Midweek Musical Treat!
Charles Pearson playing the tune Thaxted .
This tune is used for the hymn ‘I Vow to Thee my Country’ in England, but is used for the hymn ‘O God Beyond all Praising’ here in Ireland. The Rugby World Cup took it as its theme tune and call it ‘World in Union’. As the world goes through these difficult times of Covid-19, we felt that it was an appropriate piece of music to listen to and to be reminded that we are together in this… a World in Union.
As we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day, the end of World War 2, the words that William Whitla wrote to be sung to this tune are very apt…
Let streams of living justice
flow down upon the earth;
give freedom’s light to captives,
let all the poor have worth.
The hungrys’ hands are pleading,
the workers’ claim their rights,
the mourners long for laughter,
the blinded seek for sight.
Make liberty a beacon,
strike down the iron power,
abolish ancient vengeance,
proclaim your people’s hour.
For healing of the nations,
for peace that will not end,
for love that makes us lovers,
God grant us grace to mend.
Weave our varied gifts together,
knit our lives as they are spun;
on your loom of time enrol us
till our thread of life is run.
O great Weaver of the fabric,
bind church and world in one;
dye our texture with your radiance,
light our colours with your sun.
Your city’s built to music;
we are the stones you seek;
your harmony is language:
we are the words you speak.
Our faith we find in service,
our hope in others’ dreams,
our love in hand of neighbour:
our home land brightly gleams.
Inscribe our hearts with justice;
your way – the path untried;
your truth – the heart of stranger,
your life – the Crucified.
Words: William Whitla (1934 – )