Best Loved Hymns and Readings

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,

And all is darkened in the vale of tears,

Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,

Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.

Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay,

From His own fullness, all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on

When we shall be forever with the Lord,

When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,

Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,

All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Katharina Amalia von Schlegel (1697-1768)

Be Thou my vision (#ulink_ab4e7c16-b1e8-53b9-8736-7545d50aa609)

The words for this hymn come originally from an eighth-century Irish poem entitled ‘Rob tu mo bhoile’. It became a great favourite with Irish congregations after first appearing in The Irish Church Hymnal (1919), translated by Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880-1931) and set to music by Eleanor Henrietta Hull (1860-1935).

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,

Be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art,

Be Thou my best thought in the day and the night,

Both waking and sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word,

Be Thou ever with me, and I with Thee, Lord,

Be Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son,

Be Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight,

Be Thou my whole armour, be Thou my true might,

Be Thou my soul’s shelter, be Thou my strong tower,

O raise Thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

Be Thou my inheritance now and always,

Be Thou and Thou only the first in my heart,

O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, Thou heaven’s bright Sun,

O grant me its joys after vict’ry is won,

Great heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be Thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

Anonymous

Blessed are the poor in spirit (#ulink_ddb3094f-7b51-59ee-84a0-64a63089113a)

This passage, from Matthew 5:1-12, is often quoted as comfort for those who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. The eight blessings announced by Christ at the start of the Sermon on the Mount are known as ‘The Beatitudes’.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.