291. May the Mind of Christ, My Savior

1 May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
live in me from day to day,
by his love and power controlling
all I do and say.

2 May the word of God dwell richly
in my heart from hour to hour,
so that all may see I triumph
only through his power.

3 May the peace of God, my Father,
rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort
sick and sorrowing.

4 May the love of Jesus fill me
as the waters fill the sea.
Him exalting, self abasing:
this is victory.

5 May we run the race before us,
strong and brave to face the foe,
looking only unto Jesus
as we onward go.

Text Information
First Line: May the mind of Christ, my Savior
Title: May the Mind of Christ, My Savior
Author: Kate B. Wilkinson (1925)
Meter: 87 85
Language: English
Publication Date: 1987
Scripture: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Topic: Commitment & Dedication; Love: God's Love to Us; Dedication and Offering (4 more...)
Tune Information
Name: ST. LEONARDS
Composer: A. Cyril Barham-Gould (1925)
Composer (desc.): Emily R. Brink (1986)
Meter: 87 85
Key: E♭ Major
Copyright: Tune by permission of the estate of A. C. Barham-Gould; Descant © 1987, CRC Publications


Text Information:

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Phil. 2:5
st. 3 = Col. 3:15
st. 5 = Heb. 12:1-2

In the first four stanzas of this "catalog" hymn the believer asks, "May the mind of Christ," the "word of God," the "peace of God," and the "love of Jesus" live in my heart throughout each day, in "all I do and say." Stanza 5 invokes the race-running imagery of Hebrews 12:1-2. The Psalter Hymnal Revision Committee omitted the final stanza for publication in the Psalter Hymnal and changed stanza 5 to the first person plural ("we/us") to provide a corporate finale. The song was first published in the London children's hymnbook Golden Bells (1925) and has gained popularity in recent hymnals.

This text is attributed to Kate Barclay Wilkinson (b. England, 1859; d. Kensington, England, 1928). She wrote this text in 1912 in six stanzas, inspired by Philippians 2:5: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (KJV). Little is known about Wilkinson's life: a member of the Church of England, she was involved in a ministry to girls in London and a participant in the Keswick Convention Movement. She was married to Frederick Barclay Wilkinson.

Liturgical Use:
Dismissal at close of worship; immediately following the sermon. Change the "me/my" of stanzas 1 through 4 to "you/your" for use as a sung blessing on a wedding couple, on new members of the church, for sending out missionaries, for ordination of church officers, and so on.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Tune Information:

A. Cyril Barham-Gould (b. England, 1891; d. Turnbridge Wells, Kent, England, 1953) composed ST. LEONARDS for Wilkinson's text while living at St. Leonards-on-Sea, England; it was published as the setting for that text in Golden Bells. The St. Leonard for whom St. Leonards-on-Sea is named and to whom the tune title indirectly refers is the fifth-century French bishop Leonard of Limosin, the patron saint for pregnant women and prisoners of war. Barham-Gould was educated at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, and ordained a priest in the Church of England in 1928. He worked in several churches in and near London and served as vicar of St. Paul's, Onslow Square, from 1936 until his death in 1953.

Sing ST. LEONARDS in two long lines. The first four stanzas can be sung antiphonally by groups within the congregation, but stanza 5 is for everyone together. Reserve the descant, by Emily R. Brink (PHH 158), 1986, and unison singing for stanza 5.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook


Media
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