The priestly choir came forward

The priestly choir came forward to sing the song of praise,

With harps and lyres and cymbals and trumpet tones to raise;

“Our God is good forever,” the priestly choir did sing,

“His love is always for us!” the sounds of praise did ring.

At this the Lord’s true glory did fill the holy place;

A cloud of holy presence broke forth in every space.

So let our songs of gladness break out across the sky,

That God’s great holy presence might lift our hearts on high.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after 2 Chronicles 5:11-14

MUSIC: Tune LANCASHIRE, Henry Thomas Smart, c. 1845

Another hymn of need not liturgy-based in this case but for a special series I got myself into. There aren't necessarily a huge number of hymns or songs that take this account from 2 Chronicles as a theme. You'd figure that a story like this would be the favorite passage of scripture of any church choir director worth his or her salt, but evidently not.

Live in love for one another

Live in love for one another, in the love of Christ for you.

Show such kindness to the stranger in the things you say and do.

Let not wealth claim your affection, but do good with what you own.

Have no fear for what the world does, for with Christ you’re not alone.

Share the good and offer comfort to the ones you find in need,

For our Christ is glorified so, and our God is served indeed.

For our Jesus is forever, yesterday, today the same,

So forever let us praise him and give glory to his name.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, rev. 2021; after Hebrews 13:1-8

MUSIC: Tune CHARLESTOWN, The United States Sacred Harmony, 1799

Notes: This one came about a couple of years ago in a different way than most of the hymns I've written, as a deliberate "find something in this week's lectionary readings and do the work as discipline" effort. And yet I find I really like it; it grew on me very quickly. Also, I did not actually have this hymn tune in mind when I wrote the hymn, but once I found it (it's always been a tune I've liked even though it doesn't get sung nearly often enough; mind you, that has nothing to do with the tune name) I fell in love with the combination, and completely forgot whatever other tune had been in my head before.

Our God Did Plant a Vineyard

Our God did plant a vineyard, and hedged it all around;

            With care God rooted choice vines in clear and fertile ground,

God raised a strong watchtower, to guard the fruit and see

            These vines bear fruit in season, as God made them to be.

We are the fruit God planted and tended on the vine,

            With care and grace God watered, on which God’s sun did shine;

O Lord, may we you planted grow strong and ripe and true,

            So that in your due season we bear your name anew.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after Isaiah 5:1-7

MUSIC: Tune AURELIA, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864

[Alternate and actually preferred tune suggestion: MERLE'S TUNE, Hal H. Hopson, 1983, (c) Hope Publishing Company (hence why I'm not reproducing it here)]

Let us argue it out

“Let us argue it out,” says the Lord strong and sure:

“Though your sins be as scarlet, yet you shall be pure.

Your loud sacrifices are nothing to me;

When you cry out aloud, only burden I see.”

“I have had quite enough of these offerings of beasts;

I take no more delight in your gifts or your feasts.

I cannot endure while you still live in sin,

While your heart is corrupted and hateful within.”

“Wash yourselves, heart and soul; lay your evil aside.

Learn the good, seek the right, and make justice your guide.

When you learn obedience and care for the poor,

God’s provision for you will be plenteous and sure.”

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019; after Isaiah 1:10-20

MUSIC: Tune FOUNDATION, American folk melody