This is a selection of new texts for well known hymn tunes. Please feel free to use these. If you do use them I would be grateful if you could credit me (with the credit given by each text – my name and the year of writing). I’d also love to hear from you, who you are and the context in which you have used the words.
When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart. Eph. 5.19
St Peter’s Hymn (R Firth 2024) – sung to Kingsfold
This was written as part of my participation in 12 Song Challenge in 2024. The challenge was to write something that was as close to scriptural quote as possible, and suitable for your own context. My current parish are singers of Victorian bangers with organ and choir – so I wrote this – adapting Peter’s speech at Pentecost in Acts. Delighted to say that the lovely gang at Holy Nativity Mixenden used it for their Pentecost Rock Mass in 2024 – and at St Peter’s we used it on the Patronal Festival in June 24. It felt good to be remembering Peter’s wisdom in the early church when too often we see him in his fear as a denier, and his “say what you see” foolishness. It’s a foolishness that surpasses the wisdom of most of us of course. I love Peter’s journey – and this was a way to highlight a different part of it.
The man who once denied three times stood up and said to them, “Let this be known and listen now all of Jerusalem. These people are not drunk you see the hour is early still but hear you all what Joel spoke and dream God’s dream we will.
The man you knew from Nazareth and handed down to die was raised to full and perfect life, exalted now on high. This son of David’s line we see – Messiah looked for long, our hope fulfilled, God’s promise kept – let praises fill our song.
The visions, dreams and prophecy they said would fill our praise are by God’s Holy Spirit come poured out in our own days. Repent and be baptised today and all in Jesus name – with sins forgiv’n by Spirit’s pow’r you will not be the same.”
And we whose hearts have oft denied hear Peter’s words today. We pledge ourselves as witnesses to hope beyond decay. We do repent, we do believe – we pray God’s will be done. Teach us to dream the dreams that help us work for Kingdom come.
R Firth 2024
Take heart, get up (R Firth 2024) Version 1 – to Ellacombe 76 76 D
There are several different versions of this. It was all inspired by a couple of sermons preached by my Diocesan Bishop last year / in Year B as we worked our way through the Gospel of Mark. “Take heart. Get up. he is calling you.” Mark 10:49 I’ve got a worship song chorus too that starts with this – which in many ways is much more fun than either of these hymns below – but still working on verses and mood with that. This version works to 76 76 D – but not to all 76 76 D tunes as the quavers in Ellcombe cover some irregularity in meter. This version was written with the idea of being used at a celebration service for 10 years of our Diocese – the eagle eyed amongst you might just spot the Diocese strap line 🙂
The church is gathered here now to celebrate our life – to give God all the glory, One body, one in Christ. God’s people in each place and time, now here together all “Take heart, get up, He’s calling you.” – we answer Jesus’ call.
Our everyday is clouded with bubbles we create – untrusting, we’re surrounded by foolishness and fake. With busy minds how can we tell the fiction from the fact? “Take heart, get up, He’s calling you.” – now is the time to act.
When war’s foul drones are distant – tho death and harm are near – we long for peace but scarcely know how to bring justice here. We think that we are powerless when to our pow’r we’re blind. “Take heart, get up, He’s calling you.” – now is the time to mind.
When conversation seems to be defensive or attack – when challenge made without respect stabs siblings in the back. How can we trust to happenstance for peace we dearly need? “Take heart, get up, He’s calling you.” – now is the time to heed.
We pledge to live with hopeful hearts and ground our truth in you. We pledge to love as Jesus loves so peace is all we do. We pledge to learn to be a church where Christ is deeply known. “Take heart, get up, He’s calling you.” – now is the time to go.
R Firth 2024