O Thou, who came to serve
The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10.45)
Category: Passion
Ym Methlem datguddiwyd
* This hymn is written to be a carol for the Welsh service of Plygain. I am grateful that the author, Alice Evans, has approved my setting of her words. The appended (paraphrase) translation is mine. Ym Methlem datguddiwyd.midi TRANSLATION The prophesied Word Read More …
Jesus said, Share my bread
I wrote this originally for a Harvest Communion at St Teilo’s Church Llandeilo, unaware that at the time Dvorak’s music was being used in a television commercial to sell bread! Jesus said Share my bread.midi
We keep the memory of a time
*** A simple commemoration of both Pesach/Passover and the Last Supper. For reflective, devotional, unison singing. This re-writes and replaces No.32 in my collection People Making Peace.
O Love, O Love, O fearless Love
* This hymn-song was composed to be part of a Lenten sermon for St Anne’s Calmore, near Southampton. In verse 2 ‘… people kill the thing they love’ comes from Oscar Wilde: ‘for each man kills the thing he loves’ (Ballad Read More …
Let this mind be in me
*** A congregational hymn, especially suitable for Palm Sunday. It is best sung in four-part harmony. The palms have been blessed; there may have been a procession to represent Christ’s coming to Jerusalem; worshippers are poised between these joyful moments Read More …
The cross, which yesterday was like
* Written for Holy Saturday, this is a hymn for congregational singing. The cross, which yesterday was like.midi COMMENTARY … this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in Read More …
Despised, rejected servant
*** A praise-song-prayer to the crucified and risen Christ. To the eyes of faith he is both suffering servant and Levitical High Priest who oversees the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 16). The music is Read More …
Do not let your hearts be troubled
A versification and setting of words from John chapter 14. I realized that the opening sentence of John 14 fits beautifully to the first line of music in a much-loved Welsh lullaby Suo Gân (though the lullaby has two phrases to a Read More …
Stations of the Cross
*** The Stations of the Cross is a form of devotion that originated with fourth century pilgrims, who would retrace Jesus’ journey from Pilate’s house to Golgotha. The traditional form of the fourteen depictions of the Passion was established in the Read More …