Favourite Easter songs and hymns

[thegreatestMadHairDayinhistory]

I thought it might be nice to have a thread to encourage one another with some Easter words from songs and hymns, and youtube links if you like. What are your favourites? What is it about that song that speaks to you?

I love loads and loads. I have some Easter Sunday ones which I love which I'll post later, but thinking about Good Friday, there are a couple which resonate with me.

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss -
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life -
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart -
His wounds have paid my ransom.

The sense of abandonment, of God turning his face away, of the 'pain of searing loss' - gets right to me. And 'his dying breath has brought me life' - incredible, it brings it home once again.

Also 'When I survey the wondrous cross' is an amazing hymn for today.

Looking forward to seeing more.

I learnt this song the other week - love it

You're mighty and strong to save
You're mighty and strong to save
You're mighty and strong to save
Rescuer

From the heavens You came
To the depths of the grave to redeem Your praise
Rescuer

Jesus You overcame
Death itself for our sake
Let the world now proclaim
Rescuer

O what a Savior
Freedom forever
We lift our hands with chains undone
Hearts that know mercy
Cannot stay silent
We sing the song of saving love

We sang that one at the Walk of Witness this morning.

A song we don't do at our church, but with words that I think are really meaningful - The Old Rugged Cross

m.youtube.com/watch?v=yPGJ1KQX_8k

The Old Rugged Cross always makes me cry. it reminds me of my Gran who died when I was 13, she loved it. It does have great words.

I like 'Rescuer' too Bictoria. :)

We sang this (among others, including 'When I survey...', which, along with 'The old rugged cross' and 'There is a green hill far away' reminds me of my gran - come to think of it she had quite a line in Good Friday hymns) this morning and I find the first verse particularly moving.

My song is love unknown,
My Saviour’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I,
That for my sake
My Lord should take
Frail flesh and die?

He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed-for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend,
My Friend indeed,
Who at my need
His life did spend.

Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!”
is all their breath,
And for His death
they thirst and cry.

Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries!
Yet they at these
Themselves displease,
and ’gainst Him rise.

They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they save,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He
to suffering goes,
That He His foes
from thence might free.

In life no house, no home,
My Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb,
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say?
Heav'n was his home;
But mine the tomb
Wherein he lay.

Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King!
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend,
in Whose sweet praise
I all my days
could gladly spend.

We sang "There is a green hill" this morning too. It was a Churches Together event, so more a United hymn rather than Anglican. I still remember the words by heart 40 years later, thanks to my Kirk upbringing.

Skipping ahead to tomorrow morning :-)

See what a morning, gloriously bright
With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;
Folded the grave-clothes
Tomb filled with light,
As the angels announce Christ is risen!
See God's salvation plan, wrought in love,
Borne in pain, paid in sacrifice,
Fulfilled in Christ, the Man, for He lives,
Christ is risen from the dead!

See Mary weeping: 'Where is He laid?
As in sorrow she turns from the empty tomb;
Hears a voice speaking, calling her name:
It's the Master, the Lord raised to life again!
The voice that spans the years,
Speaking life, stirring hope,
Bringing peace to us,
Will sound till He appears,
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!

One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit
Who clothes faith with certainty,
Honour and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned
With power and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won
Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!

And of course Thine be the glory....

Will link later as on phone.

HE IS RISEN!

He is risen indeed!

We sang Christ is Risen today, and heard an amazing sermon from a visiting preacher. What a great day!

Let no one caught in sin remain*
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to him who showed great love
And bled for us
Freely you bled, for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave!

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bow to none but heavens will
No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold you down
In strength you reign
Forever let your church proclaim

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with him again
Come awake, come awake!
Come and rise up from the grave

Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
The glory of God has defeated the night!

Oh death! Where is your sting?
Oh hell! Where is your victory?
Oh Church! Come stand in the light!
Our God is not dead, he's alive! he's alive!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=-mXeA0G_xKc

We sang Thine Be the Glory this morning

And it's on Songs of Praise in a few minutes

Love it

Thine Be the Glory was glorious this morning. Halfway through the first verse, the sun came out and shone through the windows, basking us in all of the colours of the stained-glass windows. Wonderful.

Wanted to mention the one Tuo has quoted. It seems quite modern in its simplicity and directness but it's 17th century. It's lovely.

Sing My Tongue The Glorious Battle is my most favourite Holy Week hymn - I can't do without it. I don't have a favourite Easter hymn. Lord of the Dance probably or This Joyful Eastertide.