A Hymn for Catherine

[Munro]

Following a family bereavment we are looking for a Hymn/Psalm that has connections with Caithness for the funeral service, would appreciate any suggestions, the bereaved was a 95 year old lady.

[canuck]

There is a psalm set to the tune called "Caithness". I don't have a Church of Scotland Book of Praise here so I cannot give you a hymn number. It is Psalm 37 and the first line is "See thou thy trust upon the Lord."

I am sure that we sang Psalm 23 at every funeral I did in Wick. I'll see if I can find any more. My first response to your question looking for a hymn reflecting Caithness was "All things bright and beautiful."

[Lavenderblue2]

Hello Munro and Canuck

This hymn is one that can be sung to the tune Caithness and the words are suitable for a funeral - you can hear it if you go to http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/t/ttlafhas.htm remember to click on the alterative tune which is Caithness.

Hope this helps

Lavenderblue

The tender love a father has
For all his children dear,
Such love the Lord bestows on them
Who worship Him in fear.
The Lord remembers we are dust,
And all our frailty knows;
Man’s days are like the tender grass,
And as the flower he grows.
The flower is withered by the wind
That smites with blighting breath;
So man is quickly swept away
Before the blast of death.
Unchanging is the love of God,
From age to age the same,
Displayed to all who do His will
And reverence His Name.
Those who His gracious cov’nant keep
The Lord will ever bless;
Their children’s children shall rejoice
To see His righteousness.

[weeboyagee]

Two hymns cross my mind - they don't mention Caithness but I believe they portray the county - the first relating to what I believe is faced by many fishermen and sea going folks that was Caithness' history.

I feel the winds of God today
Today my sail I lift
Though heavy oft with drenching spray
And torn with many a rift
If hope but light the water’s crest
And Christ my bark will use
I’ll sail the seas at His behest
And brave another cruise

It is the wind of God that dries
My vain regretful tears
Until with braver thoughts shall rise
The purer, brighter years
If cast on shores of selfish ease
Or pleasure I should be
Lord, let me fell thy freshening breeze
And I’ll put back to sea

If ever I forget Thy love
And how that love was shown
Lift high the blood-red flag above
It bears Thy name alone
Great pilot of my onward way
Thou wilt not let me drift
I feel the winds of God today
Today my sail I lift

The second is my own all time favourite - for those of you who like hymns, how about this for lyrics?

Thou hidden love of God, whose height,
whose depth unfathomed no man knows,
I see from far thy beauteous light,
inly I sigh for thy repose;
my heart is pained, nor can it be
at rest, till it finds rest in thee.

Thy secret voice invites me still
the sweetness of thy yoke to prove;
and fain I would; but though my will
seems fixed, yet wide my passions rove;
yet hindrances strew all the way;
I aim at thee, yet from thee stray.

'Tis mercy all that thou has brought
my mind to seek its peace in thee;
yet while I seek, but find thee not,
no peace my wandering soul shall see.
O when shall all my wanderings end,
And all my steps to theeward tend?

Is there a thing beneath the sun
that strives with thee my heart to share?
Ah, tear it hence and reign alone,
the Lord of every motion there;
then shall my heart from earth be free,
when it has found repose in thee.

Each moment draw from earth away
my heart that lowly waits thy call;
speak to my inmost soul and say,
"I am thy love, thy God, thy all!"
to feel thy power, to hear thy voice,
to taste thy love, be all my choice.

Written by Gerhard Tersteegen in 1729 and translated by John Wesley in 1738.

WBG :cool:

[Lavenderblue2]

Thank you for these - there is nothing better than a good rousing Wesleyan hymn Weeboyagee - I wish I knew the tunes of these - any idea of the tune names?

LB