Through the Hands of Friends

God's mighty works are sometimes seen 

In great and marvelous ways;

In miracles or deeds of power 

Great glory God displays.

And yet how often we have known

That, to achieve these ends,

The workings of the Lord our God

Come through the hands of friends.

 

Those friends who lend a helping hand

At time of crucial need,

And labors that seemed all but lost

Are finished by this deed; 

In gifts of time and energy

Then come great dividends, 

When many hands make lighter work

Done by the hands of friends.

 

In costly deeds or simple steps

We help each other through

When one among us is at loss,

Does not know what to do.

What seems a simple kindly deed

Now so much more portends: 

The love of God made manifest,

Shown through the hands of friends.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2023.

MUSIC: Possible tunes: 

            ELLACOMBE, Gesangbuch der Herzogl. Wirtembergischen Katholischen Hofkapelle,                                                1784; alt. 1868.

            NOEL, English melody; arr. Arthur S. Sullivan, 1874 (used here).

 

Written after receiving some desperately needed help at the last minute in preparing to move.

At the morning's silent dawn

At the morning's silent dawn lies a body in a tomb.

Body broken, flesh all torn, lifeless at the break of morn.

See the grave now closed and drawn, silent in the morning gloom.

 

As the morning light shines out, Sabbath time is now observed.

He who died the previous day hastily was sealed away

Before Sabbath, have no doubt. See this death most undeserved.

 

As the sunlight dims and fades, what will happen none could know:

God will raise this man aright, trumping death with life and light.

Still, for now, in evening shades, Jesus's body still lies low.

 

 

Text: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2023.

Music: Tune REDHEAD 76, Richard Redhead, 1853.

Holy Saturday has become, over the past several years, become more of a provocation and challenge in any Holy Week observances I have led. If anyone else feels the need to live in this in-between day a bit more, maybe this hymn will be some help. 

Still cloaks and branches scattered

Still cloaks and branches scattered on the ground,

Donkey and colt now safely taken home. 

No more "hosannas" from the people sound;

Wondering and watching where will Jesus roam.

 

Jesus then turns to face the Temple walls;

Heart of the faith, but what there does he see?

"This house of prayer you make a den of thieves!"

Buyers and sellers forced in shock to flee.

 

Then came the ones who sought again to walk,

And those who yearned for sight for blinded eyes; 

Healing and saving, Jesus welcomes all! 

Once more "hosannas" from the children rise. 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2023.

MUSIC: Suggested tune TOULON, Genevan Psalter, 1531; adapt. from GENEVAN 124.

 

 

A text that takes the long view of what we call Palm Sunday, as recorded in Matthew 21, where the action doesn't stop with the triumphal entry.