508

I Rejoiced When I Heard Them Say

Scripture References

Confessions and Statements of Faith References

Further Reflections on Confessions and Statements of Faith References

Our coming together is not first of all an action of our own initiative, but is of God’s initiative. He does the gathering. The Confessions are careful to use terminology that identifies God’s gathering action. Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 21, Question and Answer 54 says, “The Son of God through his Spirit and Word…gathers...” Our World Belongs to God, paragraph 30 testifies “The Spirit gathers people…into the unity of the body of Christ.” The Belhar Confession, Section 1 refers to the Trinity. “…The triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit…gathers, protects and cares for the church through Word and Spirit.”

 

We celebrate with joy that Christ has come to rescue us from sin and evil through the work of his son, Jesus Christ. Our World Belongs to God, paragraph 35 identifies the church as “the fellowship of those who confess Jesus as Lord…the bride of Christ…”

 
Belgic Confession, Article 21 professes how Jesus Christ is a high priest forever and provided for the cleansing of our sins; Article 10 proclaims him as the “true eternal God, the Almighty, whom we invoke, worship and serve.” Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 1, Question and Answer 2 calls us to “live and die in the joy of this comfort” and “to thank God for such deliverance.”

508

I Rejoiced When I Heard Them Say

Additional Prayers

O Lord, we long for the day when our feet will stand
within the gates of the New Jerusalem.
Until then, as we journey toward home, guide and protect your church:
be our unity, clothe us in truth, and keep us in your peace.
We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
— Psalms for All Seasons (http://www.psalmsforallseasons.org)
508

I Rejoiced When I Heard Them Say

Tune Information

Name
ENGLAND
Key
a minor
Meter
8.8.8.8 refrain 4.6.4.6
508

I Rejoiced When I Heard Them Say

Hymn Story/Background

This is one of fifteen "Songs of Ascents" (Psalms 120-134) the Israelites sang as they went up to worship at the temple in Jerusalem. Psalm 122 must have been intended for the moment when the pilgrims reached the city: "Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem" (v. 2). The psalm hails Jerusalem as the city where the tribes may go up to worship at the LORD's temple and where the divinely chosen house of David rules in justice over God's people. As such, Jerusalem (Zion) is the earthly center of the kingdom of God, the focal point of the worship, life, and security of God's covenant nation (other psalms of Zion are Psalms 46, 48, 76, 84, 87, 125, and 137). It is most fitting, then, that out of their love for Jerusalem the pilgrims conclude this song with a prayer for the city's peace.
— Emily Brink

Author and Composer Information

Bernadette Farrell (b. 1957) is one of Britain's leading liturgical composers, a former member of the St. Thomas More Group in London, and an acclaimed pastoral musician. Since the 1970s, she has been a leader in the renewal of Catholic worship both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Bernadette has recently begun to publish music for children.
— OCP (http://www.ocp.org/)

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