San Francisco Central Seventh-day Adventist Church

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27 Rejoice, Ye Pure In Heart

Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart! has as its theme Psalm 20:5 - We will rejoice in Thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. The words were written in 1865 by Edward Plumptre as a processional hymn for a choir festival, and originally had 11 stanzas, to accommodate the length of time it would take a large choir to traverse the center aisle of a great cathedral.

The tune MARION was composed by Arthur Messiter, and named for his mother. It undergoes an unusual number of key changes for a short hymn: F major, D minor, C major, B-flat major, D major, and back to F major!

Rejoice ye pure in heart!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
Your festal banner wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.

Refrain
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing.

With voice as full and strong
As ocean's surging praise,
Send forth the sturdy hymns of old,
The psalms of ancient days.

Refrain
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing.

With all the angel choirs,
With all the saints of earth,
Pour out the strains of joy and bliss,
True rapture, noblest mirth.

Refrain
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing.

Yes, on through life's long path,
Still chanting as ye go;
From youth to age, by night and day,
In gladness and in woe.

Refrain
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing.

Praise Him who reigns on high,
The Lord whom we adore,
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
One God forever more.

Refrain
Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice,
Give thanks and sing.