7th Day of Easter - That Easter Day

That Easter Day

My little choir at Sardis UMC had just started rehearsing this for our Easter anthem on our last rehearsal together in early March. I am very glad we avoided the virus spread that happened at some choir rehearsals the same week. Choir rehearsals can be “super spreader events.”

 I’m surprised that this Mormon Tabernacle Choir performance is the closest to the arrangement I had in my head ...with a mite fewer voices and instruments. Maybe 8 voices and a flute?

This song needs to be dance-like and full of energy, not plodding at a slow tempo with an overpowering organ like most versions online. Mack Wilberg is a fine arranger who strikes a delicate balance between staying true to a melody while milking it for all it is worth for his massive performing forces.

Even world class choirs are hard to understand, so the text is provided below. It was written by Michael Praetorius, a German composer who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The tune is also called Puer Nobis and is sometimes used for Christmas texts.

That Easter Day with joy was bright, the sun shone out with fairer light,
When to their longing eyes restored, the apostles saw their risen Lord.

His risen flesh with radiance glowed; his wounded hands and feet he showed;
Those scars their solemn witness gave that Christ was risen from the grave.

O Lord of all, with us abide in this, our joyful Eastertide;
From every weapon death can wield, thine own redeemed forever shield.

All praise, O risen Lord, we give to thee, who dead, again does live; 
To God the Father equal praise, and God the Holy Spirit raise.

6th Day of Easter - And Now My Dear Companions

Are you missing people during this season of “sheltering in place?”

This lovely instrumental piece And Now My Dear Companions was recorded by William Coulter and Barry Phillips on their album “Simple Gifts: Instrumental Arrangements of Shaker Melodies.” It is fair to say that more people are familiar with their version than with any vocal arrangement, but I was able to poke around and find the text. The song was written around 1860 by Shaker composer Augustus P. Blaise.

Like many texts and traditions which come from the Shakers, you can interpret these words in negative or positive ways, depending on your own beliefs. The “marching, toiling, struggling” lines have been associated with the early Mormons, though there is no evidence that they adapted this song.

Enjoy the instrumental version, and listen to more songs off the Simple Gifts album that should pop up as options on YouTube. I’ve included the song in this Easter collection because I love the tune and find the title appropriate in a wistful sort of way. The instrumental version starts with the word “And” in the title but I haven’t found that word included with any version of the text.


Now, my dear companions
Is the time to start anew.
Anew, anew 
For the kingdom of Heaven.
With faith and zeal and courage strong
We will ever be marching on,
Toiling on, struggling on,
For a perfect Heaven.

5th Day of Easter - And Can It Be

This wonderful text needs to be sung; the problem is finding a tune that people can actually sing.

Here is the traditional tune SAGINA with the harmony parts familiar from many hymnals. This choir gets extra credit for including verse 2.  I love the imagery of curious angels in that verse! And Can It Be (traditional)

Here is a more singable tune, and the repeated “Amazing Love, how can it be, that Thou, my God, should die for me?” drives home the theme of the song. I’ve heard better arrangements of this version, but I appreciate this one being posted online: And Can It Be (Indelible Grace)

Here is another setting that works well. I’m glad I stumbled across this one.
And Can It Be-  Lou Fellingham and Phatfish

The words were written in 1739 by Charles Wesley and may be most effective simply read, not sung.  None of the tunes I’ve heard quite capture the power of the questions and exclamations Wesley poses.

And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood!
Died he for me? Who caused his pain! For me? Who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

‘Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design? 
In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depth of love divine.
‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.

He left his Father’s throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!),
Emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race. 
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine; 
Alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

4th Day of Easter - Now the Green Blade Rises

Now the Green Blade Rises

A writer for the website Aleteia refers to this song as a “hymn full of metaphors.” The lyrics were written by Anglican chaplain John (J.M.C.) Crum in the early 20th century. Mr. Crum specifically wrote the words to be set to the tune “Noel Nouvelet,” often simply referred to as a French Carol. Some of you may know the tune from “Sing we now of Christmas, sing we all Noel.”

Along with this church duties, Crum wrote children’s stories and songs. Perhaps his practice of seeing things through the eyes of children informed his vivid imagery. The song has a Biblical reference in John 12:24 when Jesus uses a grain of wheat to illustrate his coming hour of glory. “...unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

The performance linked above begins with a lovely solo by a young woman named Laura Wright, then the scene opens up to a “congregational choir” like the one in yesterday’s video.

Third Day of Easter - All Hail the Power

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

If you ever need a reminder that Christianity is a faith of amazing diversity, check out this video. I love seeing the women in their saris packing the pews as an Indian woman conducts the huge choir from the front. I also love their precise diction and lovely accents!

Edward Perronet penned the lyrics in 1779. Perronet was an Anglican priest who was, for a time, a close associate of John and Charles Wesley. There is a story that John Wesley insisted that Perronet preach at one of his large gatherings. Put on the spot in front of the huge crowd, Perronet announced that he would preach “the greatest sermon the world has ever known.” He opened his Bible, read the Sermon on the Mount, then sat back down. 

I do not know if the above story is true at all or partly true...I also do not know if Perronet was ever a missionary to India as one source states. I do know that this hymn has been set to multiple tunes. This one is called “Diadem” and was composed by James Ellor in 1838 specifically for this text.

Easter Monday - What A Beautiful Name

Happy Easter Season! On the second day of Easter, we have -

What a Beautiful Name - Brooke Ligertwood/Ben Fielding

The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir might be one of the most diverse music-making groups in the world. It is fun to watch them sing this song and wonder what brought each person to that particular church in Brooklyn, to that choir...what are their stories?

This is a wonderful song to sing in a group, in private devotions, or when driving down the road.


What a Beautiful Name

You were the Word at the beginning
One With God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ

What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

You didn't want heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now

What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

How sweet is your name, Lord, how good You are
Love to sing in the name of the Lord, love…

Easter - An Offering of Three

He is Risen!

Common sense tells me to spread out Easter songs for at least a week or two, but I cannot resist sharing my three favorites all at once.

You can find a more polished studio version of this song, but I love this simple live version of Bob Bennett singing  I Know That My Redeemer Lives. 

Keith Green represents some of the best aspects of the ‘70s Jesus Movement. He was radical in so many good ways. He was one of the most popular of the young musicians writing and performing “Jesus Music,” but he insisted that his albums be made available without cost to anyone who couldn’t afford them. No Compromise, a biography of his too-short life, is a worthwhile read.

He didn’t write this Easter Song, fellow Jesus Movement singer/songwriter Anne Herring did, but Green delivers such an integrated performance that it is said that he couldn’t record the piano and vocal tracks separately. He had to sing and play at the same time to get the right feeling for the music.

I will miss singing together on Easter morning! Charles Wesley’s Christ the Lord is Risen Today has been part of my Easter service repertoire for over 30 years. This is best as a congregational song, not a solo, so I’m including a congregational version. If you look closely, some of you will recognize Blair Zant in the upper left-hand corner of the opening screen. I appear in a window later in the song, and I’m in the middle of all the faces in the final shot. It was a fun exercise. Sing along!

He is Risen, indeed!