The Worship Quote of the Week for (01/27/2009):

"The Compassion Hymn"
What does your congregation sing when it comes to an emphasis on the necessary love and care for "the least of these my brethren"? Today's WORSHIP QUOTE is one of the newest hymns by Stuart Townend and Keith & Kristyn Getty, "The Compassion Hymn." We have sung it several times recently at our church, and I recommend it with enthusiasm. [piano score available at www.gettymusic.com]


THE COMPASSION HYMN

There is an everlasting kindness
You lavished on us
When the Radiance of heaven
Came to rescue the lost;
You called the sheep without a shepherd
To leave their distress
For your streams of forgiveness
And the shade of Your rest.

And with compassion for the hurting,
You reached out Your hand
As the lame ran to meet You
And the dead breathed again;
You saw behind the eyes of sorrow
And shared in our tears,
Heard the sigh of the weary,
Let the children draw near.

CHORUS
What boundless love,
What fathomless grace
You have shown us, O God of compassion!
Each day we live,
An offering of praise
As we show to the world Your compassion.

We stood beneath the cross of Calvary
And gazed on Your face,
At the thorns of oppression
And the wounds of disgrace;
For surely You have borne our suffering
And carried our grief
As You pardoned the scoffer
And showed grace to the thief.

How beautiful the feet that carry
This gospel of peace
To the fields of injustice
And the valleys of need—
To be a voice of hope and healing,
To answer the cries
Of the hungry and helpless
With the mercy of Christ.


—Keith & Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend, © 2008 Thankyou Music, Administered by worshiptogether.com (USA) and Kingsway Music (UK). Available at www.gettymusic.com where you will also find recordings, orchestrations, four-part hymn settings, tour information, song stories, and a place to sign up for the GettyMusic e-mail list. See www.tinyurl.com/gettysatsbts for information about the Gettys' visit to Louisville on February 5-7, 2009.

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You may purchase a four-part version of this hymn at
www.gettymusic.com/usa/Products-viewsheet.asp?id=516
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Have a great week.


Chip Stam
Director, Institute for Christian Worship
School of Church Music and Worship
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Louisville, Kentucky
www.wqotw.org
www.sbts.edu/icw

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