Photo credit: Reuters/ Eddie Mulholland
In response to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, charities LICC and Bible Society have released 'Tears and Celebration', a new hymn featuring world-renowned mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins, written by Andy Flannagan with Sam Hargreaves. We're encouraging churches to use it in their Sunday services. You can stream it from this YouTube link, or download scores, guitar chords and a backing track from the Jubilate website.
To the tune ‘Dim Ond Iesu/Cymraeg’ (best known for ‘Here is love vast as the ocean’)
We see tears and celebration,
For this life so dignified,
Bearing thanks and hearts of sadness,
To the God of death and life.
As he takes her to his promise,
Of an audience with the King,
We remember all she gave us,
Wreaths of gratitude we bring.
In these days of change and trial,
Be the rock on which we stand,
When we fear in this new season,
Hold us firmly in your hands.
May we rise to her example,
To be humble, kind and fair,
Swift to pray and slow to anger,
Choosing faith and not despair.
In the midst of coronation,
She once knelt in silent prayer,
Oil was poured in Christ’s commission,
Called to lead her people there.
May we know that same anointing,
Move in royal authority,
Then speak liberty and healing,
To a world in need of peace.
Lord forgive, when pride and envy,
Leave our nation bruised and stained,
Turn us back towards our calling,
To make your name great again.
May we rise above divisions,
Lord, our brokenness we bring,
That a more united kingdom,
Would give glory to the King.
When our days are at their dimming,
And our work on earth is done,
May we hear as does our sovereign,
‘Faithful servant, welcome home.’
May we rise with Christ to witness,
A new heav’n and earth displayed,
Ours a robe that will not tarnish,
Hers a crown that will not fade.
Alternate Verse 4 for Commonwealth:
We beheld her sure compassion,
For the last and for the least,
Straddling races, tribes and nations,
Forging bonds of family.
May this commonwealth now echo,
The wide kingdom of our King.
Reconciled through Christ who suffered,
All our stories we will bring.
Tune: Dim Ond Iesu/Cymraeg
Words: © 2022 Andy Flannagan and Sam Hargreaves
Published by: Integrity Music/churchsongs.co.uk
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the extraordinary life of your servant, our Queen, Elizabeth II.
Thank you for her love for this nation and for the commonwealth of nations.
Thank you for the reassuring stability that her faithful leadership brought to us all.
At her coronation she vowed to serve us all and uphold the laws of God. Thank you that she kept the faith.
Truly we are a blessed people to have had such a leader for these past seven decades.
And yet we are also an obstinate and disobedient people, for despite her witness and example, we have turned away from you.
So often we have preferred to indulge our individual desires rather than do our duty to love those around us.
So often we have prioritised our own interests rather than keeping our vows.
And so often we have failed to cherish the Scripture that she cherished and have scorned the example of Jesus that she followed.
We have not kept the faith.
Father, forgive us. Help us to turn back to you. Help us to turn back to the Scripture on which she based her life, and to model our lives, as she did, on the One to whom those Scriptures point, Jesus Christ. Have mercy on our nation at this time.
We pray for all the Royal Family, especially our King, Charles III. May they know your comfort as they mourn, and may all of us who mourn know your comfort at this time.
And we pray for our King and our political leaders, in all nations of our United Kingdom, and from all parties. May they lead us back to you, not further away. May they cherish those Scriptures and the example of Jesus Christ that inspired the Queen. May they know your favour and anointing to lead.
We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
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