It’s Children’s Day in Aotearoa – celebrated each year on the first Sunday in March. We’re marking the date with some hymns written especially for children, including Space to grow by NZ Dominican sister Cecily Sheehy, and William Parker’s Tell me the stories of Jesus.
Koru unfurling Photo: Jon Radoff
SONG: SPACE TO GROW
Artist: Cecily Sheehy and friends
Words/Music: Cecily Sheehy OP
Recording: Cecily Sheehy 2023
Chorus:
All over the world ev’rywhere,
people are learning to love and to share.
Amidst the threat of death and doom,
in each heart there is some room,
for a seed of life to grow.
Seeds they grow, silently, slowly,
waiting for water, sunlight… and so,
little ones too, so trusting in hope,
depend on our loving to blossom and grow.
Chorus:
Children too, daily have needs,
growing each day to flowers from seeds.
Water of caring, sunshine of touch;
the loving of parents is never too much.
Chorus:
Here we are, mothers and fathers,
brothers and sisters, neighbours and friends.
Sharing our love, our wisdom and praise,
will help all our little one, through all their days.
Chorus:
SONG: I HEARD THE VOICE OF JESUS SAY
Artist: Choir of Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, Catherine Palmer (dir), Ronald Jordan (organ)
Words/Music: Horatius Bonar/Trad arr Vaughan Williams
Recording: Marquis 181175
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down
your head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn, and sad;
I found him in a resting place,
and he has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
the living water, thirsty one;
stoop down and drink and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s light;
look unto me, your morn shall rise,
and all your day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk
till travelling days are done.
SONG: TELL ME THE STORIES OF JESUS
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: William Parker/Frederick Challinor
Recording: Hyperion 112104
Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:
scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,
and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;
words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
all in the love-light of Jesus' face.
Show me that scene in the garden, of bitter pain.
Show me the cross where my Saviour for me was slain -
sad ones or bright ones, so that they be
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
SONG: DAISIES ARE OUR SILVER
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ)
Words/Music: Jan Struthers/Kenneth Finlay
Recording: Hyperion 112104
Daisies are our silver, buttercups our gold:
This is all the treasure we can have or hold.
Raindrops are our diamonds and the morning dew;
While for shining sapphires we've the speedwell blue.
These shall be our emeralds– Leaves so new and green;
Roses make the reddest rubies ever seen.
God, who gave these treasures to your children small,
Teach us how to love them and grow like them all.
Make us bright as silver: Make us good as gold;
Warm as summer roses , let our hearts unfold.
Gay as leaves in April, clear as drops of dew–
God, who made the speedwell, keep us true to you.
SONG: JESUS, TENDER SHEPHERD, HEAR ME
Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir)
Words/Music: Sarah Duncan/Trad
Recording: Hyperion 112104
Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me,
Bless thy little lamb tonight;
Through the darkness be Thou near me,
Watch my sleep till morning light.
All this day Thy hand has led me,
And I thank Thee for Thy care;
Thou hast clothed me, warmed and fed me,
Listen to my evening prayer.
Let my sins be all forgiven,
Bless the friends I love so well;
Take me, when I die, to heaven,
Happy there with Thee to dwell.
SONG: THE SERVANT KING
Artist: BBC Radio 4 Daily Service Singers
Words/Music: Graham Kendrick
Recording: BBC
From heaven you came helpless babe
Entered our world, your glory veiled
Not to be served but to serve
And give Your life that we might live
Refrain:
This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King
There in the garden of tears
My heavy load he chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
'Yet not My will but Yours,' He said
Refrain:
Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered
Refrain:
So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone Him
Each other's needs to prefer
For it is Christ we're serving
Refrain:
SONG: LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING
Artist: Choir of Christ Church Cathedral Oxford, London Musici, Howard Goodall
Words/Music: Charles Wesley/Howard Goodall
Recording: EMI 215047
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion;
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast;
let us all in thee inherit;
let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty, to deliver;
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
