Hymn suggestions for Saturday 19 April 2025
Holy Saturday
Also see Holy Week – a Singing the Faith introduction
Hymns marked with an asterisk (*) are suggested for more than one reading
General
Consider reading out loud, or singing, the first verse of Gareth Hill’s God who knows our darkest moments (website only) today, and then singing all three verses on Easter Day.
We turn to God when we are sorely pressed (StF 640)
Also see Avoiding Holy Saturday and Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s hymn We turn to God when we are sorely pressed (StF 640)
Job 14: 1-14
Day of judgment! Day of wonder! (StF 732)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (StF 626)
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father (StF 51)
God of my faith, I offer you my doubt (StF 629)
How long, O Lord, will you forget (StF 630)
We turn to God when we are sorely pressed (StF 640)
or
Lamentations 3: 1-9, 19-24
God, hold us, enfold us, through desolate loss (StF 733)
My soul finds rest in God alone (StF 633)
We pray for healing and for health (website only)
Psalm 31: 1-4, 15-16
Hymns echoing the psalmist's theme
A safe stronghold our God is still (StF 623)
Have faith in God, my heart (StF 466)
When circumstances make my life (StF 641)
1 Peter 4: 1-8
I know that my Redeemer lives, and ever prays for me (StF 502)
We pray until the hour (StF 741)
We would believe: Lord help our unbelieving (website only)
Matthew 27: 57-66
*God of my faith, I offer you my doubt (StF 629)
I’ve had questions without answers (StF 632)
My song is love unknown (StF 277)
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain (StF 306)
The quaking earth is calm (website only)
Though the fruit tree doesn’t blossom (StF 93)
When, O God, our faith is tested (StF 643)
Who would ever have believed it? (StF 290)
or
John 19: 38-42
See Matthew 27: 57-66
A prayer for prisons
Creator God, you teem in every prison space and in every story; prisoner, victim, family and staff. Your light breaks through the cracks in our broken vessels and the diversity of multi-faith prison chaplaincy. You know the loss that separation brings, yet offer hope that healing is accessible to hurting people and people who cause hurt. Guide your Church toward being a model for institutions that act justly and do not impose harm. See us, Mother of Nature, and forgive our failing to love with the sort of balance Jesus practised. Let us happily carry our share of injustice so that our ministries may relate to the people we are called to serve. Amen.
Leon Dundas, Managing Chaplain and Care/TRIM Team, HMP Exeter
A prayer for healing and restoration - Alternative Prayer
Jesus, like a mother you gather your people to you. In the depth of your mercy, heal us. In the tenderness of your love, remake us. In the compassion of your grace, forgive us. For the beauty of heaven, prepare us. Amen.
Anselm (c. 1033-1109)