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My Cry Ascends: New Parish Psalms (2010)

by Gregory Wilbur

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1.
[REFRAIN] Now unto Jehovah, ye sons of the mighty All glory and strength and dominion accord Ascribe to Him glory and render Him honor In beauty of holiness, worship the Lord The voice of Jehovah comes down on the waters In thunder the God of the glory draws nigh Lo, over the waves of the wide-flowing waters Jehovah as King is enthroned on high! The voice of Jehovah is mighty, is mighty The voice of Jehovah in majesty speaks The voice of Jehovah the cedars is breaking Jehovah the cedars of Lebanon breaks Each one in His temple His glory proclaimeth He sat on the flood, He is King on His throne Jehovah all strength to His people imparteth Jehovah with peace ever blesseth His own
2.
Come, ye souls by sin afflicted, Bowed with fruitless sorrow down By the broken law convicted Through the cross behold the crown Look to Jesus—mercy flows through Him alone Take His easy yoke and wear it Love will make obedience sweet Christ will give you strength to bear it, While His wisdom guides your feet Safe to glory, where His ransomed captives meet Blessed are the eyes that see Him, Blest the ears that hear His voice Blessed are the souls that trust Him, And in Him alone rejoice His commandments then become their happy choice Sweet as home to pilgrims weary, Light to newly opened eyes Or full springs in deserts dreary Is the rest the cross supplies All who taste it shall to rest immortal rise
3.
Rest of the weary, Joy of the sad, Hope of the dreary, Light of the glad Home of the stranger, Strength to the end, Refuge from danger, Savior and Friend! Pillow where, lying, Love rests its head, Peace of the dying, Life of the dead Path of the lowly, Prize at the end, Breath of the holy, Savior and Friend! [REFR AIN] When my feet stumble, I’ll to Thee cry Crown of the humble—Cross of the high When my steps wander, over me bend Truer and fonder, Savior and Friend Ever confessing Thee, I will raise Unto Thee blessing, Glory and praise All my endeavor, World without end Thine to be ever, Savior and Friend!
4.
Mighty Lord, extend Your kingdom Be the truth with triumph crowned Let the lands that sit in darkness Hear the glorious Gospel sound From our borders, from our borders To the world’s remotest bound By Your arm, eternal Father, Scatter far the shades of night Let the great Immanuel’s kingdom Open like the morning light Let all barriers, let all barriers Yield before Your heavenly might Come in all Your Spirit’s power Come, your reign on earth restore In Your strength ride forth and conquer, Still advancing more and more Till all people, Till all people Shall Your holy Name adore
5.
Call Jehovah your salvation, Rest beneath th’Almighty’s shade In his secret habitation dwell, And never be dismayed There no tumult shall alarm you You shall dread no hidden snare Guile nor violence can harm you In eternal safeguard there From the sword at noonday wasting, From the noisome pestilence In the depth of midnight blasting, God shall be your sure defense He shall charge his angel legions Watch and ward o’er you to keep T hough you walk through hostile regions Though in desert wilds you sleep Since, with pure and firm affection ou on God have set your love With the wings of his protection He will shield you from above You shall call on him in trouble, He will hearken, he will save Here for grief reward you double, Crown with life beyond the grave
6.
O God, to Thine anointed King Give truth and righteousness Thy people He will justly judge And give the poor redress Then every fruitful mountainside Shall yield its rich increase nd righteousness in all the land Shall bear the fruit of peace The poor man’s cause He will maintain The needy He will bless And He will break the strength of those Who would the poor oppress So men shall fear Thee while the sun In daily splendor glows And through all ages, while the moon On earth its light bestows Like rain upon the newborn grass That falls refreshingly Like gentle showers that cheer the earth So shall His coming be The righteous in His glorious day Shall flourish and increase The earth, until the moon shall fade Shall have abundant peace
7.
O bless the Lord, my soul! His grace to you proclaim! And all that is within me join To bless His holy Name! O bless the Lord, my soul! His mercies bear in mind! Forget not all His benefits! The Lord to you is kind He will not always chide He will with patience wait His wrath is ever slow to rise, And ready to abate He pardons all your sins, Prolongs your feeble breath He heals all your infirmities And ransoms you from death He clothes you with His love, Upholds you with His truth And like the eagle He renews The vigor of your youth Then bless His holy Name, Whose grace has made you whole Whose loving-kindness crowns your days! O bless the Lord, my soul
8.
Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish; Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel. Here bring your wounded hearts; here tell your anguish. Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot heal. Joy of the desolate, Light of the straying, Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure! Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying, "Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot cure." Here see the Bread of Life; see waters flowing Forth from the throne of God, pure from above. Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing Earth has no sorrow but heav'n can remove.
9.
Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry Have ready access unto Thee; When in distress to Thee I fly, O hide not Thou Thy face from me. Attend, O Lord, to my desire, O haste to answer when I pray; For grief consumes my strength like fire, My days as smoke pass swift away. My heart is withered like the grass, And I forget my daily bread; In lonely grief my days I pass And sad my thoughts upon my bed. My foes reproach me all the day, My drink is tears, my bread is grief, For in Thy wrath I pine away, My days are like a fading leaf. But Thou, Jehovah, shalt endure, Thy throne forever is the same; And to all generations sure Shall be Thy great memorial name. The time for Zion’s help is near, The time appointed in Thy love; O let Thy gracious aid appear, Look Thou in mercy from above. The Lord, exalted on His throne, Looked down from Heav’n with pitying eye To still the lowly captive’s moan And save His people doomed to die. All men in Zion shall declare His gracious name with one accord, When kings and nations gather there To serve and worship God the Lord.
10.
Alas! and did my Savior bleed And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I? Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree! Well might the sun in darkness hide And shut his glories in, When Christ, the mighty Maker died, For man the creature’s sin. Thus might I hide my blushing face While His dear cross appears, Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt my eyes to tears. But drops of grief can ne’er repay The debt of love I owe: Here, Lord, I give my self away ’Tis all that I can do.
11.
How blest the man who thoughtfully The poor and weak befriends; Deliverance in the evil day To him Jehovah sends. The Lord will keep him, guard his life, On earth he shall be blest; The Lord will not surrender him By foes to be distressed. Upon the bed of suffering Jehovah will sustain, And in his sickness God will soothe The weariness and pain. O Lord, to Thee my cry ascends, Let me Thy mercy see; Heal Thou my soul, for I have sinned, I have offended Thee. Do Thou, Jehovah, show me grace, And raise me up again, That I with justice may requite These base and wicked men. By this I know assuredly That I am loved by Thee, Because my foe does not exult In triumph over me. And as for me, in uprightness Thou dost uphold me well, And settest me before Thy face Forevermore to dwell. Blest be Jehovah, Israel’s God Forevermore. Amen. Let age to age eternally Repeat His praise. Amen.
12.
Let God arise in all His might, And put the troops of hell to flight; As smoke that sought to cloud the skies Before the rising tempest flies. He comes arrayed in burning flames, Justice and Vengeance are His names; Behold His fainting foes expire, Like melting wax before the fire. He rides and thunders through the sky, His name Jehovah sounds on high; Sing to His name, ye sons of grace; Ye saints, rejoice before His face. The widow and the fatherless Fly to His aid in sharp distress; In Him the poor and helpless find A Judge that’s just, a Father kind. He breaks the captive’s heavy chain, And prisoners see the light again; But rebels that dispute His will Shall dwell in chains and darkness still. King­doms and thrones to God belong; Crown Him, ye nations, in your song: His wondrous names and powers rehearse; His honors shall enrich your verse. He shakes the heav’ns with loud alarms; How terrible is God in arms! In Israel are His mercies known, Israel is His peculiar throne. Proclaim Him king, pronounce Him blest; He’s your defense, your joy, your rest: When terrors rise and nations faint, God is the strength of every saint.
13.
Lord Jesus, think on me And purge away my sin; From earthborn passions set me free And make me pure within. Lord Jesus, think on me, With many a care oppressed; Let me Thy loving servant be And taste Thy promised rest. Lord Jesus, think on me Amid the battle’s strife; In all my pain and misery Be Thou my Health and Life. Lord Jesus, think on me Nor let me go astray; Through darkness and perplexity Point Thou the heavenly way. Lord Jesus, think on me When floods the tempest high; When on doth rush the enemy, O Savior, be Thou nigh! Lord Jesus, think on me That, when the flood is past, I may th’eternal brightness see And share Thy joy at last. Lord Jesus, think on me That I may sing above To Father, Spirit, and to Thee The strains of praise and love.
14.
From depths of woe I raise to Thee The voice of lamentation Lord, turn a gracious ear to me And hear my supplication If Thou shouldst be extreme to mark Each secret sin and misdeed dark O who could stand before Thee? O who could stand before Thee? To wash away the crimson stain, Grace, grace alone availeth Our works, alas! Are all in vain In much the best life faileth No man can glory in Thy sight, All must alike confess Thy might And live alone by mercy, and live alone by mercy Therefore my trust is in the Lord And not in mine own merit On Him my soul shall rest, His word upholds my fainting spirit His promised mercy is my fort, My comfort and my sweet support I wait for it with patience, I wait for it with patience What though I wait the live-long night And till the dawn appeareth My heart still trusteth in His might: It doubteth not, nor feareth So let the Israelite in heart, Born of the Spirit, do his part And wait till God appeareth, And wait till God appeareth Although our sin is great indeed, God’s mercies far exceed it His hand can give the help we need, However much we need it He is the Shepherd of the sheep, Who Israel doth guard and keep And shall from sin redeem him, A nd shall from sin redeem him
15.
Blest is the man, forever blest, Whose guilt is pardoned by his God; Whose sins with sorrow are confessed, And covered with his Savior’s blood. Blest is the man to whom the Lord Imputes not his iniquities; He pleads no merit of reward, And not on works, but grace relies. From guile his heart and lips are free; His humble joy, his holy fear, With deep repentance well agree, And join to prove his faith sincere. How glorious is that righteousness That hides and cancels all his sins! While a bright evidence of grace Through his whole life appears and shines.
16.
O give the Lord whole-hearted praise, To Him thanksgiving I will bring; With all His people I will raise My voice and of His glory sing. His saints delight to search and trace His mighty works and wondrous ways; Majestic glory, boundless grace, And righteousness His work displays. The wondrous works that God has wrought His people ever keep in mind; His works with grace and mercy fraught, Revealing that the Lord is kind. God’s promise shall forever stand, He cares for those who trust His Word; Upon His saints His mighty hand The wealth of nations has conferred. His works are true and just indeed, His precepts are forever sure; In truth and righteousness decreed, They shall forevermore endure. From Him His saints’ redemption came; His cov’nant sure no change can know; Let all revere His holy name In Heav’n above and earth below In reverence and godly fear Man finds the gate to wisdom’s ways; The wise His holy name revere; Through endless ages sound His praise.

about

These Psalms and hymns were written with congregational singing in mind. As such, the aesthetic of these works is consciously striving towards accessibility and excellence. One of my foundational motivations in planning worship services is choosing and writing music and texts that are objectively beautiful and good as an appropriate offering to the Most High God as He calls us as His people into worship. I believe that the eternal Word of God should be set to music that has an appropriate Biblical sense of permanence, beauty, goodness, and truth. There is a timelessness that is inherent in music of folk traditions that transcends when it was written—this has been a significant source of inspiration since that timelessness provides an appropriate foundation for eternal truth. Hans Rookmaaker reminded the Church that we must bring the Gospel to bear in the times in which God has placed us. While this does not mean succumbing to the styles of the day, it does pose the challenge of applying theological, Biblical and historical models to our own era.

With this in mind, the music and texts reflect the specific needs for corporate worship in a local church: specifically a local congregation in Middle Tennessee— an area steeped in folk, Celtic and Southern Harmony musical roots. Some of these songs have texts that fit a particular sermon or service. Many of these Psalm settings were written as the Psalm of the Month for our worship services. While the needs of congregational singing were at the forefront of the compositional process, one of the great pleasures I have with this project is the ongoing journey of this music. As these songs moved from the worship services of a local church to the recording process, changes were necessarily made to present a collection of songs that sing forth Biblical truth in a format for a listener outside of corporate worship. However, it is my great desire to see these works retranslated from this current presentation in such a way that they are reintroduced in corporate worship while taking on the local flavor of various churches. In no way would I say that this is the only way to present Psalms and hymns for corporate worship, but it has been an effective way for our congregation to sing, meditate and incarnate the Word of God in their families, hearts and lives.

credits

released April 23, 2010

Gregory Wilbur: Piano, Vocals
Nathan Clark George: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Henry Haffner: Viola
Danny O’Lannerghty: Acoustic Bass
Andy Hubbard: Drums, Percussion
Craig Thomas: Alto and Sopranino Recorder, Irish Flute
John Mock: Mandolin, Accordion, Concertina, Flutes, Bouzouki, Bodhran
Wes King: Guitar, Mandolin, Cello
David Rowe: Hammer Dulcimer
Gary Roche: Uilleann Pipes, Tin and Low Whistles

Special guests:
Nathan Clark George, Michael Card, Katy Snow, Steve Green,
Wes King and Bruce Carroll
Men’s Chorus: Cy Fenton, Mark Haney, Marc Sammons, Mickey Sammons, David Steffens, Gregory Wilbur
Additional vocals: Dave Theriault, David Finnamore, Jim Weeks, Randall Van Meggelen, Kent Madison
Additional Percussion: John M. Duncan, Keith Compton

Tracks Recorded by Keith Compton at Studio at Mole End, Franklin, TN
Additional recording by Kent Madison, Willie Pevear and Keith Compton
Mixed by Kent Madison
Executive Producer: John M. Duncan

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Gregory Wilbur Franklin, Tennessee

Gregory Wilbur is the Chief Musician at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church and the Dean of New College Franklin. His first CD of Psalms and Hymns was called My Cry Ascends: New Parish Psalms. As a composer, he has written for choir, orchestra, film and congregational music as well as numerous commissions. He and his wife, Sophia, and daughter, Eleanor, live in Franklin, TN. ... more

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