I mentioned in my Easter sermon at the 10.25 service that I had been noticing how few modern worship songs there were on an Easter theme. I was getting very frustrated about this as I prepared Easter services and it is still frustrating me.

If you look, for instance, at Songs of Fellowship Vol. 1 there are 15 songs listed under the heading of Resurrection. This compares with 59 listed under The cross and redemption and Sacrifice. But even of the 15 listed under Resurrection there are some that should not be there. One that is included in the 15 is The Servant King and I can’t find any direct reference to resurrection in it. Volume 2 has an even more paltry selection which includes Baby Jesus in a manger which I cannot imagine singing at Eastertide.

What is it that discourages modern writers from tackling the Resurrection? It never used to be a problem. Older hymn books are full of glorious hymns about the resurrection and some of these go back as far as St John Damascene in the eighth century. What prevents modern writers from following in this tradition?

I think there is an over-emphasis at the moment on the cross and sacrifice. That is a dangerous thing to say because, surely, the cross is central to what we believe. But when we dwell over-much on the suffering of Jesus we can sentimentalise it. John Wesley recognised this and carefully edited his brother’s hymns to make sure they did not tip over into sentimentality so that, for instance, ‘My dear Redeemer’s throne’ becomes ‘My great Redeemer’s throne’ in the hymn ‘O for a heart to praise my God.’

Contrast today’s emphasis on the cross with the Apostles’ preaching as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. There the Resurrection becomes the central message of their teaching. I suppose they had no need to dwell on the crucifixion because everybody knew what crucifixion entailed. Instead they concentrated on the transforming miracle that meant that this man, whom human beings killed, had been raised to life by God. It is that fact that changes things. Paul tells us that if there is no resurrection we are of all people the most miserable. Our whole faith is built on this event.

So, come on songwriters. Give us something good and powerful that we can use to celebrate the most glorious event in the history of the world. Surely somebody can have a go.