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Updated 09/03/2020

 

Christ is Risen

"Christ is Risen" was composed by Brian Wren, a hymnwriter whose work appears in hymnals from all denominations and traditions throughout the English-speaking world. Born in London in 1936, Brian Wren studied at Oxford, taking degrees in Modern Languages and Theology, including a D. Phil for work on the Hebrew prophets.  After ordination, he was minister of a Congregational church in Essex, served as consultant to the British Council of Churches, and worked in the student-based world poverty campaign, Third World First.

Since 1983, Brian has followed a freelance ministry, helping worshippers, ministers, educators and musicians to improve skills, and deepen spirituality. Now living in the USA, Brian is on the United Reformed Church roll of ministers as serving overseas.

When the committee who planned the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal was considering this text to still another tune, Wren suggested using w zlobie lezy, a Polish tune that is often sung to the Christmas text “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.” w zlobie lezy has “reflective qualities and musical connection of Christ’s nativity and resurrection, a tune that aptly expresses the metaphors of a tree growing in the desert with ‘healing leaves of grace’”.


Brian Wren


Lyrics by Brian Wren


Christ is risen! Shout Hosanna! Celebrate this day of days.
Christ is risen! Hush in wonder, all creation is amazed.
In the desert all surrounding, see, a spreading tee has grown.
Healing leaves of grace abounding ring a taste of love unknown.

Christ is risen! Raise your spirits from the caverns of despair.
Walk with gladness in the morning.  See what love can do and dare.
Drink the wine of resurrection, not a servant, but a friend;
Jesus is our strong companion joy and peace shall never end.

Christ is risen! Earth and heaven never more shall be the same.
Break the bread of new creation where the world is still in pain.
Tell its grim, demonic chorus: “Christ is risen! Get you gone!”
God the First and Last is with us.  Sing Hosanna everyone.