We welcome you, O Christ

We welcome you, O Christ our Lord;

            We lift our praise in one accord.

We give you thanks in everything;

            We honor you as now we sing.

 

Yet your own word has called us out;

            The very welcome that we shout

Is called in question – doubt, indeed – 

            By how we turn from those in need.

 

The hungry stranger at our door,

            The one who scrubs our dirty floor,

The migrant, homeless; yes, our call

            Is always to receive them all.

 

While we your church have argued loud

            For power, for strength, for status proud,

You welcome these whom we’ve reviled

            As once you welcomed one small child.

 

Recall us to true welcome, Lord, 

            That all in you may be restored

To health and hope in everything,

            And we true praise to you might bring.

 

 

Text: Charles Spence Freeman, September 2021, after Mark 9:30-37.

Music: Suggested tune ROCKINGHAM, Second Supplement to Psalmody in Miniature, 1783; harm. Edward Miller, 1790.

A cursory reading of the indicated lectionary passage will make clear this is no close paraphrase; it is perhaps best described as a response, perhaps with some repentance about it, to that passage and Jesus's instruction to the disciples in it. 

As we go now from this table

As we go now from this table

Having shared your holy meal,

May our lives be made your witness,

Showing your good news is real. 

As we go out, still we carry

Sacrament as sign and seal.

 

We are challenged to remember,

Through the humble bread we broke,

All your deeds and all your living,

All the sacred words you spoke.

May your call be marked upon us

Like a painter's strong brush stroke.

 

Also marked upon your memory

Is the cup we poured and shared. 

All your sorrows and your sufferings,

All the ways in which you cared;

Let the cup help us remember, 

Let us not be unprepared.

 

As we sing this song of parting

Like you sang with all your friends,

May we know there will be one day

Your new song that never ends.

Till that day may our song witness

To your love that heals and mends.

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2024.

MUSIC: Tune TRINITY, Peter Cutts, 1983. Copyright 1983 Hope Publishing Company.

 

 

In thinking about the sacrament and the songs that go with it, it struck me that most of them seem made to come before the meal, and then a few that proceed all the way through it; I couldn't think of many that followed after the sacrament as a kind of parting hymn of the table. It seemed like a hymn that reminds us of what we take with us from the sacrament could be useful. And yes, with World Communion Sunday not too far off, the sacrament was on my mind perhaps a little extra.

On a separate note, as much as I try to avoid using hymn tunes under copyright, I think this is the third or fourth hymn text of mine that has attached itself to this tune, which I have not even had opportunity to sing in worship very often. Honestly, my right hand does not know what my left hand is doing...

 

Be strong in the Lord

 Refrain:

Be strong in the Lord, in the strength of God’s power; 

Put on the whole armor of God

So then you’ll be able, all firm and stable,

To stand and withstand.

 

Wrap holy truth now around you;

Wrap yourself sure – make it fast.

Put on the breastplate of righteousness

That your defense may last.

Refrain

 

Choose holy shoes now to take you

Good news of peace to proclaim.

Shield yourself with the faith God gives you

To live in Jesus’ name.

Refrain

 

Salvation’s helmet protect you; 

Sword of the Spirit, God’s Word,

That you may ward off the flames of fear

And all the lies you’ve heard.

Refrain

 

 

Text and tune: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2021 (after Ephesians 6:10-20)

This is really not how I normally work, but in this case text and sort-tune arrived largely together about three years ago. I'm not gifted enough to create an accompaniment for the tune (someone else is working on one but can't be sure to have it usable in time, since I didn't give her much heads-up) but for those who are, here's a text for the epistle reading for Sunday, August 25. I could easily see this being sung with a leader for the verses and all on the chorus.

Jesus, you loved us first (4-part score)

Jesus, you loved us first, and love us still; 

Lead us to live within your holy will. 

Guide us to live with care, and yet with hope to dare,

In all things everywhere, your love fulfill.

 

Teach us to live within your wisdom true,

Not choosing foolishly in what we do.

Making the most of time, led by your grace sublime, 

May we in all things rhyme our lives to you.

 

Let songs of praise resound, our voices ring;

Let melodies abound in everything.

Lead us in holy psalm, loud praise or healing balm;

In conflict or in calm, lead us to sing.

 

Place in us grateful hearts; teach us to say

All of our gratitude in every way.

To You our Lord on high our praises multiply;

Let thanks be our reply here, now, today.

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2021 (after Ephesians 5:15-20)

MUSIC: Tune SOMETHING FOR JESUS, Robert Lowry, 1871.

 

 

One thing I’ve adopted when nothing works for an extended time is to take up a tune from my past (one that doesn’t appear much in the hymnals most present in my experience nowadays) and create a text for it. This quiet Robert Lowry tune somehow cooperated with the Ephesians reading for the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost of this year, though this text is far from a close paraphrase. 

Live with care and live with wisdom

Live with care and live with wisdom;

Do not live life foolishly.

Evil days are now upon us;

Live with true integrity.

 

Filled with wisdom from the Spirit,

Know the Lord's will faithfully, 

Singing psalms and hymns together,

Praising God in melody.

 

Give your thanks to God Almighty

For all time in every place.

Give thanks in the name of Jesus,

He who saves us by his grace. 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, July 2024, after Ephesians 5:15-20.

MUSIC: Tune STUTTGART, Witt's Psalmodia Sacra, 1715. alt. 

 

 

The journey through Ephesians continues. As the epistle gets, frankly, more preachy, finding a lyrical opening can be a challenge. But with instruction about singing psalms and hymns included in the scripture itself there had to be a way to make it work as a hymn, right? 

 

Speak the truth to one another

Speak the truth to one another; let no falsehood be called true,

For we all in Christ our brother are one family made anew. 

Alleluia, Alleluia; Show this love in all you do.

 

Let your words speak not of evil; let them build up and make whole;

Speak for grace and not upheaval, bringing comfort to the soul.

Alleluia, Alleluia; Let this be your only goal.

 

Live in love, as Christ did love us, gave himself that we might live.

Imitate what he has shown us; like God's children let us give.

Alleluia, Alleluia; As God's children, we forgive.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, July 2024, after Ephesians 4:25-5:2.

MUSIC: Suggested tune UNION SEMINARY, Harold Friedell, 1957. 

       Copyright 1957, ren. H.W. Gray (admin. Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.)

 

 

I don't typically do this (in fact I try to avoid it), but the creative impulse (which is what I have instead of a creative process) seized on this copyrighted tune and spun out not just one, but three beginnings of verses. Hopefully the tune, which is a gorgeous tune, will be familiar enough for at least some churches. (Yes, the tune is copyrighted; proceed accordingly with your streaming licenses and such. I hope this small snippet might refresh some folks's memories of this tune and yet not violate anybody's copyright stuff.)