A Charge and Blessing on Romans 10

(c) 2014, Charles Spence Freeman

Rise up

Rise up, old bones, return to life,
Take sinew, flesh, and breath;
Give witness to the power of God,
A power that overcomes death,
A power that overcomes death.

Rise up, dear friend, return to life,
No longer in the grave;
Give witness to the love of God
That drives a Savior to save,
That drives a Savior to save.

Rise up, old church, return to life,
No longer drowned in fear;
Give witness to the word of God
The world refuses to hear, etc.

Rise up, my heart, return to life,
No longer bound in sin;
Give witness to the grace of God
And let a new life begin, etc.



Text: Charles Spence Freeman, 2014
        (Inspired by scriptures for Lent 5A: Ezekiel 37:1-14 and John 11:1-45)
Tune: DOVE OF PEACE, American folk melody

This one thing only

This one thing only, loving God,

            plant firmly in my heart;

Amidst our work, to hear your word

            and choose the better part;

Lord, teach us when to labor on

            and when to stop and rest,

To hear your voice and, so restored,

            to serve you at our best.

O give this gift, our loving God,

            and this one grace please give:

To know one thing above all else

            and in this one thing live.

TEXT: CSF, 2013, after Jesus' visit to Martha and Mary in Luke 10:38-42
MUSIC: Tune McKEE, African American spiritual; Jubilee Songs, 1884

For Ash Wednesday

These ashes marked upon the brow in strokes both dark and fine--

No lightning bolt, no magic spell found in this cross of mine.

But what, then, does this marking do? These faces that I’ve seen

Marked with that sooty, smudgy cross; what do these ashes mean?

They tell me I’m a child of God, yet made of dust and clay,

And that in time this mortal form returns to dust some day.

And yet the cross reminds me, too, this life is not in vain;

That any day lived in my Lord is never loss, but gain.

Though years be short, and life be quick to flee our feeble hold,

Oh, let me live in God’s good will in years both young and old,

And when this mortal body takes its final, dusty rest,

My soul will not be without hope, but be forever blessed.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2014
MUSIC: Tune: CAITHNESS, Scottish Psalter, 1635

When we gather at the table

When we gather at the table

            Eating what is true and real,

Fellowship with all God’s people

            Makes the blessing for the meal.

Love for Christ and one another

            Makes the feast a sign and seal.

            (Makes the feast a sign and seal.)

As we dine on all God’s bounty,

            Meats and grains and fruits God sows,

Never let us take for granted

            Everything that in Christ grows,

Creatures all of God’s own making

            And whose every breath God knows.

Let us not forsake the workers

            Who put food upon our plates,

Those who toil at grueling labor

            Yet for whom no justice waits;

May we strive that they see mercy,

            Not be callous to their fates.

Teach us, Lord, to eat with conscience,

            Knowing that in Your good will

What we eat and who we eat with

            With Your blessing You will fill;

Nourish us to feed each other

            All with good and not for ill.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2012

MUSIC: Possible tunes:

CWM RHONDDA, John Hughes, 1907 (the repeated final line as shown in the first stanza would come into play here).

TRINITY, Peter Cutts, 1983 (I encountered this one to the text “God is One, unique and holy”; I particularly like the fit of this one but it's Copyright 1983 Hope Publishing Company).

REGENT SQUARE, Henry Thomas Smart, 1866.

A scene from a Coalition for Immokalee Workers action at a Publix supermarket in Florida; the third stanza was inspired by the work of CIW and other organizations seeking economic justice for the workers who perform the labor others won't, yet are often treated as less than human, with poverty wages and abuse as a regular part of their lives.  Learn what CIW is doing at ciw-online.org

Hymn for a house blessing

A hymn for a house blessing:

Lord, bless this house and home today

As balm to travelers on the way,

And let this house forever be

A place of hospitality.

Lord, make this house a home of grace,

From strife and toil, a resting place,

And let us not forget to do

Those things that draw us close to you.

Lord, in this space we ask of you

The grace of meals and friendships true,

In breaking and in sharing bread,

Be always at this table’s head.

Lord, make this space a welcome-hall,

Embracing and uplifting all

Who call this house a home, and more,

We who will love them evermore.

TEXT: CSF, 2012

MUSIC: Tune TALLIS’ CANON, Thomas Tallis, adapt. Parker's Whole Psalter, c. 1561

Our Father in heaven, all glorious above

Our Father in heaven, all glorious above,

Your name be all-hallowed and honored with love.

Let Your kingdom come and let Your will be done,

Just as in your presence, here under Your sun.

Give us on this day just the bread that we need,

And let not this grace drive our hearts into greed.

Forgive us our sins as we also forgive,

And in this forgiving, Lord, teach us to live.

Do not lead our souls near temptation’s allure;

From evil’s great power Your deliv’rance be sure.

For Yours is the kingdom, the glory and power,

As long as we live, every day, every hour.


TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2012

MUSIC: Tune ST. DENIO ("Immortal, invisible"), Welsh folk melody, arr. Caniadau y Cyssegr, 1839.

Psalm 97

The Lord is Sovereign o’er the earth;

            Be glad, you lands both far and near.

Enrobed in clouds, your throne is set

            On justice and on righteous fear.

A fire before you routs your foes.

            Your lightning splits the fearful night;

The mountains melt before your face,

            The heavens declare your righteous might.

All peoples see your glory, Lord;

            Idolaters are put to shame;

False gods shall fall before you, Lord,

            Before your true and holy Name.

For You are Lord o’er all the earth,

            You save your people from your foes;

Those who hate evil know your love,

            Before them your protection goes.

Your light shines for the righteous ones,

            And gladness for the true of heart.

Rejoice, you just ones, in the Lord

            And in God’s praises sing your part.

Alleluia.

TEXT: Psalm 97, para. CSF, 2010

MUSIC: Tune GONFALON ROYAL (Glory to God #304), Percy C. Buck, 1918.

Receive the stranger in your midst

Receive the stranger in your midst with welcome and with grace;

For you are strangers in this world, and living out of place.

The world may splinter and divide by race or creed or clan,

But there are no dividing lines within God’s loving plan.

There are no aliens in Christ’s eyes, exempt from God’s full love;

But all are children of our God on earth just as above.

Receive the stranger in your midst as Christ has welcomed you,

And be Christ’s welcome in this world in all you say and do.

TEXT: CSF, after Leviticus 19:33-34, 2011
MUSIC: Tune LAND OF REST, American folk melody

(Other possible tunes: CAITHNESS, DETROIT, TALLIS’ ORDINAL, ST. PETER, McKEE)