquinas (the Summa Theologica), to C.S. Lewis, Peter Kreeft, or even… St. Thomas More (the main character).

St. Thomas More was a great layperson, an author of a classic “Utopia”, a Chancellor, a lawyer, a skillful politician, one who educated his daughter at a time when doing such was frowned upon.

King Henry VIII wanted to have his current marriage annulled so to marry another, but when the pope wouldn’t provide one, he broke from the Church of Rome.

All King Henry VIII wanted to have assurances from Thomas More, that what he was doing was right, because he was honest; but Thomas More’s silence spoke more of his disapproval, even though he never once voiced such.

We see how easy it is to compromise when your life is at stake, but here was a person who would not bend his own conscience, because his faith was built on facts, on logic, and not in emotions.

A current example for today, is the battle for Catholic employers being forced to pay for artificial contraception, which goes against their faith (for those who agree with Catholic Church teaching).

Next week: Into Great Silence

The schedule is as follows:
Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

Episode Log Times
2:54 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
3:45 – Repent! ‘Tis the Voice of Jesus
8:04 – Create In Me A Clean Heart
11:04 – Jesus Walked That Lonesome Valley
12:27 – I Want Jesus to Walk With Me
15:44 – Now Are the Days of Humblest Pray’r
18:01 – O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
21:44 – Intellige Clamorum Meum
23:34 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
29:18 – Song of the Week (“Lord Have Mercy” by Steve Merkel)
38:34 – Reflections (Lent Movie:”A Man For All Seasons”)
53:42 – Final Comments and Doxology

A songsheet is available for free download. Right-click here and select “Save As” to move to your desktop.

SONG OF THE WEEK
“Lord Have Mercy” by Steve Merkel
From the album “Intimate Worship” (2000)
Copyright (c) 2000 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

********************SONGS***********************
REPENT! ‘TIS THE VOICE OF JESUS
Rev. A.H Ackley, B.D. Ackley

1. Repent! ’tis the voice of Jesus
Now sounding in your ear
The message of God rings loud and clear
Now seek Him for He is near.

Repent and be saved. Repent and be saved.
Repent and be saved. Repent and be saved!

2. Repent! while the Lord invites you;
Before the Savior fall
The wages of sin is death to all
Who heed not the Gospel call.

3. Repent! while the Holy Spirit
Is striving with Your soul
The burden of sin on Jesus roll
Surrender to His control.

4. Repent! for the days are flying
The final hour draws nigh
No pleasure have I says God on high
In seeking the wicked die.

5. Repent! for He made atonement
He took the sinner’s place
O turn to the Lord and seek His face
And trust in His saving grace

Public Domain;

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART
Author unknown

Create in me a clean heart, O God
And renew a right spirit within me. [repeat]

Cast me not away from Your presence, O Lord
And take not Your Holy Spirit from me
Restore unto me, the joy of Your salvation.
And renew a right spirit within me.

Public Domain

JESUS WALKED THAT LONESOME VALLEY
Spiritual

Jesus walked that lonesome valley
He had to walk it by Himself
O nobody else could walk it for Him
He had to walk it by Himself

You must go and stand your trial
You have to stand it by yourself
O nobody else could stand it for you.
You’ve got to stand it by yourself.

We must walk that lonesome valley
We must walk it by ourselves
O nobody else could walk it for us
We’ve got to walk it by ourselves.

Public Domain

I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME
Spiritual

I want Jesus to walk with me
I want Jesus to walk with me
All along my pilgrim journey
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

In my trials, Lord, walk with me.
In my trials, Lord, walk with me.
When my heart is almost breaking
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me
When I’m in trouble, Lord, walk with me
When my head is bowed, in sorrow,
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

Come Lord Jesus, walk with me
Come Lord Jesus, walk with me
All along my pilgrim journey
Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me.

Public Domain

NOW ARE THE DAYS OF HUMBLEST PRAY’R
Rev. Fr. Faber

1. Now are the days of humblest pray’r
When consciences to God lie bare,
And mercy most delights to spare.

Oh hearken when we cry,
Chastise us with Your fear
Yet, Father, in the multitude
Of Your compassion hear.

2. Now is the season, wisely long
Of sadder thought and graver song
When ailing souls grow well and strong.

3. The feast of penance… oh, so bright
With true conversion’s heavenly light
Like sunrise after stormy night.

4. O happy time of blessed tears
Of surer hopes of chastening fears
Undoing all our evil years.

Public Domain

O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO
Albert Lister Peace, George Matheson

1. O love that wilt not let me go
I rest my weary soul in Thee
I give Thee back the life I owe
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer fuller be

2. O cross that liftest up my head
I dare not ask to fly from Thee
I lay in dust life’s glory dead
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be

Public Domain

INTELLIGE CLAMORUM MEUM
Roman Gradual

Intéllige clamórem méum: inténde vóci oratiónis méae,
Rex méus, et Déus méus: quóniam ad te orábo, Dómine.

Come know these lamentations of mine
Listen to the words of this petition from me.
King of mine, and Lord to me,
Know that it is to You I pray, Dearest Lord.

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, at
http://www.prayermeetingpodcast/
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event:
http://www.nickalexander.com

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!

Next week: Lenten Movie Club: Into Great Silence

The film is hard to watch, due to the unique way that Bresson filmed–naturalistic takes, non-actors, very little music.

This film is a raw, honest character portrayal of a minister of faith, and the unique trials he goes through.

The goal of Bresson’s naturalistic approach toward filming (very little music, great many takes) is so that just the dialogue would come out naturally.

There are many people in the community who look upon this minister as a threat to their way of living, who mock him.

In one scene, he is offered free services by a neighborly handyman, which he accepted; but he did so, knowing that this person had drinking parties at his home where he invited the teenagers of the community. Because he was offered a free service, he didn’t speak out.

In another scene, he had a long exchange with a woman who was depressed over the death of her son, sharing the Gospel fully and the woman accepted; she then dies the very next day.

There are three things to ask when watching a story like this:

1) How similar is this character to the ministers in your life (regardless of what denomination you attend)? What are the struggles they go through that we take for granted?

2) How similar is this character to you, since we are all called to be Christ’s witnesses? Would you have done the same things that he did?

3) How is this character a Christ-figure? How can we grow closer to Jesus due to the Way of the Cross that we all have to walk in our own lives?

Next week: A Man For All Seasons

The schedule is as follows:
Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon Prime)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

A songsheet is available for free download.  Right-click here and select “Save As” to move to your desktop.

Episode Log Times
2:28 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
3:35 – Cleanse Me
8:38 – Forty Days and Forty Nights/Sing Unto the Lord
12:57 – Hear Our Cry
16:20 – Hear Thou, O Bounteous Maker, Here.
20:55 – Cum Invocaremte.
23:12 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
30:36 – Song of the Week (“Our God” by Chris Tomlin)
38:34 – Reflections (“Lent Movie: Diary of a Country Priest”)
53:42 – Final Comments and Doxology

SONG OF THE WEEK
“Our God” by Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin, and Jesse Reeves
From the album “Awakening” (2009)
Copyright (c) 2009 Thankyou Music/sixsteps Music/Said And Done Music/Vamos Publishing/SHOUT! Publishing/worshiptogether.com songs

********************SONGS***********************

CLEANSE ME
Words by J Edwin Orr, Arr. by Nick Alexander

1. Search me O God, and know our hearts today.
Try us, O Savior, know our thoughts we pray;
See if there be some wicked way in us;
Cleanse us from every sin and release us.

2. Lord, take our lives, come make them wholly Thine;
Fill our poor hearts with Thy great love divine;
Take all our wills, our passions, selves and pride;
We now surrender Lord, in Thee we abide.

We praise Thee Lord, You cleanse us from sin.
Fulfill Your Word, make us pure within.
Fill us with fire, where we’ve burned with shame;
Lord, magnify Your Name.

Public Domain;

FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS
Words: George H. Smyttan, in The Penny Post, March 1856.
Music: Heinlein, Nürnbergisches Gesangbuch, 1676; melody attributed to Martin Herbst (1654-1681); harmony by William H. Monk (1823-1889)

1. Forty days and forty nights
Thou wast fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.

2. Should not we Thy sorrow share
And from worldly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Strong with Thee to suffer pain?

3. Then if Satan on us press,
Jesus, Savior, hear our call!
Victor in the wilderness,
Grant we may not faint nor fall!

4. So shall we have peace divine:
Holier gladness ours shall be;
Round us, too, shall angels shine,
Such as ministered to Thee.

5. Keep, O keep us, Savior dear,
Ever constant by Thy side;
That with Thee we may appear
At the eternal Eastertide.

Public Domain

SING UNTO THE LORD
Author Unknown
Sing unto the Lord a new song
Sing unto the Lord all the earth
Sing unto the Lord a new song
Sing unto the Lord all the earth

For God is great and greatly to be praised!
For God is great and greatly to be praised!

Public Domain

HEAR OUR CRY
Author Unknown; New arr. by Nick Alexander

1. Hear our cry, O LORD; attend unto our prayer
From the ends of the earth, our hearts cry out to Thee

And when our hearts are overwhelmed
Lead us to the Rock that is higher than I
That is higher than I.

2. For Thou hast been our shelter eternally
A high tower, LORD, against the enemy.

Copyright unknown

HEAR THOU, O BOUNTEOUS MAKER, HEAR
T. Campion, 1575-1619,
Ascribed to St Gregory the Great 540-604,
Tr. Primer 1706; Arr. by Nick Alexander

1. Hear Thou O Bounteous Maker, hear,
Our humble vows with gracious ear;
Turn not Thy saving face away
Whilst on this solemn fast we pray.

2. Great searcher of our hearts, to Thee
We here deplore our misery;
Behold we to Thy mercies fly
Do Thou Thy healing grace apply.

Great are our sins, O Lord
How great are our sins, O Lord
But You can pardon more than we can do.

3. May fasts extinguish in our will
The fuel and desire of ill.
And thus our souls, from fetters free
May only thirst and follow Thee.

4.Grant, O Most Sacred Trinity
One undivided Unity
That abstinence may here improve,
Our claim to reign with Thee above.

May our defects like shadows,
all these defects like shadows
raise the bauty and the life of grace.

Public Domain; arr copyright 2013 by Nick Alexander

CUM INVOCAREMTE
Roman Gradual

Cum invocáremte, exautdísti me, Déus justítiae méae:
In tribulatióne dilatásti me:
Miserére míhi Dómine, Et exáudi oratiónem méam.

When I call upon Thee, Thou listened to me,
O God of justice, towards my cause.
When I am in trouble, thou didst come to me.
Have mercy upon me, Dearest Lord
And listen to these intercessions of mine.

Public Domain

All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, at
http://www.prayermeetingpodcast/
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Join the FACEBOOK COMMUNITY at www.facebook.com/prayermeetingpodcast

Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event.

If you like this podcast, please feel free to leave a comment on the iTunes page.
Thank you for listening!

Next week: A Man For All Seasons

Whereas it may have been hard to access these movies, they are now easily accessible through both a Netflix account, an Amazon account, and/or a Hulu+ account. Each of these programs can be watched through one’s computer, if one does not have these services through their television, XBox or Blu-Ray Player

I believe that we live in a blessed time, where we have access to some of the most acclaimed religious movies of all time, through streaming. We just have to be open to trying new experiences.

I first go into the story of how I wrote This Time of Forty Days, and later how I worked on a video that went (somewhat) viral.

Are we really engaging the world, or are we hiding away in our little circles?

We live in a culture that is inundated with tons of stuff–movies, music, TV, blogs, video games, news reports, etc. Our culture is inundated by story, entertainment, distraction and laughter.

There is so much fear in the religious community by some of these stories. I shared an experience about hearing people complain about a massively popular young adult book series, as if this series alone would lead people away from the faith and towards witchcraft.

In contrast, I believe that we as Christians ought to be engaging culture as much as possible, trying to find those stories/songs/experiences that we can share with others.

Good people do great work in all these areas, but we do not do enough to support their work.

The Lenten Movie Club is my hope to introduce the Best Religious Movies You’ve Probably Never Seen. They were made mostly outside of Hollywood, and some are in other languages than English.

Lent is a great opportunity to watch these films; Lent is about dying to our own selves, and growing from others’ experiences. These films are considered (by many) to be the very best at what Christianity entails, and we ought to support all quality efforts that share the faith, even if we’re not used to watching black and white movies, with subtitles.

The schedule is as follows:
Lent 1: The Diary of a Country Priest (available on Hulu+)
Lent 2: A Man For All Seasons (available on Amazon.com)
Lent 3: Into Great Silence (available on Netflix)
Lent 4: Ordet (available on Hulu+)
Lent 5: The Passion of Joan of Arc (available on Hulu+)
HolyWeek: The Gospel According to St. Matthew (avail on Hulu)

There is a PDF download available for this worship session, which has all the show notes and lyrics to all the songs.  Right-click “Save As” on the term PDF Download.

SONG OF THE WEEK

“From the Dust” by Aaron Strumpel
From the album “Chair and Microphone, Vol. 2” (2006)
Copyright (c) 2006 Worship Circle Records

NOT THE SONG OF THE WEEK
“This Time of Forty Days” a parody of “King of Pain” by The Police, by Nick Alexander

EPISODE LOG TIMES

4:27 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
5:57 – Blind Man
8:54 – When Jesus Wept
10:00 – Out of the Depths
12:54 – Let Us Adore
15:30 – Jesu, Salvation’s Sun Divine
18:57 – The Glory of These Forty Days
21:40 – Emendemus In Melius
22:53 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
30:25 – Song of the Week (“From the Dust” by Aaron Strumpel)
39:14 – Personal Reflections (“God’s Unique Plan for Lasting Change”)
57:01 – Final Comments and Doxology
******************SONGS*******************

BLIND MAN
Spiritual
1. Blind man stood by the way and He cried
Blind man stood by the way and He cried
Blind man stood by the way and He cried
Oh… oh… oh…

Show me the way…
Show me the way…
Show me the way… the way to go home.

2. The Leper stood by the way…
3. The Sinner stood by the way…

Copyright unknown

WHEN JESUS WEPT
William Billings, 1770
When Jesus wept the falling tear
In mercy flow’d beyond all bound
When Jesus groan’d a trembling fear
Seiz’d all the guilty world around.
Public Domain

OUT OF THE DEPTHS
Martin Luther (1483-1546) Tr. by Benjamin Latrobe (1725-1786)
Walther’s Geistliches Gesangbuchlein” Wittenberg (1524) arr by JS Bach (1685-1750)

1.Out of the depths I cry to Thee:
Lord, hear me I implore Thee.
Bend down Thy gracious ear to me,
Let my pray’r come before Thee!
On my misdeeds in mercy look
O deign to blot them from Thy book
And let me come before Thee.

2. Thy sov’reign grace and boundless love
Show thee, Oh Lord, forgiving;
My purest thoughts and deeds but prove
Sin in my heart is living:
None guiltless in Thy sight appear
All who approach Thy Throne must fear,
And humbly trust Thy mercy.

3. Like those who watch for midnight’s hour
To hail the dawning morrow.
I wait for Thee, I trust Thy pow’r
Unmoved by doubt or sorrow;
So let Thy people hope in Thee
And they shall find Thy mercy free,
And Thy redemption plenteous.

Public Domain

LET US ADORE
Unknown

Let us adore… the ever-living God…
And render praise… unto Him…
Who spread out the heavens…
and established the earth…
And whose glory…
is revealed in the heavens above…
And whose greatness…
Is manifest throughout all the earth.
He is our God… There is none else!

Copyright unknown

JESU, SALVATION’S SUN DIVINE
O Sol salutis, intimis. Ambrosian, 6th century
Tr. by the Primer of 1706, prob. by John Dryden
Music by Dijon Church Melody (A.G.M.), arr. by Nick Alexander

1. Jesus, salvation’s Sun Divine,
Within our inmost bosoms shine,
With light all darkness drive away
And give the world a better day.

2. Now days of grace with mercy flow,
O Lord, the gift of tears bestow
To wash our stains in ev’ry part
Whilst heav’nly fire consumes the heart.

Oh….. Oh…..

3. Rise crystal tears, from that same source
From whence our sins derive their course
Nor cease, till harden’d hearts relent
And soften’d by Your streams repent.

Behold the happy days return
the days of joy for them that mourn
May we of their indulgence share
And bless the God Who grants us pray’r.

4. May heav’n and earth aloud proclaim
The Trinity’s almighty fame;
And we restored to grace rejoice
In newness both of heart and voice.

Public Domain

THE GLORY OF THESE FORTY DAYS
OLD HUNDREDTH
Asc. to Gregory the Great, c. 540-604
Tr. by Maurice F. Bell, 1862-1947

The glory of these forty days
We celebrate with songs of praise
For Christ, through whom all things were made
Himself has fasted and has prayed.

Public Domain

EMENDEMUS IN MELIUS
Roman Gradual

Emendémus in mélius, quae ignoránter peccávimus:
Ne súbito praeoccupáti díe mórtis,
Quaerámus spatium paeniténtiae, et inveníre non possímus.
Atténde Dómine, et miserére: quia peccávimus tíbi.

Let us amend ourselves better
Where we do not know where we’ve transgressed
Lest if we’re swiftly overtaken by the day of death,
And we seek a moment to be penitent,
But we obtain it not, forever.
Give ear to us O Lord, and grant us mercy
For we have all transgressed before You.

Public Domain

Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests, at

http://www.prayermeetingpodcast/
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Have you written a worship song that you’d like profiled on the podcast? Leave a message using the above number.

Did you know that Nick Alexander is available for keynotes? For comedy? For worship? For teaching about the faith?
Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event: http://www.nickalexander.com

This book demonstrates that there are six areas in our lives where we are pulled–consciously or not–in a direction that helps determine for us whether the change will stick.

The six major hidden influencers are best encapsulated in a grid, with MOTIVATION and ABILITY at the top, and PERSONAL, SOCIAL and STRUCTURAL on its sides.

I then change the word “Motivation” to “Heart”, and “Ability” to “Mind”.

Assuming the change brought about will be an expression of “Strength”, then what is missing? The Soul.

We don’t pay well enough attention to our souls, because it appears intangible to us in a modern society; and yet, when we die, our soul will live on forever.

The rest of this episode asks what it means to add Soul to this chart:

SOUL/PERSONAL = Personal Commitment to Christ; puts your desire for lasting change in front of God; if it contradicts God’s will for you–either His personal will, or His desire that you be holy, then it will not last.

SOUL/SOCIAL = Sacramental Commitment to Others; puts your desire for lasting change in front of those in your life; whether your marriage partner, your children, or, for those who are committed to Holy Orders, their superiors and their congregations.

SOUL/STRUCTURAL = Following the precepts of the Church; puts your desire for lasting change in front of our Sunday obligations, or other times.

Bottom line: If we invite God to our decision for lasting change, in addition to the other six influencers in your life, you will receive an extra motivation to make this change, and it will last.

**********EPISODE LOG TIMES******************
3:40 – Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
4:28 – Hallelujah, Salvation and Glory
8:28 – In Christ There Is No East Or West
11:13 – O Glory, Glory, Glory!
12:53 – Come and Worship
14:17 – Santo, Santo, Santo
17:14 – Alleluia, Song of Gladness
21:40 – Illumina Faciem Tuam
24:00 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
30:12 – Song of the Week (“Whom Shall I Fear (God Of Angel Armies)” by Chris Tomlin)
38:25 – Personal Reflections (“God’s Unique Plan for Lasting Change”)
54:52 – Final Comments and Doxology

A PDF Download is available, containing all the song lyrics and notes.  Right click and select SAVE AS to retrieve it.

****************SONG OF THE WEEK******************
“Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)” by Chris Tomlin
From the album “Burning Lights” (2013)
Copyright (c) 2012 Worship Together Music / Sixsteps Songs / A Thousand Generations Publishing / Alletrop Music

********************SONGS***********************
HALLELUJAH, SALVATION AND GLORY
Unknown

Hallelujah, salvation and glory
Honor and power to the Lord our God
For the Lord our God is mighty
Yes the Lord our God is omnipotent
The Lord our God, He is wonderful!

I will sing my praise to the King of Kings
And the Lord of Lords He is wonderful!

Hallelujah!
Hallelujah-Hallelujah-Hallelujah-Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! He is wonderful!

Copyright unknown

IN CHRIST THERE IS NO EAST OR WEST
W: John Oxenham (1908); M: Alexander R. Reinagle (1799-1877)
arr. by Nick Alexander

In Christ there is no East or West
In Him no South or North
But one great fellowship of love
Throughtout the whole wide earth

In Him shall true hearts everywhere
Their high communion find
His service is the golden chord
Close-binding all mankind.

A-men! A-men!

Join hands then, brothers of the faith
Whate’er your race may be.
Who serves my Father as a son
Is surely kin to me.

In Christ now meet both East and West
In Him meet South and North
All Christly souls are one in Him
Throughout the whole wide earth
Copyright unknown

O GLORY, GLORY, GLORY!
Unknown

1. O glory, glory, glory! O glory to the Lamb!
O Hallelujah! I’m bein’ saved, and I’m so glad I am.
O glory, glory, glory! O glory to the Lamb!
Hallelujah! I’m bein’ saved, and bound for the happy land!

2. On Sunday I am happy, on Monday full of joy
On Tuesday I have peace within that nothing can destroy
On Wedn’sday and on Thursday, I’m walking in the light
On Friday is a heav’n below and Saturday’s always bright!

Copyright unknown

COME AND WORSHIP
Unknown

Come and worship, royal priesthood
Come and praise Him, holy nation
Worship Jesus, our Redeemer
He is precious King of Glory.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Copyright unknown

SANTO, SANTO, SANTO
Argentenian Traditional; tr: by Nick Alexander

Santo, Santo, Santo, Mi corazón adora!
Mi corazón te sabe decir: Santo eres Señor.

Holy, Holy, Holy, My heart adores Thee!
My heart’s compelled to say these words:
Holy, art Thou Lord.

Public Domain

ALLELUIA, SONG OF GLADNESS
Latin, 11th Century by John M. Neale 1818-1866
DULCE CARMEN, 878787 , Essay on Church Plain Chant, 1782
Bridge from “All Creatures of Our God and King”
LASST UNS ERFREUEN; Arr. by Nick Alexander

Alleluia, song of gladness, voice of joy that cannot die
Alleluia is the anthem ever dear to choirs on high
In the house of God abiding thus they sing eternally.
Alleluia.

Alleluia, now resounding, true Jerusalem and free
Alleluia, joyful mother, all your children sing with glee
But by Babylon’s sad waters, mourning exiles now are we.
Alleluia.

Alleluia, we deserve not here to chant for evermore,
Alleluia, our transgressions make us for a while give o’er;
For the holy time is coming biding us our sins deplore.
Alleluia.

O praise Him, O praise Him. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

Therefore in our hymns we now pray, grant us Blessed Trinity
At the last to keep you, Easter, in our home beyond the sky.
There to You forever singing Alleluia joyfully.
Amen.

Public Domain

ILLUMINA FACIEM TUAM (Psalm 31:16-17a)
Roman Gradual

Illumina Faciem tuam, super servum tuum.
Et salvuum me fac in tua misericordia.
Domine non confundar quoniam invocavi te

Illuminate, O face of Thine, upon this servant for Thee
And rescue me here, within Thy mercy, Thy great mercy.
O Lord, don’t be ashamed as I am calling upon Thee.

Public Domain
All songs are in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Any songs written or adapted by Nick Alexander are available on music notation, for those who wish to introduce these songs in their own communities.

*****************************************************
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or leave a message at 203/701-7771

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http://www.nickalexander.com

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Thank you for listening!

Next Week: ASH WEDNESDAY!!!

The book is called Change Anything by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield and Ron McMillan.

This book may be found in either the Business section or self-help sections. (Don’t let that deter you–some really good resources can be found there!)

It goes without saying that every major change must begin with prayer, and a focus that this be accomplished as part of God’s will for your life.

It is a mirage to assume that willpower alone will enable change in your life.

The six major hidden influencers are as follows:

Do you have a plan to enact this change?
Is there anything that can spark or remind you of this desire to change?
Do you have a coach?
Do you have cheerleaders in your life?
Are there automated systems that can help grease the wheels for you to complete the task?
Are there signs, songs, visual reminders, audio reminders, cinematic reminders that surround you to remind you of this?

These six major hidden influencers are best encapsulated in a chart described on www.changeanything.com

If you answer these six questions honestly, you can find yourself naturally drawn to make lasting change in your life.

Episode Log Times

2:35- Worship Session (Music and Prayer)
2:50- Now Let Us Sing/Amazing Grace
5:14- There’s A Mighty Glory Coming
5:53- O Zion Haste
8:20- It’s A New And Living Way
10:25- Psalm 23
14:24- Give Me Jesus
16:42- Hear Oh Israel
19:25- Days And Moments Quickly Flying
22:28- Adorate Deum
24:02 – Spoken, Spontaneous Prayer
31:28 – Song of the Week (“Lamb of God” by10th Ave North)
37:53 – Personal Reflections (“Enacting Lasting Changes”)
51:46 – Final Comments and Doxology

A songsheet is available for download.  Right-click here to get it.

SONG OF THE WEEK
“Lamb of God” by Tenth Avenue North
From the album “The Struggle” (2012)
Copyright (c) 2012 Provident Label Group LLC, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

=================SONGS=================
NOW LET US SING/AMAZING GRACE
Unknown / John Newton

Now let us sing
(Sing to the power of the Lord come down)
Now let us sing
(Sing to the power of the Lord come down)
Lift up your hands
(Lift up your hands)
Don’t be afraid
(Don’t be afraid)
Now let us sing
To the power of the Lord come down!

1. 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.

2. Praise God Praise God Praise God Praise God
Praise God Praise God Praise God
Praise God Praise God Praise God Praise God
Praise God Praise God Praise God

Copyright unknown / Public Domain

THERE’S A MIGHTY GLORY COMING
Unknown

There’s a mighty glory coming
And it’s coming in our day, and it’s coming now to stay
There’s a mighty glory coming
And it’s coming from the presence of the Lord.

Copyright unknown

O ZION, HASTE
Mary A. Thomson, James Walch

1. O Zion haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
To tell to all the world that God is Light;
That He Who made all nations is not willing
One soul should perish, lost in shades of night:

Publish glad tidings; Tidings of peace;
Tidings of Jesus, Redemption and release.

2. Behold how many thousands still are lying
Bound in the darksome prison-house of sin,
With none to tell them of the Saviour’s dying,
Or of the life He died for them to win.

3. ‘Tis thine to save from peril of perdition
The souls for whom the Lord His life laid down;
Beware lest, slothful to fulfill thy mission,
Thou lose one jewel that should deck His crown.

4. Proclaim to every people, tongue and nation
That God, in Whom they live and move, is love:
Tell how He stooped to save His lost creation,
And died on earth that man might live above.

Public Domain

IT’S A NEW AND LIVING WAY
Unknown

It’s a new and living way, walk ye in it
It’s a new and living way, God has planned
It’s a new and living way, I am walking day by day
I am guided and led by His right Hand.

Public Domain

PSALM 23
Nick Alexander

The Lord is my shepherd
In verdant pastures, He gives me repose
He leads me by the restful waters
He refreshes my soul.

He guides me through right paths
Even though I walk through the dark valley
I fear no evil, for He is at my side
And I shall lack nothing.
And I shall lack nothing.

He spreads the table before me
At the sight of my foes
He anoints my head with oil
And my cup, overflows.

All the days of my life on earth
Only goodness and kindness follow me
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
For all eternity.

Copyright (c) 2001 Nick Alexander Music

GIVE ME JESUS
Spiritual

In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus, give me Jesus.
You may have all this world.
Give me Jesus.

I heard my mother say…

When I come to die…

Public Domain

HEAR OH ISRAEL
Unknown

Hear, Oh Israel
The Lord our God is one Lord.
You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart.
You shall love the Lord your God with all of your soul.
You shall love the Lord your God with all of your mind.
You shall love the Lord your God with all of your strength.

Copyright Unknown

DAYS AND MOMENTS QUICKLY FLYING
Trier Gesangbuch, 1872; E. Caswall, 1814-78

1. Days and moments quickly flying,
Blend the living with the dead
Soon will you and I be lying
Each within our narrow bed.

2. Soon our souls to God who gave them
Will have spread their rapid flight
Able now by grace to save them
O that, while we can, we might!

3. Jesus, infinite Redeemer,
Maker of this tiny frame
Teach, O teach us to remember
What we are and whence we came.

4. Whence we came and whither wending
Soon we must through darkness go
To inherit bliss unending
Or eternity of woe.

Public Domain.

ADORATE DEUM (Psalm 97:7c-8a)
Roman Gradual

Adorate Deum, omnes Angeli ejus:
audivit, et laetata est Sion:
et exsultataverunt filiae Judae.

Worship God, all you angels of God
Sion heard and they were glad; yes Sion.
And rejoicing was with the daughters of Judah

Public Domain

Feel free to leave comments, questions, and/or prayer requests below,
or leave a message at 203/701-7771

Did you know that Nick Alexander is available for keynotes? For comedy? For worship? For teaching about the faith?
Learn about what Nick Alexander can bring to your community, youth rally, keynote or event: http://www.nickalexander.com