‘Christ is Alive’ – a NZ hymn for the Pentecost church season

What a word change can make! This hymn is No. 15 in Alleluia Aotearoa, the first publication by the NZ Hymnbook Trust. Colin Gibson writes in his Companion to the Trust hymns, Knowing the Song: ‘ Jillian Bray, the composer of the tune HEARTBEAT, explains the circumstances of the writing of the hymn text: ‘I sent this tune to Shirley on 11 July 1988. By 21 July she had responded with her text, titled ‘Easter Song’. This wonderful text, given an equally wonderful tune, need not be confined to the Easter season. With one word in line two of verse one, it becomes a hymn for the Pentecost season. Gillian and John Thornley came up with the word change. They say, ‘This gives the hymn 15 more Sundays on which it can be sung!’

The original opening lines:

Christ is alive, and the universe must celebrate,

and the stars and the suns shout on this Easter Day!

Here’s the full text of this hymn for the Pentecost season:

Christ is alive and the universe must celebrate,

and the stars and the suns shout ev’ry Easter Day!

Christ is alive, and his family must celebrate

in a great alleluia,

a great alleluia

to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

Here is our hope: in the mystery of suffering

is the heartbeat of Love, Love that will not let go,

here is our hope, that in God we are not separate,

and we sing alleluia,

we sing alleluia

to praise the power that made the stone roll away.

Christ Spirit, dance through the dullness of humanity

to the music of God, God who has set us free!

You are the pulse of the new creation’s energy;

with a great alleluia,

a great alleluia

we praise the power that made the stone roll away.

To find the music, it can be sourced online or through a purchase of Alleluia Aotearoa. Contact Philip and Heather Garside at: books@pg.pl.co.nz. They stock the four books and CDs compiled by the NZ Hymnbook Trust: Alleluia Aotearoa, Carol our Christmas, Faith Forever Singing and Hope is our Song.

A radio programme on Manawatu People’s Radio (MPR) celebrates May as NZ Music Month, with a selection of hymns with texts by Shirley Erena Murray and music by Jillian Bray, a creative duo from the Kapiti Coast! Tune in for live sessions, 11 o’clock on Tuesdays 21 and 28 May, on AM999

Or listen online, under recent programmes at www.mpr.nz/show/wesley

Gillian and John Thornley (Johngill@inspire.net.nz)

Wesley Broadway Church, Palmerston North.