Into Your Hands (we commend our spirits O Lord / I commend my spirit)

This is a hymn about the Crucifixion based on Luke 23:46, and also Psalm 31.   It is particularly suitable for the Good Friday Passion service - but can be used at other times also.

It was written by American social justice advocate and at-the-time Roman Catholic seminarian, Ray Repp (1942-2020), and included in a recording "Come Alive" which was released by Friends of English in the Liturgy (FEL) in 1967.  Copyright ownership  was retained by Repp's Otter Creek Music.  Sheet music was released in the Hymnal for Young Christians, Volume 2.

The words were found in a "home made" hymnal in Ireland, most probably from the 1970's or 80's and used by the charismatic movement.  More recently the song has been translated into Spanish as Entre Tus Manos, and sheet music for this is available from OCP.

Some people change the words from plural ("we commend our spirits") to singular ("I commend my spirit").

The unnamed tune has a Common time-signature.   When the tune is written down in the key of E, the first few notes are E E G F FF G A GE C B,B,


Hands reaching for the universe



Downloads

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Examples

Original recording - solo singer with backing:


Singer, self-accompanied on acoustic guitar:


Small group / soloists with praise band:


Instrumental - electronic keyboard, played as a piano:


Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright, so cannot be reproduced here.  They are, however, available on this website.   A rough outline is:
Chorus:  Into your hands we commend our spirits, oh Lord ...

1  Oh God my God, why have You gone from me

2  Our fathers trusted and You delivered them,

3  You've been my guide since I was very young ...

4 My days are weary with people hating me ...

5 On every side my neighbours stare at me ...

6 I will proclaim your name to all my friends ....

See more ...

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY
Chorus: Into your hands we commend our spirits, oh Lord, Into your hands we commend our hearts. For we must die to ourselves in loving You, Into your hands we commend our love. 1 Oh God my God, why have You gone from me Far from my prayers, far from my cry? To you I call, but You never answer me, You send no comfort and I don't know why. 2 Our fathers trusted and You delivered them, To You they cry, and they escaped. In You they trusted when darkness came their way, And in Your goodness You made them free. 3 You've been my guide since I was very young, You showed the way when I needed someone's hand. But now I am lonely, nobody is by my side, Stay near me Lord, and be my friend.

2 comments:

  1. Ray Repp seems to have been the composer of this song - see website below

    http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=00Aooq

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Rosaleen. Knowing that it was by Ray Repp helped me find lots more information about the song, and so I've totally re-written the page.

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