A separate video feed of the choir will be available here.

Led by: Reverend Wendy Carey

A celebration of the hymns of Timothy Dudley-Smith

With the Cornerstone Choir directed by Adrian Boynton.

Choir: Psalm 121

God gives a new beginning to those who hear his call,
who turn from self and sinning to Christ as all-in-all:
to know him still more clearly their over-arching aim;
to follow him more nearly, and learn to love his Name.

May we, his Name confessing, unwearied run the race,
and daily seek his blessing, his gifts of truth and grace:
his word our souls to nourish, his Spirit from above,
whose promised fruit shall flourish in joy and peace and love.

I lift my eyes to the quiet hills
in the press of a busy day;
as green hills in a dusty land
so God is my strength and stay.

I lift my eyes to the quiet hills
to a calm that is mine to share;
stand secure and still
in the Father’s will
and kept by the Father’s care.

I lift my eyes to the quiet hills
with a prayer as I turn to sleep;
by day, by night,
through the dark and light
my Shepherd will guard his sheep.

I lift my eyes to the quiet hills
and my heart to the Father’s throne;
in all my ways
to the end of days
the Lord will preserve his own.

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Choir: Sing a New Song to the Lord

Sing a new song to the Lord,
he to whom wonders belong;
rejoice in his triumph and tell of his power,
O sing to the Lord a new song!

Now to the ends of the earth
see his salvation is shown;
and still he remembers his mercy and truth,
unchanging in love to his own.

Sing a new song and rejoice,
publish his praises abroad;
let voices in chorus, with trumpet and horn,
resound for the joy of the Lord!

Join with the hills and the sea
thunders of praise to prolong;
in judgment and justice he comes to the earth,
O sing to the Lord a new song!

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Hymn: As Water to the Thirsty

As water to the thirsty,
as beauty to the eyes,
as strength that follows weakness,
as truth instead of lies,
as songtime and springtime
and summertime to be,
so is my Lord,
my living Lord,
so is my Lord to me.

Like calm in place of clamour,
like peace that follows pain,
like meeting after parting,
like sunshine after rain,
like moonlight and starlight
and sunlight on the sea,
so is my Lord,
my living Lord,
so is my Lord to me.

As sleep that follows fever,
as gold instead of grey,
as freedom after bondage,
as sunrise to the day,
as home to the traveller
and all we long to see,
so is my Lord,
my living Lord,
so is my Lord to me.

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Hymn: Christ our Redeemer knew temptation’s hour

Christ our Redeemer knew temptation’s hour
in desert places, silent and apart;
and three times over met the tempter’s power
with God’s word written, hidden in his heart.

He makes not bread what God has made a stone,
he at whose bidding water turns to wine:
we are not meant to live by bread alone
but as God speaks the word of life divine.

He will not ask the fickle crowd’s acclaim,
nor flaunt the Sonship which is his by right,
nor seem distrustful of the Father’s Name
who bids us walk by faith and not by sight.

He seeks no kingdom but by cross and grave,
for love of sinners spurning Satan’s throne:
his triumph seen in those he died to save
who, to his glory, worship God alone.

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Hymn: Safe in the shadow of the Lord

Sung between Choir and All. Please join in sections in bold

Safe in the shadow of the Lord
beneath his hand and power,
I trust in him,
I trust in him,
my fortress and my tower.

My hope is set on God alone
though Satan spreads his snare;
I trust in him,
I trust in him,
to keep me in his care.

From fears and phantoms of the night,
from foes about my way,
I trust in him,
I trust in him,
by darkness as by day.

His holy angels keep my feet
secure from every stone;
I trust in him,
I trust in him, and unafraid go on.

Strong in the everlasting Name,
and in my Father’s care,
I trust in him,
I trust in him,
who hears and answers prayer.

Safe in the shadow of the Lord,
possessed by love divine,
I trust in him,
I trust in him,
and meet his love with mine.

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Hymn: Here on the threshold of a new beginning

I think this hymn was written for the Millenium, but its words continue to be relevant today, and we continue to look for new beginnings. [WC]

Here on the threshold of a new beginning,
by grace forgiven, now we leave behind
our long-repented selfishness and sinning,
and all our blessings call again to mind:
Christ to redeem us, ransom and restore us,
the love that holds us in a Saviour’s care,
faith strong to welcome all that lies before us,
our unknown future, knowing God is there.

May we, your children, feel with Christ’s compassion
an earth disordered, hungry and in pain;
then, at your calling, find the will to fashion
new ways where freedom, truth and justice reign;
where wars are ended, ancient wrongs are righted,
and nations value human life and worth;
where in the darkness lamps of hope are lighted
and Christ is honoured over all the earth.

So may your wisdom shine from Scripture’s pages
to mould and make us stones with which to build
God’s holy temple, through eternal ages,
one church united, strong and Spirit-filled;
heirs to the fulness of your new creation
in faith we follow, pledged to be your own;
yours is the future, ours the celebration,
for Christ is risen! God is on the throne!

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Hymn: Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy name, the Lord, the mighty One.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and for evermore!

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Hymn: Lord, for the Years

Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,
urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided:
Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.

Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us,
speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,
teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us:
Lord of the word, receive Your people’s praise.

Lord, for our land in this our generation,
spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care:
for young and old, for commonwealth and nation,
Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.

Lord, for our world when we disown and doubt him,
loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain,
hungry and helpless, lost indeed without him:
Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.

Lord for ourselves; in living power remake us –
self on the cross and Christ upon the throne,
past put behind us, for the future take us:
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.

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Bishop Dudley-Smith wrote the lyrics of about 400 hymns, among the most familiar of which are “Lord, for the years” (1967) and “Tell out, my soul” (1962). John Betjeman described the latter as “one of the few modern hymns that will truly last”.
Timothy Dudley-Smith was born in Manchester on 26 December, 1926. He attended Tonbridge School, from where he went to study at Pembroke College, Cambridge. After training for ordination at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, he was ordained deacon in 1950 and ordained priest in 1951. He went on to serve as Archdeacon of Norwich from 1973 to 1981, and as Bishop of Thetford from 1981 until his retirement in 1991. He was awarded an OBE in 2003 for services to hymnody.

Church Times Obituary