Hymns for Advent and Holy Family

[Howard Baker]

[list=][/list]Mgr Kevin Nichols (1929–2006), author of 'In bread we bring', 'Our Father, we have wandered' and other hymns, asked me to edit two anthologies of his poetry. Both were published by 'Sursum Corda' the imprint of St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne, one of them posthumously. However, among his unpublished poems and hymns are the two I attach here. I see no reason why they shouldn't be made available to anyone who might use them. (Mgr Kevin envisaged his Holy Family hymn being sung to Holst's 'Cranham' tune for 'In the bleak midwinter', and we have sung it that way for a few years here in Newcastle. For the Advent hymn I don't think he specified a tune: we shall be singing it for the first time this Advent, to the 'Winchester New' tune of 'On Jordan's Bank'.) If you wish to use either, there is no need to worry about copyright, but an acknoweldgement of the author would, of course, be appropriate.

[Howard Baker]

Here are the words for easier copying:

1. Saint in the shadows always out of sight,
Joseph, just and faithful, lead us to the light.
Saint of anxious caring, breadwinner and guide,
still be our guardian always at our side.

2. Bright flower of Juda, girl of Galilee,
Mother of our Saviour, star of the sea.
Mary the handmaid of God’s Holy Word,
Keep our hearts faithful to your Son and Lord.

3. Sure Key of David opening every door,
King of the nations, born among the poor;
hidden in a stable, hope of Israel,
always stay with us, Lord Emmanuel.

4. Father, source of being, everlasting one;
Saviour and brother, sole-begotten Son.
Life-giving Spirit, Wind and Fire and Dove,
Praise to you always, Trinity of love.

—words: Kevin Nichols (1929–2006)

1. ‘Are you the one who is to come
or must we wait?’ the Baptist said.
And Jesus answered, ‘Look, the dumb
can speak. Behold the hungry fed.’

2. ‘The blind eyes open wide to see,
the captive mind is lost no more,
the long-imprisoned heart is free,
the Good News broken for the poor.’

3. Lord, in your kingdom, first are blessed
the poor in spirit, then the meek,
the single-minded, the oppressed,
and those who peace and justice seek.

4. Father of boundless charity
and source of every human grace.
open our heavy eyes to see
your image in each troubled face.

—words: Kevin Nichols (1929–2006)

[VML]

Do any parishes use Tony Barr's 'Rain down justice', or 'Like the dawning of the morning'?
'Like the dawning' is in CFE, but perversely not listed in the Advent listing.
It is also listed as Anon, though it has been credited elsewhere as by Fr Faber.