Instrumental Prelude:
Movements 2 & 3 from Telemann’s Sonata in F major

Performed by Rocío Sánchez López-Ibáñez (recorder) and Adrian Boynton (piano) at the ‘Amazing Grace’ Service held in the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Olney, on Sunday, 15 September 2019

Hymn: Jesus, stand among us at the meeting of our lives

Jesus, stand among us at the meeting of our lives,
be our sweet agreement at the meeting of our eyes;
O Jesus, we love You, as we gather here,
join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

So to You we’re gathering out of each and every land,
Christ the love between us at the joining of our hands;
O Jesus, we love You, as we gather here,
join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

Jesus stand among us at the breaking of the bread:
join us as one body as we worship You, our head.;
O Jesus, we love You, as we gather here,
join our hearts in unity and take away our fear.

Graham Kendrick (1977)

Hymn: The love of God comes close

The love of God comes close
where stands an open door
to let the stranger in,
to mingle rich and poor.
The love of God is here to stay;
embracing those who walk his way.

The peace of God comes close
to those caught in the storm,
forgoing lives of ease
to ease the lives forlorn.
The peace of God is here to stay;
embracing those who walk his way.

The joy of God comes close
where faith encounters fears,
where heights and depths of life
are found through smiles and tears.
The joy of God is here to stay;
embracing those who walk his way.

The grace of God comes close
to those whose grace is spent,
when hearts are tired or sore
and hope is bruised and bent.
The grace of God is here to stay;
embracing those who walk his way.

The Son of God comes close
where people praise his name,
where bread and wine are blessed
and shared as when he came.
The Son of God is here to stay;
embracing those who walk his way,
embracing those who walk his way.

John L. Bell & Graham Maule, The Iona Community (1988)

Anthem: O for a closer walk with God

Performed by the Choir of Christ the Cornerstone directed and accompanied by Adrian Boynton (piano) at the ‘Amazing Grace’ Service held in the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Olney, on Sunday, 15 September 2019

O for a closer walk with God,
a calm and heavenly frame;
a light to shine upon the road
that leads me to the Lamb.

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed,
how sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void
the world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
sweet messenger of rest:
I hate the sins that made thee mourn
and drove thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
whate’er that idol be,
help me to tear it from thy throne
and worship only thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
calm and serene my frame;
so purer light shall mark the road
that leads me to the Lamb.

William Cowper (1731–1800)

Hymn: When we walk with the Lord (Trust and obey)

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of His word,
what a glory He sheds on our way!
When we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,
not a cloud in the skies,
but His smile quickly drives it away;
not a doubt nor a fear,
not a sigh nor a tear,
can abide while we trust and obey.
Trust and obey …

Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil He doth richly repay;
not a grief nor a loss,
not a frown nor a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
Trust and obey …

But we never can prove
the delights of His love,
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favour He shows,
and the joy He bestows
are for them who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey …

Then in fellowship sweet,
we will sit at His feet,
or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do,
where He sends we will go,
never fear, only trust and obey.
            Trust and obey …

John Henry Sammis (1846–1919)

Instrumental Postlude:
Movement 1 from Telemann’s Sonata in F major

Performed by Rocío Sánchez López-Ibáñez (recorder) and Adrian Boynton (piano) at the ‘Amazing Grace’ Service held in the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Olney, on Sunday, 15 September 2019

Olney Blessing

Performed by the Choir of Christ the Cornerstone, with Kathy Hampton, soloist, directed and accompanied by Adrian Boynton (piano) at the ‘Amazing Grace’ Service held in the Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Olney, on Sunday, 15 September 2019

May the grace of Christ our Saviour,
and the Father’s boundless love,
with the Holy Spirit’s favour,
rest upon us from above.

Thus may we abide in union
with each other and the Lord,
and possess, in sweet communion,
joys with earth cannot afford.

John Newton (1725–1807), based on 2 Corinthians 13: 13–14