Church Music Corner › 7th Sunday After Pentecost 2025 [loc-001J]

Deus in loco sancto suo: Deus, qui inhabitáre facit unánimes in domo: ipse dabit virtútem et fortitúdinem plebi suæ.

Today our choir at All Saints Ainslie performed Batten's anthem O Sing Joyfully:

O sing joyfully, O sing joyfully unto God our strength;

Make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Take the song, bring hither the tabret:

The merry harp with the lute! Blow up!

Blow up the trumpet in the new moon:

Ev'n in the time appointed and upon our solemn feast day.

For this was made a statute for Israel

And a law of the God of Jacob.

It was also the three years mind of the philosopher Geoffrey Brennan, the late husband of Margaret, a soprano in our choir. Perhaps by coincidence or perhaps because our director Alasdair chose it intentionally (I'm not sure which), we sang the appropriate hymn Be Still, My Soul which always brings a tear to my eye. It was also a hymn I selected for the funeral of my grandfather. I don't normally post the hymn lyrics here, but I'll make an exception in this case.

Be still, my soul! The Lord is on your side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to your God to order and provide;

In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul! Your best, your heav’nly friend

Thru' thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul! Your God does undertake

To guide the future as he has the past;

Your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul! the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while he lived below.

Be still, my soul! When dearest friends depart

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shall you better know his love, his heart,

Who comes to soothe your sorrow and your fears.

Be still, my soul! Your Jesus can repay

From his own fullness all he takes away.

Be still, my soul! The hour is hast'ning on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

Be still my soul! When change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

I didn't go to Evensong today because it was raining quite badly and I had to prepare my lectures.