Owe to no one anything

Owe to no one anything, 

But to love each other well.

One who loves fulfills the law - 

All commandments one might tell; 

To a neighbor does no wrong, 

But such harm will love dispel.

 

New we know what time it is,

Time for us to wake from sleep.

Our salvation draws so near;

Night is gone and day we keep. 

Let us take up shielding light,

Put away the darkness deep.

 

Let us live with honor dear,

Not caught up in worldly care:

Vain indulgence, quarrelling rage,

Deeds that tangle and ensnare.

Put on Jesus Christ instead;

Wear his love to show and share.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2023, after Romans 13:8-14.

MUSIC: Tune REDHEAD 76, Richard Redhead, 1853.

 

 

I suspect some will feel that this scripture reading needs a more exuberant or celebratory tune; for me, the weight of this passage - in many ways the very culmination of what Paul is trying to say here - bears some space for reflection and sober judgment, to borrow from earlier in the letter. 

Of the true gospel I am not ashamed

Of the true gospel I am not ashamed;

It is the power of God come to save,

For in this righteousness our God is named.

Righteous ones shall live in this faith God gave.

 

We have all sinned and our good sacrificed, 

But now are justified by God's own grace

Through the redemption brought by Jesus Christ; 

Our sins passed over, Christ's love in their place.

 

We have no cause now to boast or show pride,

No work of law has redeemed us this day; 

Only by faith is our life justified,

Only this faith sets us on the right way.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2023, after Romans 1:16-17, 3:22b-31

MUSIC: Tune SLANE, Irish ballad.

 

 

This oddly patched-together lectionary reading does have some high points; it would have been impossible, for example, to make a representative hymn out of this reading without that declaration in 1:16 being a prominent part. The lurch from chapter 1 to chapter 3 brings a marked shift in tone, making a tune choice all the more significant. SLANE is up to the task of embracing both the highs and lows of such a reading.

 

 

Let God's own love

Let God's own love be genuine in you.

Hate what is evil; hold to what is true. 

Let love be mutual, and given well; 

Ardently serve God and God's love foretell.

 

In hope rejoice, and suffer patiently,

And in prayer persevere most faithfully.

Give for the saints in time of trial and need;

Welcome the stranger both in word and deed.

 

Bless those who persecute, and do not curse; 

Never let foes make you act and speak worse. 

Do not be overcome by vain falsehood;

Overcome evil only with the good.

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2023, after Romans 12:9-21

MUSIC: Tune TOULON, Genevan Psalter, 1551.

The next reading in this year A series from Romans is a bit of a laundry list. Capturing all of Paul's items would have required a very long hymn, so a bit of a summarizing phrase is included in the final stanza. 

Therefore, sisters, brothers all

Therefore, sisters, brothers all,

Hear this, and now your charge foresee; 

Give your whole selves to our God; 

This your true worship now should be.

We, though many, are one body, 

Now and all eternity!

 

Be transformed by God's own work,

Your minds renewed so you can see,

Not conformed to worldly ways

So sorely bound and never free,

We, though many, are one body, 

Now and all eternity!

 

Sober judgment is your task,

According to the faith God gives; 

Members many, body one - 

We share the gifts that our Lord lives:

We, though many, are one body, 

Now and all eternity!

 

Prophets, ministers, and those 

Who teach us and exhort with glee; 

Givers, leaders, and the ones

For whom compassion is their plea.

We, though many, are one body, 

Now and all eternity!

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2023, after Romans 12:1-8.

MUSIC: Tune REGENT SQUARE, Henry Thomas Smart, 1867.

 

The Roman road is still being built, so to speak. Any of five or six points from this passage could have been emphasized by being made into the refrain, to be sure, but our unity in the body of Christ jumped out most of all. The tune seems to provide good emphatic support to the text without overdoing it.

The Lord above will not reject

The Lord above will not reject the people God foreknew;

God's faithfulness is sure and fast - to these God will be true.

 

The gifts of God are not revoked; God's calling does not fail.

God's mercy is from age to age and will at last prevail. 

 

Our disobedience is not met with scorn or wounded pride; 

God will be merciful to all; in this good news abide.

 

 

TEXT: Charies Spence Freeman, August 2023, after Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

MUSIC: Tune WINCHESTER OLD, Este's Psalms, 1592; harm. George Kirbye, 1592.

 

 

To be blunt, this is not much of a lectionary reading, though it does carry some weight in its few words. A simple, compact tune seemed the best option for taking up this brief but potent text.

God is not lifted up, 2023 version

God is not lifted up far away;

God is not hid in deeps far below; 

Take this word on your heart and your tongue:

God is with you wherever you go.

 

Refrain:

May the Lord speak through you;

May you be God’s messenger on the way.

May the Lord shine through you,

How you live, how you work, what you say.

 

With your mouth you confess Jesus Lord, 

In your heart you believe God did raise; 

All who call on the name of the Lord

Will be saved, with thanksgiving and praise.

 

Refrain

 

Who will offer the word of the Lord

To the ones who have not heard his name?

So how lovely the feet of the ones

Who will take the good news to proclaim!

 

Refrain

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2014, 2019, 2023.

MUSIC: Tune SWEET BY AND BY, Joseph P. Webster, 1868.

This hymn has happened in three distinct stages. The first stanza came first as an end-of-service sung blessing, back when writing things like this was the occasional cute diversion instead of something pursued; the third stanza actually came next, and the second is recently created to make a somewhat fuller hymn to accompany the RCL Romans 10 reading. (Yes, there is a rhythmic change in the refrain; I can't believe it's too difficult to pick up.)