Robert Morehead

Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding! 

1      Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding! 

        "Christ is near," we hear it say. 

        "Cast away the works of darkness, 

        all you children of the day!" 

2      Wakened by the solemn warning, 

        from earth's bondage let us rise; 

        Christ, our sun, all sloth dispelling, 

        shines upon the morning skies. 

3      See the Lamb, so long expected, 

        come with pardon down from heav'n. 

        Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, 

        one and all, to be forgiv'n; 

4      So, when next he comes in glory 

        and the world is wrapped in fear, 

        he will shield us with his mercy 

        and with words of love draw near. 

5      Honor, glory, might, and blessing 

        to the Father and the Son 

        with the everlasting Spirit 

        while unending ages run! 

Text: Latin hymn, 1632; tr. Edward Caswall, 1814-1878

Tune: MERTON

Creator of the Stars of Night 

1      Creator of the stars of night, 

        your people's everlasting light, 

        O Christ, redeemer of us all, 

        we pray you hear us when we call. 

2      When this old world drew on toward night, 

        you came; but not in splendor bright, 

        not as a monarch, but the child 

        of Mary, blessed mother mild. 

3      At your great name, O Jesus, now 

        all knees must bend, all hearts must bow: 

        all things on earth with one accord, 

        like those in heav'n, shall call you Lord. 

4      Come in your holy might, we pray, 

        redeem us for eternal day; 

        defend us while we dwell below 

        from all assaults of our dread foe. 

5      To God the Father, God the Son, 

        and God the Spirit, Three in One, 

        praise, honor, might, and glory be 

        from age to age eternally. Amen. 

Text: Latin hymn, 9th cent.; tr. Hymnal 1940, alt. 

Text © 1940 Church Pension Fund, admin. Church Publishing Incorporated. All rights reserved.

Tune: CONDITOR ALDE SIDERUM

Jesus Shall Reign 

1      Jesus shall reign where'er the sun 

        does its successive journeys run; 

        his kingdom stretch from shore to shore, 

        till moons shall wax and wane no more. 

2      To him shall endless prayer be made, 

        and praises throng to crown his head; 

        his name like sweet perfume shall rise 

        with ev'ry morning sacrifice. 

3      People and realms of ev'ry tongue 

        dwell on his love with sweetest song; 

        and infant voices shall proclaim 

        their early blessings on his name. 

4      Blessings abound where'er he reigns: 

        the pris'ners leap to lose their chains, 

        the weary find eternal rest, 

        and all who suffer want are blest. 

5      Let ev'ry creature rise and bring 

peculiar honors to our king; 

        angels descend with songs again, 

        and earth repeat the loud amen. 

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748, alt.

Tune: DUKE STREET

Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ 

1      Let us talents and tongues employ, 

        reaching out with a shout of joy: 

        bread is broken, the wine is poured, 

        Christ is spoken and seen and heard. 

Refrain 

        Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again, 

        pass the Word around: loaves abound! 

        Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again, 

        pass the Word around: loaves abound! 

2      Christ is able to make us one, 

        at the table he sets the tone, 

        teaching people to live to bless, 

        love in word and in deed express.  Refrain 

3      Jesus calls us in, sends us out 

        bearing fruit in a world of doubt, 

        gives us love to tell, bread to share: 

        God (Immanuel) ev'rywhere!  Refrain 

Text: Fred Kaan, b. 1929 

Text © 1975 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

TUNE: LINSTEAD