Because You Live, O Christ

Full Text

1 Because you live, O Christ,
the garden of the world has come to flower,
the darkness of the tomb
is flooded with your resurrection power.

Refrain: The stone has rolled away and death cannot imprison!
O sing this Easter Day, for Jesus Christ has risen,
has risen, has risen, has risen!

2 Because you live, O Christ,
the spirit bird of hope is freed for flying,
our cages of despair
no longer keep us closed and life-denying.

Refrain

3 Because you live, O Christ,
the rainbow of your peace will span creation,
the colors of your love
will draw all humankind to adoration.

Refrain

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Author: Shirley Erena Murray

Shirley Erena Murray (b. 1931) is a hymn text writer, born in Invercargill, New Zealand in 1931. Her texts have appeared in more than 100 collections worldwide and have been translated into several languages. She has been an editor with the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust and received international acclaim for her writing, including being made a Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music (2006) and becoming a Member of the NZ Order of Merit (2001) for services to the community through hymn writing. She is the first citizen to be so honored. Most recently, she has been honored by the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada at its July 2009 annual conference by being named a Fellow of the Society in recognition of her contributions as a hymn… Go to person page >

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Related Texts

Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks

First Line:	Because You live, O Christ
Title:	Because You Live, O Christ
Author:	Shirley Erena Murray (1987)
Meter:	Irregular
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	The stone has rolled away
Copyright:	Copyright © 1987 by Hope Publishing Company, Carol Streem, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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Tune

VRUECHTEN

VRUCHTEN is originally a seventeenth-century Dutch folk tune for the love song "De liefde Voortgebracht." It became a hymn tune in Joachim Oudaen's David' s Psalmen (1685) as a setting for "Hoe groot de vruchten zijn." The tune is distinguished by the melismas that mark the end of stanza lines and b…

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Timeline

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Arrangements

Piano/Organ Rejoice! Ten Hymns for Christmas and Easter Seasons of Praise (Artistic Hymn-Based Medleys for Solo Ringing and Piano) Easter Music for Manuals, Set 1 More Piano/Organ >
Choral OUR HEARTS REJOICE THIS DAY More Choral >
Instrumental This Joyful Eastertide - (Variants and Processional) Alleluia, Christ Is Risen! Five Hymn Accompaniments for Brass Quartet and Organ, Set 3 More Instrumental >
Handbells Easter Fanfares THIS JOYFUL EASTERTIDE Let Joyful Alleluias Ring! More Handbells >

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Media

Scores
Audio

Worship and Rejoice #292

Full Score (PDF, SIB, Scorch, XML)
Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF, SIB, Scorch, XML)
Bulletin Score (PDF, SIB, Scorch, XML)

MIDI file from Worship and Rejoice #292

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Page Scans

The New Century Hymnal (1995), p.321

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Instances

Instances (4)	First Line	Text Title	Refrain First Line	Authors	Composers	Meter	Scripture	Tune Title	Tune Key	Languages	Publication Date
Presbyterian Hymnal #105	Because You live, O Christ	Because You Live, O Christ	The stone has rolled away	Shirley Erena Murray	Alice Parker	Irregular	Luke 24:1-2	VRUECHTEN	E Flat Major	English	1990
The New Century Hymnal #231	Because you live, O Christ	Because You Live, O Christ		Shirley Erena Murray		6.7.6.7 D	Luke 24:1-10	VRUECHTEN	E Flat Major		1995
Voices United: The Hymn and Worship Book of The United Church of Canada #178	Because you live, O Christ	Because You Live, O Christ	The stone has rolled away	Shirley Erena Murray	Charles Wood	6.11.6.11 with refrain		VRUECHTEN	E Flat Major	English	1996
Worship and Rejoice #292	Because you live, O Christ	Because You Live, O Christ	The stone has rolled away	Shirley Erena Murray, 1931-	Alice Parker, 1925-	6.11.6.11 with refrain	1 Corinthians 15:54-55	VRUECHTEN	E Flat Major		2001