Let us magnify, magnify, God the almighty

Let us magnify, magnify, God the almighty
and glorify, glorify, Jesus his son.
Rejoicing, rejoicing, and filled with the Spirit,
we sing, full of praise, to our God, Three in One.

Yet in mystery, mystery, came our redeemer,
the focus of history, history's goal.
'Who is he, who is he,' the nations demanded?
ignoring his claims and despising his role.

'You must crucify, crucify,' shouted the rabble,
'to testify, testify, Caesar is Lord,'
and Pilate, the Roman, succumbed to their turmoil
and wrung out his hands as the multitude roared.

'Our Jesus is lifeless, departed, defeated,
yet living and breathing he conquers the grave.
Oh how can this be that from death he has risen,
He stands here among us, almighty to save ?'

Though petrified, mortified, we are triumphant,
and justified, sanctified, hope is secure.
Divinity, Trinity, vanquishes evil.
With heaven before us eternity's sure.'

Let us magnify, magnify, God the almighty,
and glorify, glorify, Jesus his son.
Rejoicing, rejoicing, and filled with the Spirit,
we sing, full of praise, to our God, Three in One.

Michael Saward (b.1932)
© Michael Saward, admin. The Jubilate Group
13 11 12 11
Tune: St Catherine's Court (Richard Strutt)

Written for a Festschrift for Donald Hustad's 90th birthday.