HOLY WEEK HYMNS TO INSPIRE

Desiring to gain the great spiritual truths of Holy Week I turned to the section in my Worship and Rejoice hymnal for inspiration. While we do not sing these hymns often they contain a goldmine of prayerful resources. Here are some of them.

Go to dark Gethsemane, you that feel the temper’s power; your Redeemer’s conflict see; watch with him one bitter hour; turn not from his griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

Follow to the judgment hall; view the Lord of life arraigned. O the wormwood and the gall! O the pangs his soul sustained! Shun not suffering, shame or loss; learn of him to bear the cross.

Calvary’s mournful mountain climb; there, adoring at his feet, mark that miracle of time, God’s own sacrifice complete: “It is finished!” hear him cry; learn of Jesus Christ to die.

(James Montgomery 1771-1854)

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from you.

Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet, Master who acts as a slave to them.

Neighbors are wealthy or poor, varied in color and race, neighbors are near us and far away.

These are the ones we should serve, these are the ones we should love, all these are neighbors to us and you.

Loving puts us on our knees, silently washing their feet, this is the way we should live with you.

(Tom Colvin 1925-2000)

An upper room with evening lamps ashine, the twelve disciples, and the table spread; now in our turn Christ bids us pour the wine, and in remembrance bless and break the bread.

We see by faith upon the cross displayed his body broken and his blood outpoured; in that dread robe of majesty arrayed we gaze in worship on the dying Lord.

Dead for our sins, yet reigning now above, still to our hearts we find his presence given; take for ourselves the pledges of his love, foretaste and token of that feast in heaven.

So send us out, to love and serve and praise, filled with his Spirit, as the Master said: love, joy and peace the wine of all our days, Christ and his life our true and living bread.

(Timothy Dudley-Smith 1926-)

An upper room did our Lord prepare for those he loved until the end: and his disciples still gather there to celebrate their risen friend.

A lasting gift Jesus gave his own: to share his bread, his loving cup. Whatever burdens may bow us down, he by his cross shall lift us up.

And after supper he washed their feet, for service too, is sacrament. In Christ our joy shall be made complete: sent out to serve, as he was sent.

No end there is! We depart in peace, he loves beyond the uttermost: in every room in our Father’s house Christ will be there, as Lord and Host.

(Fred Pratt Green 1903-2000)