I Lean My Heart
SATB choral/piano score
PEL2105-Choir and Piano
A WORK FOR SATB CHOIR AND PIANO WITH OPTIONAL BASS, ORGAN, AND PERCUSSION
Commissioned in celebration of the 300th anniversary of the founding of Church of Christ Congregational, Newington, CT, October 2022, Peter Niedmann, Director of Music
Texts
I Lean My Heart
Words: John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892), Selected stanzas from “The Eternal Goodness”
Music: Paul Halley (1952-)
O Friends! with whom my feet have trod
The quiet aisles of prayer,
Glad witness to your zeal for God
And love of man I bear.
And Thou, O Lord! by whom are seen
Thy creatures as they be,
Forgive me if too close I lean
My human heart on Thee!
I know not what the future hath
Of marvel or surprise,
Assured alone that life and death
His mercy underlies.
I long for household voices gone,
For vanished smiles I long,
But God hath led my dear ones on,
And He can do no wrong.
And if my heart and flesh are weak
To bear an untried pain,
The bruisèd reed He will not break
But strengthen and sustain.
No offering of my own I have,
Nor works my faith to prove;
I can but give the gifts He gave,
And plead His love for love.
And so beside the Silent Sea
I wait the muffled oar;
No harm from Him can come to me
On ocean or on shore.
I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His love and care.
