Looking for the right thing to call pretty

I’m in love with an Englishman who I’ve never met. Maybe it’s the accent.

OK, not that kind of love. But I do have a deep and abiding admiration for Christian songwriter Stuart Townend from West Yorkshire, England. I don’t know what he looks like; I’ve never actually heard the man’s voice; but the lyrics he has penned cut right to my heart. It’s kind of like my “love” for Andrew Peterson. Somehow, these writers can put to words thoughts that I think are inexpressable. Their lyrics speak truth; they challenge, convict, and sometimes bring me into a place of repentance and joy before my God.

If you’ve known me long, you know that I love Townend’s beautiful hymn “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us.” I sing it alone in my house when I’m folding laundry, sometimes when I’m drying my hair. I just think it’s beautiful and it says so much, so deeply, so simply. By the end of the song, I’m imploring God, telling Him that I don’t understand the gift of grace He’s given us—”Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.” I can’t give an answer and I can’t understand, but I know it’s true, and I rejoice in it. Townend makes me think about my faith as I sing, to actually understand the lyrics I’m singing, not just hit the right notes. When I first heard “In Christ Alone,” I almost cried. Here, once again, in simplicity and poetry, Townend had spoken truth and hit me right in the heart.

So when my church choir director introduced a new song to us for my church’s Good Friday service and I saw it was cowritten by Townend, I knew I was going to like it. I didn’t know how much. As I’ve listened to it in my car these past few days, I still almost cry at the end of the song, called “Behold the Lamb” and written to be used during communion. The images of the plain altar table in the small country church I grew up in flash across my mind as I ponder the lyrics and Christ’s instruction to “do this in remembrance of Me.” And once again, I realize how little I understand of the depth of God’s love or the grace of the gift He’s given us. So today, I give you the lyrics. I hope they bless you as they’ve blessed me.

BEHOLD THE LAMB (THE COMMUNION HYMN)

Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away, Slain for us—and we remember The promise made that all who come in faith Find forgiveness at the cross. So we share in this bread of life, And we drink of His sacrifice As a sign of our bonds of peace Around the table of the King.

The body of our Savior Jesus Christ, Torn for you—eat and remember; The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life Paid the price to make us one. So we share in this bread of life, And we drink of His sacrifice As a sign of our bonds of love Around the table of the King.

The blood that cleanses ev’ry stain of sin, Shed for you—drink and remember He drained death’s cup that all may enter in To receive the life of God. So we share in this bread of life, And we drink of His sacrifice As a sign of our bonds of grace Around the table of the King.

And so with thankfulness and faith we rise To respond, and to remember Our call to follow in the steps of Christ As His body here on earth. As we share in His suffering We proclaim Christ will come again! And we’ll join in the feast of heav’n Around the table of the King. — Stuart Townend and Keith & Kristyn Getty, © 2007 Thankyou Music, Administered by worshiptogether.com (USA) and Kingsway Music (UK).