The Sacred Anthem

The Sacred Anthem

Text written in 1984 by Ottilie Stafford (1921 -    )

Sung to WALLOWA, composed in 1984 by Melvin West (1930 -    )

Genesis 2:3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

V. 1 The sacred anthem slowly rang

Across the fields of praise,

When earth's first Sabbath made complete

All creatures and all days.

Walking with God, there,

Woman and man together share

The blessed Sabbath mood;

And in that green and golden world

Know all God's works are good.

Hebrews 1:11 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.

Hebrews 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God.

V. 2 But now in our diminished lives

We sing a blemished song;

The earth is worn and disarrayed

And all our work goes wrong.

Still in our worship,

Joining in praise and fellowship,

By Sabbath radiance blessed,

We put our doubt and fear away

And rest within God's rest.

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

V. 3 And arching over time and space

The Lord of Sabbaths wills

Renewal for the weary earth

And healing for our ills.

Hearts will rejoice then;

There will be no more weeping, when

We know and shall be known.

With hosts of the redeemed we'll sing

Around God's shining throne.

Fill My Cup, Lord

Fill My Cup, Lord

Text & hymn tune written by Richard Blancard (1925 -    )

John 4:14, 15 But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

V. 1 Like the woman at the well I was seeking 

For things that could not satisfy;

And then I heard my savior speaking:

"Draw from My well that never shall run dry."

Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

John 6:32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.

Refrain: Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord!

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;

Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more--

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

V. 2 There are millions in this world who are craving

The pleasure earthly things afford;

But none can match the wondrous treasure

That I find in Jesus Christ my Lord.

Refrain

V. 3 So, my children, if the things this world gave you

Leave hungers that won't pass away,

My blessed Lord will come and save you,

If you kneel to Him and humbly pray:

Refrain

There's Sunshine in My Soul Today

There's Sunshine in My Soul Today

Text written by E. E. Hewitt (1851-1920)

Music composed by John R. Sweney (1837-1899)

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?

V. 1 There's sunshine in my soul today,

More glorious and bright

Than glows in any earthly sky,

For Jesus is my light.

Refrain: O there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,

When the peaceful, happy moments roll;

When Jesus shows His smiling face

There is sunshine in the soul.

V. 2 There's music in my soul today,

A carol to my King,

And Jesus, listening, can hear

The songs I cannot sing.

Refrain

V. 3 There's springtime in my soul today,

For when the Lord is near,

The dove of peace sings in my heart,

The flowers of grace appear.

Refrain

2 Timothy 4:9 Do your best to come to me quickly.

V. 4 There's gladness in my soul today,

And hope, and praise, and love,

For blessings which He gives me now,

For joys "laid up" above.

Refrain

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Text written in 1758 by Robert Robinson (1735-1790)

Sung to NETTLETON, from John Wyeth's "Respository," 1813

1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

Psalm 36:9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Matthew 18:11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

V. 1 Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me ever to adore Thee,

May I still Thy goodness prove,

While the hope of endless glory 

Fills my heart with joy and love.

V. 2 Here I raise my Ebenezer,

Hither by Thy help I've come,

And I hope by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God;

He to rescue me from danger

Interposed His precious blood.

2 Corinthians 9:14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 

V. 3 O, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,

Bind me closer still to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here's my heart--O, take and seal it;

Seal it for Thy courts above.

I Love Your Kingdom, Lord

I Love Your Kingdom, Lord

Text written by Timothy Dwight (1752-1817)

Sung to ST. THOMAS, composed by Aaron Williams in 1770 and printed in "The New Universal Psalmodist"

Psalm 26:8 Lord, I love the house where you live,

the place where your glory dwells.

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

V. 1 I love Your kingdom, Lord,

The house of Your abode,

The Church our blest Redeemer saved

With His own precious blood.

Isaiah 49:16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

your walls are ever before me.

V. 2 I love Your Church, O God!

Her walls before Thee stand 

Dear as the apple of Thing eye,

And graven on Thy hand.

V. 3 Beyond my highest joy

I prize its heavenly ways,

Its sweet communion, solemn vows,

Its hymns of love and praise.

V. 4 Sure as Your truth shall last,

To Zion shall be given

The brightest glories earth can yield,

And brighter bliss of heaven.

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

Text written in 1719 by Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Sung to RESIGNATION, from "Southern Harmony 1835", harmonized by Virgil Thomson (1896-1989) and adapted by Melvin West in 1984 (1930-   )

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

V. 1 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.

V. 2 When I walk through the shades of death,

Thy presence is my stay;

A word of Thy supporting breath

Drives all my fears away.

Thy hand in sight of all my foes

Doth still my table spread;

My cup with blessings overflows, 

Thine oil anoints my head.

V. 3 The sure provisions of my God

Attend me all my days;

O may Thy house be mine abode

And all my work be praise.

There would I find a settled rest

While others go and come;

No more a stranger or a guest,

But like a child at home.

I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus

I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus

Text written in 1874 by Frances R. Havergal (1836-1879)

Sung to BULLINGER, composed in 1874 by Ethelbert W. Bullinger (1837-1913)

Psalm 71:1 In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: 

let me never be put to confusion.

V. 1 I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

Trusting only Thee;

Trusting Thee for full salvation,

Great and free.

Psalm 25:11 For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

V. 2 I am trusting Thee for pardon;

At Thy feet I bow;

For Thy grace and tender mercy,

Trusting now.

Psalm 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

V. 3 I am trusting Thee to guide me;

Thou alone shalt lead,

Every day and hour supplying

All my need.

Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy....

V. 4 I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus;

Never let me fall;

I am trusting Thee forever,

And for all.