HYMNS AND SONGS
Suitable for Vocations Sunday, ordinations, etc
The following songs and hymns are published and available
All I once held dear (Graham Kendrick)
As God has called you (Carol Dixon – available on Hymnquest)
Because the Lord is my shepherd (Christopher Walker)
Be thou my vision Mary Elizabeth Burn
Brother, sister let me serve you (Richard Gillard)
Do not be afraid (Gerald Markland)
Father I place into your hands (Jenny Hewer)
Follow me, follow me (Michael Cockett)
From heaven you came (Servant King) (Graham Kendrick)
God is here! (Frederick Pratt Green)
God’s spirit is in my heart (Hubert Richards adapted by Betty Pulkingham)
Hear our Cry (Graham Kendrick)
How shall they hear? (Timothy Dudley-Smith)
I, the Lord of sea and sky (Dan Schutte)
I want to serve the purpose of God (Mark Altrogge)
Jesus be the centre (Michael Frye)
Jesus take me as I am (Dave Bryant)
Jesus you are changing me (Marilyn Baker)
Just as I am (Charlotte Elliot)
King of kings, majesty (Jarrod Cooper)
Let me have my way among you (Graham Kendrick)
Lord, speak to me, that I may speak (Frances Ridley Havergal)
Lord you give the great commission (Jeffrey Rowthorn)
Lord, your church on Earth is seeking (Hugh Sherlock & Michael Saward)
Master speak thy servant heareth (Frances Ridley Havergal)
May the mind of Christ my Saviour (Katie Barclay Wilkinson)
Now thank we all our God (M. Rinkart tr C. Winkworth)
O for a closer walk with God (William Cowper)
O Jesus I have promised (John Ernest Bode)
O Lord you are the centre of my life (Paul Inwood)
O Love that will not let me go (George Matheson)
River wash over me (Douglas Brown)
Take my life and let it be (Frances Ridley Havergal)
Teach me, my God and King (George Herbert)
Trust, trust in the Lord
When I survey the wondrous cross (Isaac Watts)
Will you come and follow me (John Bell / Graham Maule)
See also Sunday by Sunday issue 36 (summer 2006) published by the Royal Schools of Church Music for three pages of recommendations of hymns, songs and choral anthems on the theme ‘Called to serve’.
New hymns suitable for Vocations Sunday,
ordinations, licensing services, and other occasions.
Before you formed me
Before you formed me in the womb, you knew me;
before my birth, you appointed me and set me apart.
O Lord, I long to do your will, and serve your purposes,
with all of my heart, all of my heart.
I don't know how to speak,
in the world's eyes I am young,
but I will say what you command.
And if your word seems bleak,
I will not hold my tongue,
for I know you would rebuke your chosen
to draw us back to your hand.
Before you formed me ...
I want to give your word,
and to help the people see
truths that you long to say to them.
And if it seems absurd
that you could speak through me,
yet I know you would restore your chosen,
to save them, not to condemn.
Before you formed me ...
You put your word within,
and you fill me with your tears,
for you are jealous for our race.
And if I hold it in
your fire within me sears:
your compassion for your children, chosen
and needing your gift of grace.
Before you formed me ...
Words and tune copyright © John Hartley 2006
All rights reserved. Reproduced here by permission.
If you use this hymn, please include it on your CCL return
Inspired by verses from Jeremiah, particularly 1:5-7 and 20:9.
The tune can be downloaded from http://www27.brinkster.com/johnhartley/music/song-64.html
Hope of our calling: hope through courage won;
By those who dared to share all Christ had done.
Saints of today, Christ’s banner now unfurled,
We bring his gospel to a waiting world.
Hope of our calling: hope with strength empowered,
Inspired by all that we have seen and heard;
This call is ours, for we are chosen too,
To live for God in all we say and do.
Hope of our calling: hope with grace outpoured,
From death’s despair the gift of life restored;
Our call to serve, to wash each others’ feet,
To bring Christ’s healing touch to all we meet.
Hope of our calling: hope by faith made bold;
To sow God’s righteousness throughout the world;
Bring peace from conflict, fruitfulness from weeds,
The kingdom’s harvest from the kingdom’s seeds.
Hope of our calling: Spirit-filled, unbound,
Old joys remembered and new purpose found,
Our call refreshed by sacrament and word,
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Suitable for the post-communion
Words: A Barrett © 2005
Tune: ‘Woodlands’, W Greatorex (1877-1949)
Hidden at every moment’s heart
the pulse of God is felt,
God who keeps vigil tirelessly
while mountains rise and melt.
Patient and passionate, O Lord,
teach us to change, to grow,
to walk in time, to look for dawn
and your great day to know.
Yours is the breath that calls to life
our emptiness and dust,
and in the endless void of chance
you are the ground of trust.
Turn us from nothing into love:
enable us to trace
in wilderness and pain and cross
the body of your grace.
Strangers and sojourners, we are
the citizens of hope;
pilgrims far off, we know the way,
its width, its depth, its scope:
the Father’s love, the Spirit’s life,
the promise of the Son,
the work of God who calls us here
in Christ to make us one.
Words: Elizabeth Thomson ©2005 reproduced by permission
Music: ‘Coe Fen’, K Naylor (1931-1991)
Called by Christ
Those whom Christ chooses he also equips,
leads into action, and speaks with their lips,
inspires their thinking, empowers their voice,
guides their decisions, makes freedom their choice.
We are God's people at work here on earth,
striving for justice, acknowledging worth;
all that gives reverence, honour and peace
others will emulate; trust will increase.
Give us the vision of what we should do –
cherishing old ways and welcoming new;
in all our actions may love be our guide,
hope to restore us whatever betide.
Be with us always in searching and doubt.
let us remember what faith is about –
God in our being, our light-giving source,
beacon of wisdom, lode-star for our course.
Words © Jocelyn Marshall
Suggested tune: Trisagion, H.Smart (A&MR 288)
God of Work
God of work, who works within us,
each new day our strength renew.
When life's burdens seem too heavy
may we put our trust in you.
Guide our minds, inspire our thinking;
guide our hands, increase our skill;
give us courage when we falter;
use our gifts to do your will.
Christ as carpenter you laboured,
knew the joy that work can give,
helped the fishers bring their nets in,
taught all people how to live;
healed the sick, gave hope and freedom,
fed the hungry, blessed the wine.
You who know the cost of loving,
be for us our life's design.
In our homes, in school and office,
hallow all the work we do,
teaching, toiling, helping, healing,
may our lives connect with you.
Take our efforts, dreams accomplished,
take our disappointments, pain.
Lord of life, you lived as worker,
Jesus, work through us again.
Words © Jocelyn Marshall
Suggested tune: Lux Eoi, Sir A Sullivan (A&MR 137)
The Way, the Truth, the Life
You, Lord, the way, the truth, the life revealed;
the love at our beginning, without end.
show us that way, your truth to us make plain;
throughout our lives sustain us as our friend.
We are the workers for your harvest, Christ,
those whom you seek to cultivate the field;
empower us as we labour at our tasks
that all our efforts bring a fruitful yield.
As, through the ages, you have called to serve
men, women, chosen for their various skills,
may we continue this great work of love
with dedicated purpose, eager wills.
Until at last our earthly course is run
and we continue in a larger sphere;
new life emerging from our mortal form
as fresh shoots from the fertile soil appear.
Suggested Tune: St Agnes, J.Langran (A&MR 116)
Worship then Service.
We worship, then we serve;
God gives, and we receive
the strength sufficient for our need –
this promise we believe.
We worship then we serve
in our community;
to open doors of trust and hope
Christ's gospel is the key.
We worship then we serve
in college, office, church
through ministry to those we meet,
support to those who search.
We worship then we serve
in workshop, clinic, school.
Each day gives opportunities
to spread Christ's loving rule.
We worship then we serve
in hospital and homewith
Christ the focus of our lives,
his blessing our shalom
To worship, then to serve:
Let this our mission be,
so all may be as one in Christ,
a world in unity.
Words © Jocelyn Marshall
Suggested tune: Carlisle, C.Lockhart, (A&MR 362)
Come and See
"Come and see", said Jesus,
"what my life must be:
saving, healing, teaching,
drawing souls to me.
2
Come and see my actions,
see the hungry fed,
people anxious, searching;
I will give them bread.
3
Come and see them seeking,
looking for the sign
of a saviour's presence;
I will give them wine."
4
"Come and see", says Jesus
to his people here,
"seek and you shall find me,
feel my presence near."
5
So we come, Lord Jesus,
finding, as we search,
love and faith abiding,
centred in your Church.
6
Use our lives thus strengthened
so that we may be
bringing others to you,
saying "Come and see."
Words © Jocelyn Marshall
Suggested Tune: Pastor pastorum, F.Silcher (A&MR 415)
The Search for God
Where can we find you God,
when hope and strength are weak?
The flame of faith fades fast,
we know not what we seek.
2
When can we know you, God,
creator, force divine?
We search to find your truth,
to learn your wise design.
3
How can we love you God,
intangible, unheard?
As humans we need proof,
requiring sign or word.
4
But you, in Christ revealed,
the life, the truth, the way,
you chose to live like us
and taught us how to pray.
5
Through Christ we are not lost;
direction we have found.
by love and faith sustained
we stand on solid ground.
6
Then keep us, God, like saints,
committed, steadfast, true,
your wisdom to impart
to all who search for you.
Words © Jocelyn Marshall
Suggested tune: St Cecilia, L.G.Hayne (A&MR 262)
Ordination Hymn
God is with us as we stand
gathered for this ordination,
people from throughout the land
joining in the dedication.
this a day with joy awaited,
through long years anticipated.
2
Chosen, trained to be ordained
in the service of the Master;
faith received, with joy proclaimed,
to Christ's flock a caring pastor,
teaching, preaching, leading others,
seeing all as sisters, brothers.
3
At this time of unity,
bishop(s), priests and people praying
for our church, community,
may we live the words we're saying.
Be to us the love light guiding
through the years with grace abiding.
4
May we be Christ in the world,
show his love to every nation,
lift his banner, high unfurled,
answering our true vocation.
Strengthen us for our commission –
spread the gospel, this our mission.
Words © Jocelyn Marshall
Suggested tune: Liebster Jesu, J.R.Ahle, harmony J.S. Bach, (A&MR 408)