Raise a Mighty Chorus

words: Gary Hicks (December 22, 2005 and June 30, 2010) 

copyright 2006, 2010 Gary Hicks

music: traditional Irish melody “Gartan”

Raise a mighty chorus;

Lift your voices to the LORD who lives forever

Raise a mighty chorus;

Lift your voices to the great I AM.

He alone is holy,

He is worthy to receive all praise and honor

He alone is worthy,

Lift your voices to the Lord of All!

Lord, extend Your mercy,

Christ, have mercy on my soul, for I am needy

Lord, extend Your mercy,

Please forgive me and restore my soul.

Thank You for Your mercy,

Thank You for Your grace so kind, Your love and favor,

Thank You for Your mercy,

Precious Lamb of God, I worship You.

I will raise a chorus;

I will lift my voice to God, who lives forever

I will raise a chorus;

I will lift my hands and praise the Lord.

Raise a mighty chorus;

Lift your voices to the LORD who lives forever

Raise a mighty chorus;

Lift your voices to the great I AM.

Lord, All is Vain Without Your Truth

words: Gary Hicks 

music: adapted from ancient Irish melody “St. Columba” by Gary Hicks

copyright 2010 Gary L. Hicks

Lord, all is vain without your truth,

All wisdom but a lie:

The empty words of hollow men

Who blindly search the sky.

You are the Truth, You are the Life,

You are the Living Way,

Our wisdom grows within Your light,

And night becomes the day.

Lord, all is vain without Your truth,

All pleasure but a breath:

A temporary resting place

Before the dust of death.

But You are Living Hope and Joy,

Unshakeable and true;

We find life’s meaning in Your Way,

Our purpose rests in You.

We rise to worship and adore

In wonder, awe and praise

We rise to magnify Your Name,

The Maker of our days.

Sing hallelujah to the Lord

Our Maker and our Friend;

Be treasured, worshiped and adored:

Your day shall never end!

How Good It Is To Be Here With You

words: Gary Hicks, copyright 2010 Gary L. Hicks
tune: Gaelic folk tune “TÁ MO CHLEAMHNAS DÉANTA”

How good it is to be here with You
Here in Your Presence, Here in Your love
And how blessed I am to know You, Lord!
How blessed to sing and to praise You.

Oh, what a privilege is mine
Given this good life and family
Given this calling to follow You
How blessed to sing and to praise You.

Lord, bless the world by Your coming today
By the advance of Your kingdom on earth
And by the spread of peace and good will
By my life and my serving.

How good it is to be here with You
Here in Your Presence, Here in Your love
And how blessed we are to know You, Lord!
How blessed to sing and to praise You.

Come to Bethlehem and Worship

words:  Gary Hicks © 2010 Gary L. Hicks

music: “Lauda Anima” John Goss, 1869 

(“Praise My Soul, the King of Heaven”)

Come to Bethlehem and worship

Kneel before Emmanuel

Pilgrims, kings and lowly shepherds

Praise His name, His glories tell

Alleluia! Alleluia!

God has come with man to dwell.

Come to Calvary and worship

Kneel before the dying Lamb

On Himself our sins He carries

See His pierced and bleeding hands

Alleluia! Alleluia!

In our place condemned He stands.

Jesus Christ, our Living Savior

Now we come with hearts aflame

Now we bow in adoration

Now Your wonders we proclaim

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Lord, we magnify Your name!

All Nature Rejoices

words: Gary Hicks 

(verse 1: December 4-5, 1995 and November 5, 1996)

(verses 2 and 3: December 19, 2005)

(verse 4: April 29, 2010)

© 2010 Gary L. Hicks

tune: traditional Welsh melody “Ash Grove” (“Let All Things Now Living”)

1) All nature rejoices

We lift up our voices

Together proclaiming the goodness of the Lord

Our hearts gladly bless Him

Our tongues now confess Him

Who ever is faithful, fulfilling His word.

By a virgin so mild

He came as a child

The Word now enfolded in flesh as a man

The angels sang glory

Proclaiming the story

The wonder and blessing of God's gracious plan.

2) The shepherds came singing

And wise men came bringing

Their gold, myrrh and frankincense unto the Lord.

He grew in God’s favor

Our Brother and Saviour

Fulfilling the promise foretold in God’s Word.

And then on the cross

He suffered such loss

To Him was imputed our guilt and our sin

He died in disgrace

What wonder, what grace!

All worship and honor we offer to Him.

3) And then, at the daybreak –

It seemed like an earthquake –

The stone in the garden was carried away

He came out victorious

He came out all glorious,

And risen indeed from the tomb where He lay!

Through clouds He ascended

To heaven, attended

By legions of angels declaring His praise

And we now adore Him,

We worship before Him,

The Lord of the Ages, the Ancient of Days!

4) And on this new morning

God’s grace is adorning

The pathway before us, for He is our light

No matter what sorrow

We long for tomorrow

When, free from our shackles, the faith becomes sight.
And all of creation,
From each tribe and nation,
Will join in the singing and join in the dance:

What glory, what wonder

As glad voices thunder

The praise of our Saviour with uplifted hands.

Praise the Lord, All Angels of Heaven

words: Gary Hicks, copyright 2010 Gary L. Hicks

tune: Re­nais­sance French car­ol 

“Un Flambeau, Jeanette, Isabella”

("Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella")

Praise the Lord, all angels of heaven

Praise His Majesty, creatures below

He is gracious and comes to a stable

Freely He brings salvation to us,

Now, now, come to the lowly manger,

Now, now, come to the holy Child.

Praise the Lord, in flesh here among us

God come down to show us the way

Hear His words, with authority spoken

See all His works of pow’r among us,

Come, come, worship the King of heaven.

Come, come, worship the Lord of all.

Praise the Lamb, in love He is given

Freely offered, to die in our place

See His pain, and the love of the Saviour

Here is the sacrifice of heaven

Come, come, worship the Lamb who suffers

Come, come, worship the Lamb of God.

Praise the Christ, now risen, ascended

Prince of glory, whom angels adore

Hallelujah! Exalted forever,

Here is the proof of heaven’s favor,

Come, come, worship the risen Saviour,

Come, come, worship the Lord of all.

There's a Wideness in God's Mercy

This 19th-century hymn has a great concept,
and these words are worth retaining
in a contemporary musical setting.
I've written a tune, and maybe you'd like
to write your own as well. 

words: Frederick W. Faber (1814-1863)

music: Gary Hicks © 2010 Gary L. Hicks

(lead sheet available from caedmullen@gmail.com)

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy,

Like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in His justice,

Which is more than liberty.

There is welcome for the sinner,

And more graces for the good;
There is mercy with the Savior;

There is healing in His blood.

For the love of God is broader

Than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal

Is most wonderfully kind.

But we make His love too narrow
By false limits of our own;
And we magnify His strictness
With a zeal He will not own.

There is no place where earth’s sorrows
Are more felt than up in heaven;

There is no place where earth’s failings
Have such kindly judgment given.
There is plentiful redemption

In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members

In the sorrows of the Head.

There is grace enough for thousands

Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations
In that upper home of bliss.
’Tis not all we owe to Jesus;

It is something more than all;
Greater good because of evil,

Larger mercy through the fall.

It is God: His love looks mighty,

But is mightier than it seems;
’Tis our Father: and His fondness

Goes far out beyond our dreams.

Was there ever kinder shepherd

Half so gentle, half so sweet,
As the Savior who would have us

Come and gather at His feet?

Give to the Lord the Highest Praise

words: Gary Hicks © 2010 Gary L. Hicks

tune: “How Great Our Joy”, traditional German melody

Give to the LORD the highest praise

Lift up Your voice, thanksgiving raise

To Christ the King (To Christ the King)

Let us sing (Let us sing)

Lift up your hands and bless the LORD

Lift up your hands to Christ the LORD!

Glory to God in highest heaven

Unto the world His Son is given

Our sacrifice (Our sacrifice)

Jesus Christ (Jesus Christ)

Freely He suffered in our place

Freely He suffered, O what grace!

Now He is risen from the dead

Death is defeated, as He said

In Him is life (In Him is life)

Endless life (Endless life)

Where is your victory, O grave?

Jesus is risen, now to save!

"Vehement Love" hymn books available

Thurland and Lorraine Brown are using two of my hymn TUNES at Winchester Wesleyan Church this Sunday -- new tunes to "Brethren We Have Met to Worship" and "Arise, My Soul Arise" -- these from the VEHEMENT LOVE hymn book. About 12 of these are available FREE (you pay $5 for shipping). Contact me at caedmullen@gmail.com.

Father, I Want to Walk with You

words: Gary Hicks, copyright 2010 Gary L. Hicks

tune: Coventry Carol

Father, I want to walk with You

In every busy day

Listening to hear Your precepts true

Quickened to walk Your way.

Order my steps from heaven’s throne

Master me deep inside

May every hour be Yours to own

Every thought, Yours to guide.

As when the Saviour walked on earth

Led by Your guiding hand

Speaking Your words of hope and love

Following Your command.

Father, I want know Your ways

Help me to love You more

Let all my being speak Your praise

Worship You and adore.

Give to the Lord Your Song of Praise

words: Gary Hicks

copyright 2010 Gary L. Hicks

tune: Coventry Carol, English Renaissance folk tune

REFRAIN:

Honor the LORD, and worship at His throne

His truth endures always.

Give to the LORD your song of praise

Offer your strength and voice

Walk in His paths and trust always

And in His love rejoice.

For He is good, our Father dear

Gracious and kind and true

We should adore with reverent fear

Love Him in all we do.

Never He slumbers nor falls asleep

Never He turns away

We are beloved, His precious sheep

He is our hope and stay.

Give to the LORD your voice in praise

Offer your strength and voice

Walk in His paths and trust always

And in His love rejoice.

All Glory to the Lamb

words: Gary Hicks, copyright 2010 Gary L. Hicks

tune: “Festal Song,” William H. Walters (1825-1893)

(“Rise Up, O Men of God”)

All glory to the Lamb

His anthem loudly raise

And every tongue in every place

Speak forth His worthy praise.

The angels sing to Him

Who their allegiance owns

And elders bow before His face

To cast their golden crowns.

For fallen sinners slain:

He suffered in our place

No angel mind can comprehend

The wonders of His grace.

Behold Him on His throne:

Our universal Lord

May Jesus Christ, to endless days

Be worshipped and adored.

Eternal God, I Bless Your Name

words: Gary Hicks © 2010 Gary L. Hicks

tune: Wexford Carol, 12th century Irish folk tune

(listen to Wexford Carol here.)

Eternal God, I bless Your Name

Today and yesterday the same

And still tomorrow You shall be

Unchanging, faithful, LORD, to me.

Though I have stumbled, pardon find,

And grace to cleanse both heart and mind

Your presence sweet, my daily Friend

Deep inner joy without an end.

The day is long, the way unclear

But still Your calming voice I hear:

“Peace, peace – be still, you troubled waves!”

The Lord of nature here I have.

The waves are stilled, the sun appears

And now the way ahead is clear

I sing a sweet and peaceful song;

My heart is free, my voice is strong.

To God above be ceaseless praise

From rising sun to end of days

From east to west and shore to shore

His glories echo evermore.

And to the Son let praises flow

From every creature here below

And to the Spirit – faithful Three:

Eternal God in unity.

To God Above Be Endless Praise

words: Gary Hicks © 2010 Gary L. Hicks
tune: Kingsfold (O Sing A Song of Bethlehem)

To God above be endless praise

Who made salvation’s plan

Who saw us in our deep malaise

And sent His Son to man.

Can any human tongue express

A love so rich and strong?

He helps us in our deep distress

And rights the ancient wrong.

To Jesus Christ be endless praise

The Word of God made flesh

Our crushing debt He freely pays

With wounds still deep and fresh.

What love is this! The great “I AM”

Dying to pay the price!

Sing alleluia to the Lamb

Heaven’s bleeding sacrifice.

And to the Spirit, endless praise

Our Comforter and Guide

Still with us, in us all our days

To cheer and walk beside.

Let every creature great and small

Freely your tribute bring

To God the Triune LORD of all

Let all creation sing.

Lord, I Thank You for the Morning

words: Gary Hicks © 2010 Gary L. Hicks

music: BEACH SPRING from "The Sacred Harp" (1844)

Appalachian folk tune

Lord, I thank You for the morning, 

For Your mercies ever new

For the waking of creation, 

Rising sun and morning dew;

For the raging of the ocean, 

For the galaxies above

For Your multiplied devotion 

And Your exponential love.

Lord, I thank You for our family, 

For the joy of human love

And I thank You for Your Body, 

Friends below and friends above;

For the wonder of Your blessings 

On our fallen human race

For the joy of Your salvation, 

For the beauty of Your grace.

Lord, I thank You for our Saviour: 

As a man He took my place

On the cross my sins He carried, 

And the stain of all our race;

Then He rose from death victorious, 

He is seated now above

Thank You, Father, for the blessing 

Of Your sacrificial love.

If I had a thousand voices, 

If I had a thousand years

Could I speak the faithful praises 

of the God who sees our tears?

You are holy, You are worthy

And with grateful hearts we come

From our vain preoccupations 

To Your everlasting home!

When I Awake I Hear a Tune

words: Gary Hicks © 2010 Gary L. Hicks

tune: Irish folk tune: 

“The Dawning of the Day” (Raglan Road)

(hear the tune in this YouTube clip)

When I awake I hear a tune that rises from my heart

A song of angels bursting forth before the morning starts

I turn to You upon my bed before the break of day

And hum a hallelujah and I head along my way.

Then when the sun has risen high I rest awhile at noon

That simple song comes wafting back, that elemental tune

It rises up from deep somewhere -- I lift my head and sing

A sweet and joyful chorus for my Saviour and my King.

And at the end of day, when I am sitting on my bed

There comes again this song of love, it echoes through my head

With deep thanksgiving from my heart for Your presence all day long

I feel your blessing once again, and I whisper that sweet song:

LAI, LAI, LAI, LAI, LAI, LAI, LAI, LAI,

ALLELUIA, ALLELU!

(4 times)

Down From Your Throne, From Heaven and Its Glory

words: Gary Hicks © 2010 Gary L. Hicks

music: Irish folk-tune LONDONDERRY AIR

similar to "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need"

Down from Your throne, 
from heaven and its glory

To earth You came 
in human flesh and blood

You graced our world, 
and blessed a humble family:

The son of Mary 
and the Son of God.

And as You grew, 
we saw the Father’s favor

You moved with grace, 
so patient and so wise

The living Word, 
made flesh here now among us

We saw the Father’s mercy 
shining in Your eyes.

You gathered twelve 
to walk those dusty byways

To hear Your words 
and see the kingdom signs

And in the upper room 
You shared a meal together

Unleavened bread 
and cup of mystic wine.

And You were bruised 
and wounded for our pardon

And You were crushed 
in loneliness and shame

Then, lifted high, 
You bore our sin at Calvary

The perfect Lamb of God 
was offered for our gain!

You broke the chains of death 
and rose to life again;

Appeared in flesh, 
confirming it was true

Then through the clouds 
ascended to the heavens

Where now You rule, 
and there we sit with You.

And You will come again 
in clouds of glory

To judge the earth 
and take Your rightful throne

That endless day will dawn, 
so full of joy and love

And with all saints above, 
we’ll worship You alone.

Our Saviour and Our Friend, Who Suffered in Our Place

words: Gary Hicks © 2010 Gary L. Hicks

music: hymn tune DARWALL 

by John Darwall (1770)

"Rejoice, The Lord Is King"

1. Our Saviour and our Friend,

Who suffered in our place,

Is now ascended to His throne,

He rules with grace.

Behold the Lamb!

With elders and the angels, 
praise the great I AM.

2. He rises on our praise

The glorious LORD of hosts

and leads us on in victory,

In Him we boast.

Declare His might!

He rises now to scatter 
all the hosts of night.

3. And then, one glorious day

The trumpet shall resound

We’ll join the angels and all saints

On holy ground,

Before God’s throne.

And thunderous praise be lifted
to our God alone!

Lowly You Descended, Born to Save Us All

words: Gary Hicks © 2010 Gary L. Hicks

music: French folk tune 

AU CLARE DE LA LUNE (6.5.6.5.D.)

1. Lowly You descended,

Born to save us all;

From the throne of heaven

To a cattle stall;

Laid aside Your glory,

Heard the Father’s call;

Lowly You descended,

Born to save us all.

2. Flesh and blood among us

You became a man;

Mary’s baby Jesus,

Heav’n’s audacious plan;

Wise men came to worship,

Shepherds held Your hand;

Flesh and blood among us

You became a man.

3. How can we repay You?

Who can count the cost?

Up the road to suffer

Shame and lonely loss;

Bearing all my sin, and

Dying on a cross;

How can we repay You?

Who can count the cost?