Martin Manser - Best Loved Hymns and Readings

Compiled by

Associate Editor: David H. Pickering

Cover Page

Title Page Best Loved Hymns, Poems & Readings Compiled by

Introduction Introduction This collection of Best-loved Hymns and Readings has been compiled as a resource for personal devotion and also as a reference work. It will be useful for making selections for such services as weddings, Christenings, or funerals. You will find here many favourite and traditional hymns, poems, readings, and extracts from the Bible (e.g., ‘Amazing Grace’ and Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan), together with less familiar ones (e.g., Shakespeare’s ‘The quality of mercy is not strained’). Each hymn, reading, poem, etc., is given an introduction which sets its background or gives interesting or helpful information. All the readings are arranged in alphabetical order of title (ignoring ‘A’ or ‘The’ at the beginning of a title). For ease of reference there are also indexes at the end of the book to enable you to find a particular item by reference to its first line, its author, its overall theme or, where appropriate, its Bible reference. These extracts have been compiled in the hope that they will provide inspiration and encouragement both for everyday life and also at times of particular need and on special occasions. Martin H. Manser

Abide with me Abide with me Henry Francis Lyte was vicar of the fishing port of Brixham, Devon, and wrote a number of greatly loved hymns, of which ‘Abide with me’ is perhaps the most celebrated. He wrote it shortly after his last sermon, knowing that his own death (at the premature age of 54) was imminent, having been diagnosed with tuberculosis. In 1915 Nurse Edith Cavell famously derived strength from this hymn by singing it in her cell the night before she was executed by a German firing squad. Today it is also a great favourite with crowds at football matches. The original reference is to Luke 24:29, which runs ‘Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’ Abide with me! fast falls the eventide, The darkness deepens; LORD, with me abide! When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me! Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see: O Thou, who changest not, abide with me! I need Thy presence every passing hour; What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me! I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless: Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness: Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still if Thou abide with me. Hold then Thy cross before my closing eyes! Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies! Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee: In life and death, O Lord, abide with me! Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)

Adam and Eva Adam and Eva This passage from. Genesis 2:18-24 is sometimes used as a Bible reading at weddings. It illustrates the mutual companionship and interdependence that exist in a marriage relationship. Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.’ So out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.’ Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Adonais

Afterwards

All creatures of our God and King

All people that on earth do dwell

All things bright and beautiful

All we like sheep

Amazing grace

And can it be?

Away in a manger

Be baptized

Be still, my soul

Be Thou my vision

Blessed are the poor in spirit

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine

Blood, toil, tears and sweat

Breathe on me, Breath of God

The burning bush

Christ, the Lord, is risen today

Christ triumphant

The Church’s one foundation

Come, ye thankful people, come

Come down, O love divine

Come live with me and be my love

Crossing the bar

Crown Him with many crowns

Daniel in the lions’ den

David and Goliath

The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended

Dear Lord and Father of mankind

Death, be not proud

Death is nothing at all

Do not go gentle into that good night

Do not stand at my grave and weep

Do not worry

Drink to me only with thine eyes

Each eve Earth falleth down the dark

Eternal Father, strong to save

Faith, hope, and love

Far above rubies

Father, hear the prayer we offer

A father’s advice to his son

Fight the good fight

For all the saints

For everything there is a season

For I dipt into the future

For the beauty of the earth

For unto us a child is born

Friends, Romans, countrymen

Give a man a horse

Glorious things of thee are spoken

God be in my head

God is our refuge and strength

God moves in a mysterious way

God save the queen

God’s grandeur

The Good Samaritan

Great is thy faithfulness

Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

Hark! the herald-angels sing

Hills of the north, rejoice

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty

Home, sweet home

Home-thoughts, from abroad

The hound of heaven

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways

How great Thou art!

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

I am the good shepherd

I am the resurrection and the life

I felt my heart strangely warmed

I run toward the prize

I’ve found a friend

I vow to thee, my country

I wandered lonely as a cloud

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills

I will raise him up at the last day

If

If I should go before the rest of you

Immortal, invisible, God only wise

In Memoriam

In my house are many mansions

In the beginning

Invictus

Jerusalem

Jerusalem the golden

Jesus Christ is risen today

Jesus loves me

Jesus shall reign

Joy to the world

Just as I am

The King of love my Shepherd is

The Lake isle of Innisfree

Land of hope and glory

Land of my fathers

Last lines

Lead, kindly light

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us

Let the little children come to me

Let us now praise famous men

Let us, with a gladsome mind

The Listeners

The Lord is my shepherd

Lord of all hopefulness

The Lord’s Prayer

Loud is the vale

Love alters not

Love divine, all loves excelling