New Eternal Breath

A Hymn for Easter

Christ is risen! He’s been sprung
from the once locked prison of death.
Christ is risen to be sung
With our new eternal breath.  

Christ is ris’n! Women and men;
animals on farm and wild,
Christ is ris’n! Magpie and wren,
voice of life, sing to God’s Child.  

Christ is ris’n! With cosmic power,
the old order overturned,
Christ is ris’n! Aleph and Taw,
For us endless life has earned.  

Christ is ris’n! Noongar* and white
in Christ’s death are reconciled.
Christ is risen! All made right,
God’s life-giving power has smiled.  

• * or Koori, or black folk 

• Ted Witham  2018 
• 7777 (Savannah TiS 219(i), Easter Hymn (with alleluias))  

Cosmic resurrection. Image: Duston Lyon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shout for Life to the Day

SHOUT FOR LIFE TO THE DAY

[Hail thee festival day]

 Verses by Venantius Honoris Fortunatus

REFRAIN

Shout for life to the day,

When Jesus leaped out of the closed grave.

Sing at the top of your voice

Calling the world to rejoice.

 

1 (A). See the first rains of the year,

From the dryness of summer refreshing.

Every new sign of life,

Now with its Master returns.

Refrain

 

2. (B) He who was nailed to the Cross

is Lord and the ruler of nature,

all things created on earth

sing to the glory of God.

Refrain

 

3. (A) Gently the greenness returns

Pulsing with the power of new growth.

Heaven’s energy is unleashed

Flinging an increase of life.

Refrain

 

4. (B) Rise from the grave now. O Lord,

The author of life and creation.

Treading the pathway of death,

Life you are giving to all.

Refrain.

 

5. (A) God the Creator, the Lord,

who rules all the earth and the heavens,

guard us from harm from outside,

cleanse us from evil within.

Refrain

6. (B) Jesus the health of the world,

enlighten our mind, loved Redeemer,

Sent from the Godhead above

endlessly folded in God.

Refrain

 

7. (A) Spirit of life and power,

now flow in us, fount of our being.

Light that gives life to all,

Life that does saturate all.

Refrain

 

8. (B) Praise to the Giver of good,

You are love and the one Reconciler,

Pour out your generous love.

Order our ways in peace.

Refrain

 

Words: Verses: Venantius Honoris Fortunatus (alt.)

Refrain : Ted Witham

Music: Salve Festa Dies, Ralph Vaughan Williams EH 624 or TIS 423

"Jesus leaped out of the closed grave"

Easter So Surprising

1.      He is kindness without ending;
he is rain after long drought;
he is pure light without bending;
he is life that’s been let out.
He is Easter so surprising,
he’s the whistling of the fife;
he is Jesus who is rising;
he’s the bringer of new life.

2.      He is music when we’re singing,
he is freedom when we play;
he walks with us as we’re working;
his breath in us as we pray.
He is conscience when we’re straying;
challenging our idleness;
he forgives us – not delaying –
when we own our sinfulness.

3.      He is present as a dear friend;
deep within our blessedness.
Our companion at our life’s end,
brilliant light in loneliness.
He restores us in our suffering,
brings us to our heavenly rest;
leads us back from all our wandering;
guiding us to where is best.

4.      Make an altar of Christ’s manger;
of Christ’s cross a sanctuary.
In Emmaus, greet the Stranger,
Christ communes here – it is He.
He is Easter so surprising,
he’s the whistling of the fife;
he is Jesus who is rising;
he’s the bringer of new life.

Metre: 8787D. Tune: Nettleton
or Hyfrydol, or Abbots Leigh.

I’d Like to Rise Up

I’d like, I’d like to rise up,
I’d like to be yeast for you.
I’d like, I’d like to sing joy,
to fill the world with you.

I need your Living Presence,
I need to know you’re near.
I need you to live. I need—
to leave behind my fear.

Chorus
I need your Present Power,
I need to know you’re strong.
I need you to live. I need —
to give voice to my song.

Chorus
You choose to freely give your love.
You chose to lift the Christ.
You choose us to live. You choose —
us in praise to rise.

© Ted Witham tssf 2009
13.13.13.13 Salley Gardens (TIS 674)
or 7676D Ellacombe (TIS 361)

 

The Resurrection of Jesus