Best Loved Hymns and Readings

‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine (#ulink_dab5f2c2-954b-58e4-9334-c634a1d6073e)

Fanny Crosby wrote over 8000 hymns, of which this is one of the most celebrated. A native of Putnam County, New York, Fanny was bom blind and attended one of the first special schools for the blind in the USA. She overcame her blindness by composing her lines in her head and then dictating them to be written down by a friend or secretary, publishing her vast output under no fewer than 216 pseudonyms.

In the latter part of the twentieth century this particular hymn was adopted as a theme tune by celebrated US evangelist Billy Graham.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God;

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,Praising my Saviour all the day long;This is my story, this is my song,Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture burst on my sight;

Angels descending, bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Saviour am happy and blest;

Watching and waiting, looking above,

Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Fanny Crosby (Frances van Alstyne; 1820-1915)

Blood, toil, tears and sweat (#ulink_d7df6968-aa6f-5426-9b90-9af903088cfb)

Winston Churchill delivered this speech (his first in the post of British Prime Minister) on 13 May 1940, when the country faced the threat of invasion by Nazi Germany. It remains one of the most celebrated expressions of determination in the face of danger.

I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government: ‘I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.’

We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering.

You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.

You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.

Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope.

I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, ‘Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.’

Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Breathe on me, Breath of God (#ulink_c03d1300-e78c-58d7-84f2-2b3bf68e5126)

This hymn was first published in 1878 and remains popular today. It links the breath of God with the Holy Spirit whose person and activity are vital at every stage of the Christian life, from new birth and yearning for purity and a Christ-like life, through to eternal life.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Fill me with life anew,

That I may love what Thou dost love,

And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Until my heart is pure;

Until with Thee I will one will,

To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,

Till I am wholly Thine;

Until this earthly part of me

Glows with Thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God:

So shall I never die,

But live with Thee the perfect life