We trust in God, whom Jesus called his Father

We trust in God, whom Jesus called his Father; 

This world did God create and call it good. 

In love God made us all in God's own image,

Of every gender, race, and neighborhood.

To live in holy, right and true communion;

This is our call for living as we should.

 

But we rebel and hide from our Creator. 

God's own commandments we have brushed aside.

We mar God's image in ourselves and others,

And break this planet where we all abide,

Take lies for truth, exploit both world and neighbor.

God could condemn us, should God so decide.

 

But God is just; in mercy God redeems us; 

God chose a people to bless all the earth.

God heard their cry, delivered them from bondage,

And makes us heirs with Christ in his new birth. 

God acts in love to care for all the people

Named as God's children, reckoned as God's worth.

 

God, like a mother caring for her children,

Will not forsake the smallest, lowliest child.

God, like a father running to the wanderer,

Welcomes us home, no matter how defiled.

We trust in God, whom Jesus called his father, 

And who desires us to be reconciled.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, October 2022, based on PC(USA) Book of Confessions 11.3 from A Brief Statement of Faith.

MUSIC: Tune FINLANDIA, Jean Sibelius, 1898. 

A few years ago came the first of these hymns based on this particular statement from the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Book of Confessions, and the second came a little more than a week ago. It seemed silly not to go ahead and take on the third challenge, based on the second portion of the statement (the Brief Statement takes the Trinity in the order Jesus-God-Spirit). Since the 40th anniversary of the reunion that produced this Statement is next year, it felt timely to do so.