With a Song in my Heart – 40 Days of Sacred Songs

Easter Day

 

To Listen:                    We Have a Gospel to Proclaim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-SPYAgCtkw

 

We have a gospel to proclaim,
good news for all throughout the earth;
the gospel of a Saviour’s name:
we sing his glory, tell his worth.

Tell of his birth at Bethlehem,
not in a royal house or hall,
but in a stable dark and dim,
the Word made flesh, a light for all.

Tell of his death at Calvary,
hated by those he came to save;
in lonely suff’ring on the cross:
for all he loved, his life he gave.

Tell of that glorious Easter morn,
empty the tomb, for he was free;
he broke the pow’r of death and hell
that we might share his victory.

Tell of his reign at God’s right hand,
by all creation glorified.
He sends his Spirit on his Church
to live for him, the Lamb who died.

Now we rejoice to name him King:
Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
This gospel-message we proclaim:
we sing his glory, tell his worth.

(Edward Joseph Burns – b. 1938)

From the Scriptures: 

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

(Matthew 28.1-10)

To Reflect:

One Final Hymn and a joyful memory of a wonderful man who I am convinced is enjoying singing multiple ‘Alleluias’ with the Angels and Archangels for his first Easter in heaven.

Desmond Mpilo Tutu, newly Archbishop of Cape Town, returned to Johannesburg to celebrate the multiplication of his previous Diocese into four new Dioceses.  Our family was then living and working at St Martin’s School in the Southern Johannesburg which fell into the new Diocese of Christ the King.  At the inauguration ceremony today’s hymn (with its reference to proclaiming Christ as King) was sung.

Well we tried to sing it….

Halfway through the first verse my very dear friend Desmond turned to the orchestra, who were playing the tune in a stately manner, spoke over their playing to get them to stop and then told them the music needed to be played faster.  Then he turned to the congregation and chastised us for not singing loud enough.  For this was a day of celebration and, though dignity was needed in places, joy was to be our aim!

Today, with my beloved brother Desmond, I wish you Easter joy.

Thank you for having journeyed with me these past 40 days and for listening to the life story of an old vicar.  Your emails to me (I promise will reply to each of them) have been encouraging and have joined us together on the journey.  Thank you for your faithfulness and your service of the One Who Loves us Best.  This Easter may your life overflow with the joy of the Resurrection and your heart be filled with ‘Psalms and Hymns and Songs of Praise’.

 

To Pray:

Risen Christ,
you claim your own among the nations;
mend what is broken in us, loving Saviour;
do not forsake us when we fail,
but in your service grant us daring and love;
for your name’s sake.

(Psalm 60)

  

Reprise:                                Sing! 

Many of the Song choices over the past weeks have been from the excellent Songs of Praise.  I have tried to vary the choices and styles as I but wish that there were more choices of the Christian music with which I am familiar sung by more diverse voices.  For that reason I would like the final piece though (technically) not a hymn but certainly a call to sing louder and clearer wherever we are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ah_Yf7ey1Q

 

Some words they can’t be spoken only sung
So hear a thousand voices shouting love
There’s a place, there’s a time in this life
when you sing what you are feeling
Find your feet, stand your ground
Don’t you see right now the world is listening
to what we say?

Sing it louder, sing it clearer,
knowing everyone will hear you
Make some noise, find your voice tonight
Sing it stronger, sing together,
make this moment last forever
Old and young shouting love tonight

To sing we’ve had a lifetime to wait
(wait, wait, wait)
And see a thousand faces celebrate
(we’re here to celebrate)
You brought hope, you brought life, conquer fear,
no, it wasn’t always easy
Stood your ground, kept your faith
Don’t you see right now the world is listening
to what we say?

Sing it louder, sing it clearer…

Some words they can’t be spoken only sung
To hear a thousand voices shouting love
and life and hope

Just sing, just sing
Just sing, just sing

Sing it louder, sing it clearer…

Hear a thousand voices shouting love

(Andrew Lloyd-Webber & Gary Barlow)

(This song was written for the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  This year she is celebrating the Platinum Jubilee since her Accession to the Throne on 6 February 1952.  Please hold her in your prayers.)

 

Please Note:  These reflections are also published on my blog: suffolkvicarhomes.com on Twitter as @SuffolkVicar, and on my public Facebook page Rev Andrew Dotchin
If you would like them as a daily email please send a request to vicar@felixparish.com

 

 

Acknowledgements:

Prayers are adapted from the Psalm Prayers in the Common Worship Psalter. material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2005
Scripture quotations are copyright © New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
These Reflections, ‘With a Song in my Heart’ are copyright © Andrew Dotchin 2022