This was written for the 10.30 service at Emmanuel Methodist Church on March 7th 2008. The Gospel passage for the service was the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1-45) and this hymn came after reading the first 16 verses. The intended themes are Jesus as the life and light of the world, and us waking up from our spiritual sleep.
Just like "For all the saints" (one of my favourite hymns, by the way - it's such a shame we rarely sing it other than on All Saints' Day) the scansion can be tricky at times. In particular I'd draw your attention to the second line of the fourth verse, which requires the "We" to be sung before the beat, but also has three syllables in the next bar. (Looking at the music in Hymns and Psalms, it's a cross between verses 1 and 2, effectively.) If you want to sing the hymn but have a better idea for that line, please use it! It does work if you know what to do though.
1. Oh Saviour Jesus, friend and Lord of light,
Lamp in our darkness, banishing the night;
Cleansed by your love, our souls are robed in white:
Alleluia, alleluia
2. The cross proclaims your death was for our sake;
Purity slain, the curse of sin to break.
We, who succumbed to sleep must now awake!
Alleluia, alleluia
3. Cut from the cross, inside a tomb you lay.
Then, when the faithful came at break of day,
Darkness was gone, and death was cast away.
Alleluia, alleluia
4. Renewed we walk, your Spirit by our side.
We follow the path, your footsteps as our guide.
Through us, O Lord, your name be glorified!
Alleluia, alleluia
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