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Meter:5.5.10.6.5.10✖

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Joyful Is the Dark

Author: Brian Wren Meter: 5.5.10.6.5.10 Appears in 7 hymnals Lyrics: 1 Joyful is the dark, holy, hidden God, rolling cloud of night beyond all naming, majesty in darkness, energy of love, Word in flesh, the mystery proclaiming. 2 Joyful is the dark Spirit of the deep, winging wildly o’er the world’s creation, silken sheen of midnight plumage black and bright, swooping with the beauty of a raven. 3 Joyful is the dark, shadowed stable floor; angels flicker, God on earth confessing, as with exultation, Mary, giving birth, hails the infant cry of need and blessing. 4 Joyful is the dark coolness of the tomb, waiting for the wonder of the morning. Never was that midnight touched by dread and gloom: darkness was the cradle of the dawning. 5 Joyful is the dark depth of love divine, roaring, looming thundercloud of glory, holy, haunting beauty, living, loving God. Hallelujah! Sing and tell the story! Topics: Creation; Darkness and Light; God Love of; God Mystery and Holiness of; Incarnation; Jesus Christ Birth of; Jesus Christ Death of; Mary, Mother of Jesus Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2 Used With Tune: JOYFUL DARK Text Sources: Bring Many Names
Joyful Is the Dark

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JOYFUL DARK

Meter: 5.5.10.6.5.10 Appears in 2 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: Philip K. Clemens Tune Key: G Major or modal Incipit: 11712 11755 11712 Used With Text: Joyful Is the Dark
JOYFUL DARK
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LINDNER

Meter: 5.5.10.6.5.10 Appears in 2 hymnals Composer and/or Arranger: Carlton R. Young Tune Key: D Flat Major Incipit: 43216 44523 45671
LINDNER

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Joyful Is the Dark

Author: Brian Wren Hymnal: Glory to God #230 (2013) Meter: 5.5.10.6.5.10 Lyrics: 1 Joyful is the dark, holy, hidden God, rolling cloud of night beyond all naming: majesty in darkness, energy of love, Word-in-flesh, the mystery proclaiming. 2 Joyful is the dark Spirit of the deep, winging wildly o'er the world's creation, silken sheen of midnight plumage black and bright, swooping with the beauty of a raven. 3 Joyful is the dark, shadowed stable floor; angels flicker, God on earth confessing, as with exultation, Mary, giving birth, hails the infant cry of need and blessing. 4 Joyful is the dark coolness of the tomb, waiting for the wonder of the morning; never was that midnight touched by dread and gloom: darkness was the cradle of the dawning. 5 Joyful is the dark depth of love divine, roaring, looming thundercloud of glory, holy, haunting beauty, living, loving God. Hallelujah! Sing and tell the story! Topics: Christian Year Nativity/Christmas; Christian Year Easter Vigil; Christian Year Resurrection/Easter; Christian Year Ascension; Creation; Incarnation; Jesus Christ Resurrection; Joy; Christian Year Easter Scripture: Genesis 1:2 Languages: English Tune Title: LINDNER
Joyful Is the Dark
Text

Joyful Is the Dark

Author: Brian Wren Hymnal: Voices Together #281 (2020) Meter: 5.5.10.6.5.10 Lyrics: 1 Joyful is the dark, holy, hidden God, rolling cloud of night beyond all naming, majesty in darkness, energy of love, Word in flesh, the mystery proclaiming. 2 Joyful is the dark Spirit of the deep, winging wildly o’er the world’s creation, silken sheen of midnight plumage black and bright, swooping with the beauty of a raven. 3 Joyful is the dark, shadowed stable floor; angels flicker, God on earth confessing, as with exultation, Mary, giving birth, hails the infant cry of need and blessing. 4 Joyful is the dark coolness of the tomb, waiting for the wonder of the morning. Never was that midnight touched by dread and gloom: darkness was the cradle of the dawning. 5 Joyful is the dark depth of love divine, roaring, looming thundercloud of glory, holy, haunting beauty, living, loving God. Hallelujah! Sing and tell the story! Topics: Creation; Darkness and Light; God Love of; God Mystery and Holiness of; Incarnation; Jesus Christ Birth of; Jesus Christ Death of; Mary, Mother of Jesus Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2 Tune Title: JOYFUL DARK
Joyful Is the Dark

Joyful is the dark

Author: Brian Wren Hymnal: Hymnal #233 (1992) Meter: 5.5.10.6.5.10 Languages: English Tune Title: JOYFUL DARK
Joyful is the dark

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Brian A. Wren

b. 1936 Person Name: Brian Wren Meter: 5.5.10.6.5.10 Author of "Joyful Is the Dark" in Glory to God Brian Wren (b. Romford, Essex, England, 1936) is a major British figure in the revival of contemporary hymn writing. He studied French literature at New College and theology at Mansfield College in Oxford, England. Ordained in 1965, he was pastor of the Congregational Church (now United Reformed) in Hockley and Hawkwell, Essex, from 1965 to 1970. He worked for the British Council of Churches and several other organizations involved in fighting poverty and promoting peace and justice. This work resulted in his writing of Education for Justice (1977) and Patriotism and Peace (1983). With a ministry throughout the English-speaking world, Wren now resides in the United States where he is active as a freelance lecturer, preacher, and full-time hymn writer. His hymn texts are published in Faith Looking Forward (1983), Praising a Mystery (1986), Bring Many Names (1989), New Beginnings (1993), and Faith Renewed: 33 Hymns Reissued and Revised (1995), as well as in many modern hymnals. He has also produced What Language Shall I Borrow? (1989), a discussion guide to inclusive language in Christian worship. Bert Polman
Brian A. Wren

Philip K. Clemens

Meter: 5.5.10.6.5.10 Composer of "JOYFUL DARK" in Hymnal
Philip K. Clemens

Carlton R. Young

b. 1926 Meter: 5.5.10.6.5.10 Composer of "LINDNER" in Glory to God
Carlton R. Young
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