A library of resources for funerals

Lead, Kindly Light, Amid The Encircling Gloom

John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
lead thou me on;
the night is dark, and I am far from home;
lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
the distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou
shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose, and see my path; but now
lead thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still
will lead me on,
o'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
the night is gone,
and with the morn those angel faces smile,
which I have loved long since, and lost a while.

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Gerard Moultrie (1829-85).

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture-
in the Body and the Blood-
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the powers of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged Seraph;
cherubim with sleepless eye
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia, Lord most high.

Let All The World In Every Corner Sing

George Herbert (1593-1633)

Let all the world in every corner sing:
My God and King!
The heavens are not too high,
His praise may thither fly;
The earth is not too low,
His praises there may grow.
Let all the world in every corner sing:
My God and King!

Let all the world in every corner sing:
My God and King!
The church with psalms must shout,
No door can keep them out;
But above all, the heart
Must bear the longest part.
Let all the world in every corner sing:
My God and King!

Let Him To Whom We Now Belong

Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Let him to whom we now belong
His sovereign right assert,
And take up every thankful song
And every loving heart.

He justly claims us for his own,
Who bought us with a price;
The Christian lives to Christ alone,
To Christ alone he dies.

And while our hearts are bowed to Thee
Thine easy yoke we prove,
And own it perfect liberty
To serve the Lord we love.

Jesus, thine own at last receive,
Fulfil our hearts' desire,
And let us to thy glory live,
And in thy cause expire.

Our souls and bodies we resign;
With joy we render thee
Our all, no longer ours, but thine
To all eternity.

Let Saints On Earth In Concert Sing

Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Let saints on earth in concert sing
With those whose work is done;
For all the servants of our King
In heaven and earth are one.

One family, we dwell in him,
One church, above, beneath;
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death.

One army of the living God,
To His command we bow:
Part of the host have crossed the flood,
And part are crossing now.

E'en now to their eternal home
There pass some spirits blest;
While others to the margin come,
Waiting their call to rest.

Jesus, be thou our constant guide;
Then, when the word is given,
Bid Jordan's narrow stream divide
And bring us safe to heaven.

Let There Be Love Shared Among Us

Dave Bilbrough

Let there be love shared among us,
Let there be love in our eyes;
May now Your love sweep this nation,
Cause us, O Lord, to arise.
Give us a fresh understanding
Of brotherly love that is real;
Let there be love shared among us,
Let there be love.

Let Us With A Gladsome Mind

John Milton (1608-1674)

Let us with a gladsome mind
praise the Lord, for he is kind:
For his mercies ay endure,
ever faithful, ever sure.

Let us blaze his name abroad,
for of gods, he is the God:
Chorus

He, with all-commanding might,
filled the new-made world with light:
Chorus

He the golden-tressèd sun
caused all day his course to run:
Chorus

And the hornèd moon by night
'mid her spangled sisters bright.
Chorus

All things living he doth feed;
his full hand supplies their need:
Chorus

7He his chosen race did bless
in the wasteful wilderness:
Chorus

8He hath, with a piteous eye,
looked upon our misery:
Chorus

9Let us therefore warble forth
his high majesty and worth:
Chorus

Lift High The Cross, The Love Of Christ Proclaim

Michael Robert Newbolt (1874-1956), George William Kitchin (1827-1912)

Lift high the Cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name.

Come, brethren, follow where our Captain trod,
our King victorious, Christ the Son of God.

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
the hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.

Each new-born soldier of the Crucified
bears on his brow the seal of him who died.

Let every race and every language tell
of him who saves our souls from death and hell.

From farthest regions let them homage bring,
and on his Cross adore their Saviour King.

Lift Up Your Hearts! We Lift Them, Lord, To Thee

Henry Montagu Butler (1833-1918)

Lift up your hearts!' We lift them, Lord, to thee;
here at thy feet none other may we see:
'Lift up your hearts!' E'en so, with one accord,
we lift them up, we lift them to the Lord.

Above the level of the former years,
the mire of sin, the slough of guilty fears,
the mist of doubt, the blight of love's decay,
O Lord of light, lift all our hearts to-day.

Above the swamps of subterfuge and shame,
the deeds, the thoughts, that honour may not name,
the halting tongue that dares not tell the whole,
O Lord of truth, lift every Christian soul.

Lift every gift that thou thyself hast given:
low lies the best till lifted up to heaven;
low lie the bounding heart, the teeming brain,
till, sent from God, they mount to God again.

Then, as the trumpet-call in after years,
'lift up your hearts!' rings pealing in our ears,
still shall those hearts respond with full accord,
'We lift them up, we lift them to the Lord.'

Light Of The World, For Ever, Ever Shining

Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

Light of the world, for ever, ever shining,
There is no change in Thee;
True light of life, all joy and health enshrining,
Thou canst not fade nor flee.

Thou hast arisen, but Thou declinest never;
Today shines as the past;
All that Thou wast Thou art, and shalt be ever,
Brightness from first to last.

Night visits not Thy sky, nor storm, nor sadness;
Day fills up all its blue,
Unfailing beauty and unfaltering gladness,
And love for ever new.

Light of the world, undimming and unsetting,
O shine each mist away!
Banish the fear, the falsehood, and the fretting;
Be our unchanging day.

Like A Mighty River Flowing

Michael Perry (1942-1996)

Like a mighty river flowing,
like a flower in beauty growing,
far beyond all human knowing
is the perfect peace of God.

Like the hills serene and even,
like the coursing clouds of heaven,
like the heart that's been forgiven
is the perfect peace of God.

Like the summer breezes playing,
like the tall trees softly swaying,
like the lips of silent praying
is the perfect peace of God.

Like the morning sun ascended,
like the scents of evening blended,
like a friendship never ended
is the perfect peace of God.

Like the azure ocean swelling,
like the jewel all-excelling,
far beyond our human telling
is the perfect peace of God.

Like a river glorious

Frances R Havergal (1836-1879)

Like a river glorious
is God's perfect peace,
over all victorious,
in its bright increase:
perfect, yet it floweth
fuller every day;
perfect, yet it groweth
deeper all the way.
Stayed upon Jehovah,
hearts are fully blest;
finding, as He promised,
perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow
of His blessed hand,
never foe can follow
never traitor stand;
not a surge of worry,
not a shade of care,
not a blast of hurry
touch the Spirit there.
Chorus

Every joy or trial
falleth from above,
traced upon our dial
by the sun of love.
We must trust Him fully
all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly
find Him wholly true.
Chorus

Little Donkey

Little Donkey, Little Donkey,
On the dusty road,
Carry Mary safely onwards
With her precious load.

Little Donkey, Little Donkey,
On this winters night
Not long now, Little Donkey
Bethlehem’s in sight

Ring out those bells tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem
Follow that star tonight
Bethlehem, Bethlehem

Little Donkey, Little Donkey
On this special day
Little Donkey carry Mary safely on her way
Little Donkey carry Mary safely on her way

Little Drops Of Water

Julia Abigail Carney (1823-1908) and Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)

Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty ocean
And the beauteous land.

Little deeds of kindness,
Little words of love,
Make our earth an Eden,
Like the heaven above.

Little seeds of mercy
Sown by youthful hands,
Grow to bless the nations
Far in other lands.

Glory then for ever
Be to God on high,
Beautiful and loving,
To eternity.

Longing for light, we wait in darkness

Bernadette Farrell (b 1957)

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
Light for the world to see.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness.
Christ be our light!,
Shine in your church gathered today.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has pow’r to save us.
Make us your living voice.
Refrain.

Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
Shared until all are fed.
Refrain.

Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
Walls made of living stone.
Refrain.

Many the gifts, many the people,
Many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
Making your kingdom come.
Refrain

Lord, For The Years Your Love Has Kept And Guided

Timothy Dudley-Smith (b.1926)

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.

Lord, I come to you

Geoff Bullock

Lord, I come to You,
let my heart be changed, renewed,
flowing from the grace
that I found in You.
And Lord, I've come to know
The weaknesses I see in me
will be stripped away
by the power of Your love.
Hold me close,
let Your love surround me.
Bring me near, draw me to Your side.
And as I wait
I'll rise up like the eagle,
and I will soar with You,
Your Spirit leads me on
in the power of Your love.

Lord, unveil my eyes,
let me see You face to face,
the knowledge of Your love
as You live in me.
Lord, renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my life,
in living every day
in the power of Your love.
Chorus

Lord, it is eventide: the light of day is waning

H Ernest Nichol (Colin Sterne) (1862-1926)

Lord, it is eventide: the light of day is waning;
far o'er the golden land earth's voices faint and fall;
lowly we pray to You for strength and love sustaining,
lowly we ask of You Your peace upon us all.
O grant unto our souls-
Light that grows not pale with day's decrease,
love that can never fail till life shall cease;
joy no trial can mar,
hope that shines afar,
faith serene as a star,
and Christ's own peace.

Lord, it is eventide: we turn to you for healing,
like those of Galilee who came at close of day;
speak to our waiting souls, their hidden needs revealing;
touch us with hands divine that take our sin away.
O grant unto our souls -
Chorus

Saviour, You know of every trial and temptation,
know of the wilfulness and waywardness of youth,
help us to hold to You, our strength and our salvation,
help us to find in You the one eternal Truth.
O grant until our souls -
Chorus

Lord, it is eventide: our hearts await Your giving,
wait for that peace divine that none can take away,
peace that shall lift our souls to loftier heights of living,
till we abide with You in everlasting day.
O grant unto our souls -
Chorus

Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Come To Us

Josef Weinberger Ltd

Lord Jesus Christ,
You have come to us,
You are one with us,
Mary's Son;
Cleansing our souls from all their sin,
Pouring your love and goodness in;
Jesus, our love for you we sing,
Living Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ,
Now and every day
Teach us how to pray,
Son of God.
You have commanded us to do
This in remembrance, Lord, of you;
Into our lives your power breaks through,
Living Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You have come to us,
Born as one of us,
Mary's Son;
Led out to die on Calvary,
Risen from death to set us free,
Living Lord Jesus, help us see
You are Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ,
I would come to you,
Live my life for you,
Son of God.
All your commands I know are true,
Your many gifts will make me new,
Into my life your power breaks through,
Living Lord.

Lord Of All Being, Throned Afar

Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894)

Lord of all being, throned afar,
thy glory flames from sun and star;
centre and soul of every sphere,
yet to each loving heart how near!

Sun of our life, thy quickening ray
sheds on our path the glow of day;
Star of our hope, thy softened light
cheers the long watches of the night.

Our midnight is thy smile withdrawn,
our noontide is thy gracious dawn,
our rainbow arch thy mercy's sign;
all, save the clouds of sin, are thine.

Lord of all life, below, above,
whose light is truth, whose warmth is love,
before thy ever-blazing throne
we ask no lustre of our own.

Grant us thy truth to make us free
and kindling hearts that burn for thee,
till all thy living altars claim
one holy light, one heavenly flame.

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