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While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Author: Nahum Tate Meter: 8.6.8.6 Appears in 1,123 hymnals Topics: Biblical Characters Shepherds First Line: While shepherds watched their flocks by night Lyrics: 1 While shepherds watched their flocks by night
all seated on the ground,
the angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around.
2 "Fear not," said he, for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind;
"glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and humankind.
3 "To you, in David's town this day
is born of David's line
a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
and this shall be the sign:
4 "The heavenly babe you there shall find
to human view displayed,
all meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
and in a manger laid."
5 Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith
appeared a shining throng
of angels praising God, who thus
addressed their joyful song:
6 "All glory be to God on high,
and on earth be peace;
good will to all from highest heaven
begin and never cease." Used With Tune: WINCHESTER OLD
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
What Child is This
Author: William Chatterton Dix Meter: 8.7.8.7 with refrain Appears in 214 hymnals Topics: Biblical Characters Shepherds First Line: What child is this, who, laid to rest Refrain First Line: This, this is Christ the King Lyrics: 1 What child is this, who laid to rest,
on Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
while shepherds watch are keeping?
[Refrain:]
This, this is Christ the King,
whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
haste, haste to bring him laud,
the babe, the son of Mary!
2 Why lies he in such mean estate
where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear; for sinners here
the silent Word is pleading. [Refrain]
3 So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
come, one and all, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings;
let loving hearts enthrone him. [Refrain] Used With Tune: GREENSLEEVES
What Child is This
All People that on Earth Do Dwell
Meter: 8.8.8.8 Appears in 739 hymnals Topics: God or Christ as Shepherd Lyrics: 1 All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with mirth, His praise forth tell,
Come ye before Him and rejoice.
2 Know that the Lord is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make;
We are His flock, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.
3 O enter then His gates with joy,
Within His courts His praise proclaim;
Let thankful songs your tongues employ,
O bless and magnify His Name.
4 Because the Lord our God is good,
His mercy is forever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.
Scripture: Psalm 100 Used With Tune: ALL LANDS
All People that on Earth Do Dwell
PASSION CHORALE
Meter: 7.6.7.6 D Appears in 562 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: Hans Leo Hassler, 1564-1612; J. S. Bach, 1685-1750 Topics: Shepherd Tune Key: C Major Incipit: 36543 23611 76763 Used With Text: O Sacred Head Surrounded
PASSION CHORALE
JOYFUL SONG
Meter: 12.10.12.10.11.10 with refrain Appears in 279 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: Chester G. Allen, 1838-1878 Topics: Shepherd Tune Key: G Major Incipit: 35132 32176 51351 Used With Text: Praise Him! Praise Him!
JOYFUL SONG
[Saviour, like a shepherd lead us]
Appears in 545 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: William B. Bradbury Topics: Christ Shepherd Incipit: 33323 45153 23465 Used With Text: Saviour, like a shepherd lead us
[Saviour, like a shepherd lead us]
There Is A Need for Shepherds
Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn Hymnal: Come Away with Me #3 (1998) Meter: 10.10.10.10 with refrain Topics: Shepherds Role in biblical times and today Lyrics: There is a need for shepherds in this place,
where pain and suffering wear a human face;
where hungry children stand outside the door,
and homeless families long for home once more.
Refrain:
There is a need for shepherds in this hour.
There is a need for Love to show its power!
There is a need for shepherds on this street,
where lonely strangers pass and do not meet;
where hopeless people wander in the night,
and wonder why life never turns out right.
Refrain
There is a need for shepherds on this earth,
where young and old have lost their sense of worth;
where guilty people seek to place the blame
on others for their failures and their shame.
Refrain
There is a need for shepherds everywhere.
We who have strayed like sheep must learn to care.
We who have known the Shepherd's love today
must shepherd one another in God's Way.
Refrain
Scripture: John 21:15-17 Languages: English Tune Title: SHEPHERDS TODAY
There Is A Need for Shepherds
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
Author: Nahum Tate Hymnal: Voices United #75 (1996) Meter: 8.6.8.6 Topics: Biblical Characters Shepherds First Line: While shepherds watched their flocks by night Lyrics: 1 While shepherds watched their flocks by night
all seated on the ground,
the angel of the Lord came down,
and glory shone around.
2 "Fear not," said he, for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind;
"glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and humankind.
3 "To you, in David's town this day
is born of David's line
a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
and this shall be the sign:
4 "The heavenly babe you there shall find
to human view displayed,
all meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
and in a manger laid."
5 Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith
appeared a shining throng
of angels praising God, who thus
addressed their joyful song:
6 "All glory be to God on high,
and on earth be peace;
good will to all from highest heaven
begin and never cease." Languages: English Tune Title: WINCHESTER OLD
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks
On Judah's plains as shepherds sat
Hymnal: Hymns, Selected and Original #103 (1828) Meter: 8.6.8.6 Topics: The Angel's message to the shepherds at Christ's nativity Lyrics: 1 On Judah’s plains as shepherds sat,
Watching their flocks by night,
The angel of the Lord appear'd,
Clad in celestial light.
2 Awe-struck the vision they regard,
Appall'd with trembling fear;
When thus a cherub-voice divine
Breath'd sweetly on their ear.
3 “Shepherds of Judah! cease your fears,
And calm your troubled mind;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.
4 This day almighty love fulfils
Its great eternal word;
This day is born in Bethlehem
A Saviour, Christ the Lord.
5 There shall you find the heav'nly babe
In humblest weeds array'd;
All meanly wrapp'd in swaddling clothes,
And in a manger laid."
6 He ceas'd, and sudden all around
Appear'd a radiant throng
Of angels, praising God, and thus
Warbling their choral song:
7 "Glory to God, from whom on high
All-gracious mercies flow!
Who sends his heav’n-descended peace
To dwell with man below."
On Judah's plains as shepherds sat
Robert Robinson
1735 - 1790 Person Name: Robert Robinson, 1735-1790 Topics: Jesus Christ Shepherd Author of "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" in Community of Christ Sings Robert Robinson was born at Swaffham, Norfolk, in 1735. In 1749, he was apprenticed to a hairdresser, in Crutched Friars, London. Hearing a discourse preached by Whitefield on "The Wrath to Come," in 1752, he was deeply impressed, and after a period of much disquietude, he gave himself to a religious life. His own peculiar account of this change of life is as follows:--"Robertus Michaelis Marineque Robinson filius. Natus Swaffhami, comitatu Norfolciae, Saturni die Sept. 27, 1735. Renatus Sabbati die, Maii 24, 1752, per predicationem potentem Georgii Whitefield. Et gustatis doloribus renovationis duos annos mensesque septem, absolutionem plenam gratuitamque, per sanguinem pretiosum i secula seculorum. Amen." He soon after began to preach, and ministered for some time in connection with the Calvinistic Methodists. He subsequently joined the Independents, but after a short period preferred the Baptist connection. In 1761, he became pastor of a Baptist congregation at Cambridge. About the year 1780, he began to incline towards Unitarianism, and at length his people deemed it essential to procure his resignation. While arrangements for this purpose were in progress he died suddenly at Bingham, in June 1790. He wrote and published a good many works of ability.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.
=============================
Robinson, Robert, the author of "Come, Thou fount of every blessing," and "Mighty God, while angels bless Thee," was born at Swaffham, in Norfolk, on Sept. 27, 1735 (usually misgiven, spite of his own authority, as Jan. 8), of lowly parentage. Whilst in his eighth year the family migrated to Scarning, in the same county. He lost his father a few years after this removal. His widowed mother was left in sore straits. The universal testimony is that she was a godly woman, and far above her circumstances. Her ambition was to see her son a clergyman of the Church of England, but poverty forbade, and the boy (in his 15th year) was indentured in 1749 to a barber and hairdresser in London. It was an uncongenial position for a bookish and thoughtful lad. His master found him more given to reading than to his profession. Still he appears to have nearly completed his apprenticeship when he was released from his indentures. In 1752 came an epoch-marking event. Out on a frolic one Sunday with like-minded companions, he joined with them in sportively rendering a fortune-telling old woman drunk and incapable, that they might hear and laugh at her predictions concerning them. The poor creature told Robinson that he would live to see his children and grandchildren. This set him a-thinking, and he resolved more than ever to "give himself to reading”. Coincidently he went to hear George Whitefield. The text was St. Matthew iii. 7, and the great evangelist's searching sermon on "the wrath to come" haunted him blessedly. He wrote to the preacher six years later penitently and pathetically. For well nigh three years he walked in darkness and fear, but in his 20th year found "peace by believing." Hidden away on a blank leaf of one of his books is the following record of his spiritual experience, the Latin doubtless having been used to hold it modestly private:—
"Robertus, Michaelis Mariseque Robinson filius. Natus Swaffhami, comitatu Norfolciae, Saturni die Sept. 27, 1735. Renatus Sabbati die, Maii 24,1752, per predicationem potentem Georgii Whitefield. Et gustatis doloribus renovationis duos annosque septem absolutionem plenam gratuitamque, per sanguinem pretiosum Jesu Christi, inveni (Tuesday, December 10, 1755) cui sit honor et gloria in secula seculorum. Amen."
Robinson remained in London until 1758, attending assiduously on the ministry of Gill, Wesley, and other evangelical preachers. Early in this year he was invited as a Calvinistic Methodist to the oversight of a chapel at Mildenhall, Norfolk. Thence he removed within the year to Norwich, where he was settled over an Independent congregation. In 1759, having been invited by a Baptist Church at Cambridge (afterwards made historically famous by Robert Hall, John Foster, and others) he accepted the call, and preached his first sermon there on Jan. 8, 1759, having been previously baptized by immersion. The "call" was simply "to supply the pulpit," but he soon won such regard and popularity that the congregation again and again requested him to accept the full pastoral charge. This he acceded to in 1761, alter persuading the people to "open communion." In 1770 he commenced his abundant authorship by publishing a translation from Saurin's sermons, afterwards completed. In 1774 appeared his masculine and unanswerable Arcana, or the Principles of the Late Petitioners to Parliament for Relief in the matter of Subscription. In 1776 was published A Plea for the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ in a Pastoral Letter to a Congregation of Protestant Dissenters at Cambridge. Dignitaries and divines of the Church of England united with Nonconformists in lauding this exceptionally able, scholarly, and pungently written book. In 1777 followed his History and Mystery of Good Friday. The former work brought him urgent invitations to enter the ministry of the Church of England, but he never faltered in his Nonconformity. In 1781 he was asked by the Baptists of London to prepare a history of their branch of the Christian Church. This resulted, in 1790, in his History of Baptism and Baptists, and in 1792, in his Ecclesiastical Researches. Other theological works are included in the several collective editions of his writings. He was prematurely worn out. He retired in 1790 to Birmingham, where he was somehow brought into contact with Dr. Priestley, and Unitarians have made much of this, on exceedingly slender grounds. He died June 9, 1790.
His Life has been fully written by Dyer and by William Robinson respectively, both with a bias against orthodoxy. His three changes of ecclesiastical relationship show that he was somewhat unstable and impulsive. His hymns are terse yet melodious, evangelical but not sentimental, and on the whole well wrought. His prose has all…that vehement and enthusiastic glow of passion that belongs to the orator. (Cf. Dyer and Robinson as above, and Gadsby's Memoirs of Hymn-Writers(3rd ed., 1861); Belcher's Historical Sketches of Hymns; Millers Singers and Songs of the Church; Flower's Robinson's Miscellaneous Works; Annual Review, 1805, p. 464; Eclectic Review, Sept. 1861. [Rev. A. B. Grosart, D.D., LL.D.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Robert Robinson
Jan Struther
1901 - 1953 Person Name: Jan Struther, 1901-1953 Topics: Christ the Shepherd Author of "Lord of All Hopefulness" in Hymns of the Saints Jan Struther, given name: Joyce Torrens-Graham [sic Joyce Anstruther] (b. Westminster, London, England, 1901; d. New York, NY, 1953) wrote many poems and essays under the pen name of Jan Struther (derived from her mother's maiden name, Eva Anstruther). In addition to her pen name, Struther also had the married names of Mrs. Anthony Maxtone Graham and, from a second marriage, Mrs. Adolf Kurt Placzek. During World War II she moved with her children to New York City and remained there until her death. In England she is best known for her novel Mrs. Miniver (1940), which consists of sketches of British family life before World War II. Immensely popular, the book was later made into a movie. Struther also wrote comic and serious poetry, essays, and short stories, published in Betsinda Dances and Other Poems (1931), Try Anything Twice (1938), The Glass Blower (1941), and, posthumously, The Children's Bells (1957). Songs of Praise (1931) included twelve of her hymn texts.
Bert Polman
Jan Struther
James Edmeston
1791 - 1867 Person Name: James Edmeston, 1791-1867 Topics: Christ Shepherd Author of "Saviour, breathe an evening blessing" in Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church Edmeston, James, born Sept. 10, 1791. His maternal grandfather was the Rev. Samuel Brewer, who for 50 years was the pastor of an Independent congregation at Stepney. Educated as an architect and surveyor, in 1816 he entered upon his profession on his own account, and continued to practice it until his death on Jan. 7, 1867. The late Sir G. Gilbert Scott was his pupil. Although an Independent by descent he joined the Established Church at a comparatively early age, and subsequently held various offices, including that of churchwarden, in the Church of St. Barnabas, Homerton. His hymns number nearly 2000. The best known are “Lead us, Heavenly Father, lead us” and "Saviour, breathe an evening blessing." Many of his hymns were written for children, and from their simplicity are admirably adapted to the purpose. For many years he contributed hymns of various degrees of merit to the Evangelical Magazine, His published works are:—
(1) The Search, and other Poems, 1817. (2) Sacred Lyrics, 1820, a volume of 31 hymns and one poem. This was followed by a second Series, 1821, with 35; and a third Series, 1822, with 27 pieces respectively. (3) The Cottage Minstrel; or, Hymns for the Assistance of Cottagers in their Domestic Worship, 1821. This was published at the suggestion of a member of the Home Missionary Society, and contains fifty hymns. (4) One Hundred Hymns for Sunday Schools, and for Particular Occasions, 1821. (5) Missionary Hymns, 1822. (6) Patmos, a Fragment, and Other Poems, 1824. (7) The Woman of Shunam, and Other Poems, 1829. (8) Fifty Original Hymns, 1833. (9) Hymns for the Chamber of Sickness, 1844. (10) Closet Hymns and Poems, 1844. (11) Infant Breathings, being Hymns for the Young, 1846. (12) Sacred Poetry, 1847.
In addition to those of his hymns which have attained to an extensive circulation, as those named above, and are annotated in this work under their respective first lines, there are also the following in common use in Great Britain and America:—
1. Along my earthly way. Anxiety. In his Sacred Lyrics, third set, 1822, in 8 stanzas of 4 lines. It is given in several collections, but usually in an abbreviated form, and generally somewhat altered.
2. Dark river of death that is [art] flowing. Death Anticipated. Given in his Sacred Lyrics, 3rd set, 1822, p. 39, in 9 stanzas of 4 lines. It is usually given in an abbreviated form, and sometimes as, "Dark river of death that art flowing."
3. Come, sacred peace, delightful guest. Peace. Appeared in his Closet Hymns, &c, 1844, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines.
4. Eternal God, before thy throne, Three nations. National Fast.
5. For Thee we pray and wait. Second Advent.
6. God intrusts to all. Parable of the Talents. This is No. 13 of his Infant Breathings, 1846, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. It is a simple application of the parable to the life of a child. It is widely used.
7. God is here; how sweet the sound. Omnipresence. Given as No. 9 in his Sacred Lyrics, 1st set, 1820, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines. In the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, No. 45. St. i.-iii. are from this text, and iv. and v. are from another source.
8. How sweet the light of Sabbath eve. Sunday Evening. No. 10 in theCottage Minstrel, 1821, slightly altered.
9. Is there a time when moments flow. Sunday Evening. No. 5 of his Sacred Lyrics, 1st set, 1820, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines.
10. Little travellers Zionward. Burial of Children. No. 25 of his Infant Breathings, &c, 1846, in 3 stanzas of 8 lines. In the Leeds Hymn Book, 1853, it begins with stanza ii., "Who are they whose little feet?"
11. May we, Lord, rejoicing say. National Thanksgiving. Dated 1849 by the author in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymnbook, No. 1008.
12. Music, bring thy sweetest treasures. Holy Trinity. Dated 1837 by the author in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymnbook, No. 167. It is in his Sacred Poetry, 1847.
13. Roll on, thou mighty ocean. Departure of Missionaries. In his Missionary Hymns, 1822, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines. It is in common use in America.
14. Sweet is the light of Sabbath eve. Sunday Evening. In 5 stanzas of 41., from the Cottage Minstrel, 1821, where it is given as No. 10, and entitled "The Cottager's Reflections upon the Sabbath Evening."
15. The light of Sabbath eve. Sunday Evening. In 5 stanzas of 4 lines, as No. 11 in the Cottage Minstrel, 1821, p. 14, and headed, "Solemn Questions for the Sabbath Evening."
16. Wake, harp of Zion, wake again. Missions to the Jews. Dated 1846 by the author in Spurgeon's Our Own Hymnbook. It is in his Sacred Poetry, 1847.
17. When shall the voice of singing? In his Missionary Hymns, 1822. It is in a few American collections.
18. When the worn spirit wants repose. Sunday. No. 18, of his Sacred Lyrics, 1st set, 1820, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines. It is somewhat popular, and is given in several collections in Great Britain and America, as the Baptist Psalms & Hymns, 1858-80; the Church Praise Book, N. Y., 1881, &c.
19. Why should I, in vain repining? Consolation. No. 14 in the 1st set of his Sacred Lyrics, 1820, in 4 stanzas of 4 lines.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
=========================
Edmeston, James, p. 321, ii. Other hymns are:—
1. O Thou Whose mercy guides my way. Resignation. In his Sacred Lyrics, 1st set, 1820, p. 24, in 3 stanzas of 4 lines, and again in his Hymns for the Chamber of Sickness, 1844.
2. Parting soul, the flood awaits thee. Death anticipated. In his Sacred Lyrics, 1st set, 1820, p. 18, in 3 stanza of 8 lines, and based upon the passage in the Pilgrim's Progress:—"Now I further saw that betwixt them and the gate was a river, but there was no bridge to go over, and the river was very deep."
3. 'Tis sweet upon our pilgrimage. Praise. In hi3 Closet Hymns and Poems, 1846, in 3 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "An Ebenezer Raided."
4. Welcome, brethren, enter in. Reception of Church Officers. Miller says, in his Singers and Songs, 1869, p. 420:—"This is No. 1 of five hymns supplied by Mr. Edmeston, at the request of a friend, for insertion in a provincial hymn-book, on the subject of admitting members," but he does not give the name of the book, neither have we identified It. The hymn, as given in the New Congregational Hymn Book, 1859, No. 840, is in 5 stanzas of 4 lines, of which Millet says stanza iii. is by another hand.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)
James Edmeston
