Ten bridesmaids went out

Ten bridesmaids went out with their lamps at the ready, 

Waiting the bridegroom to come.

Of these, five were clever to bring extra oil, 

While five were not so, and brought none. 

The bridegroom delayed, their alertness was stayed

And all fell asleep on the ground.

Then at midnight there came a great shout: "Be awake now

And see that the bridegroom has come."

 

Those bridesmaids awoke to that cry in the dark

And reached for their lamps so to see.

But, oil running out, five their lamps could not trim,

While five were as bright as could be.

"O sisters, we pray, help us be on our way,

And give us some oil, would you please?"

But the five would not so: "We will not! You must go!

We will not share our oil all for free."

 

Five bridesmaids went searching for dealers of oil

And five for the bridegroom did wait.

While five were away, lo! the bridegroom did come;

The five who were gone came back late.

They begged at the door, "Let us in, we implore!" 

But these five were all turned away, 

For the bridegroom replied, "Truly, I do not know you,

And I will not open the gate."

 

Five bridesmaids did feast and make merry at banquet;

Five were left out in the cold.

The word calls them "wise" who brought oil for their lamps

And "foolish" the five who brought none.

So keep your lamps full; go where God's call does pull, 

Hear God's word and wisdom and grace.

But find mercy for those who have fallen behind 

And do not leave them out in the cold. 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, October 2023, after Matthew 25:1-13

MUSIC: Tune SAMANTHRA, American folk melody

 

Starting a hoped-for set on the three parables of Matthew 25. Perhaps my discomfort with the parable shows up in the last verse. Oh, well. (Note that as is often the case with these folk

melodies, the tune may be public domain, but any arrangement/accompaniment you may find, especially in a hymnal - like Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal #77, is probably under copywright. Report appropriately.)

O hear this word today

O hear this word today; you live in God's full care,

A God who writes upon your heart that God is there.

O hear, this day, the word that tells you whose you are! O hear, this day!

 

O hear this word today; God is our fortress strong, 

A bulwark never failing for our whole lives long. 

O hear, this day, the word that tells you whose you are! O hear, this day!

 

O hear this word today; In Christ you are redeemed. 

Even in his death Christ saves you still by grace undreamed!

O hear, this day, the word that tells you whose you are! O hear, this day!

 

O hear this word today; In Christ you are set free

From sin and death, to know Christ's truth eternally.

O hear, this day, the word that tells you whose you are! O hear, this day!

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, October 2023; after Reformation Sunday scriptures.

MUSIC: Tune DARWALL'S 148th, John Darwall, 1770.

 

 

While Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 46, Romans 3:19-28, and John 8:31-36 are not RCL readings for Reformation Sunday, they have gained some traction as scriptures from which ideas for that occasion can be worked out. Yes, there's a little Martin Luther quotation in stanza 2. 

 

 

We give our thanks unto our God

We give our thanks unto our God for all of you,

And in our prayers we always say your name; 

For all your faith and labor for the Lord our God,

And for your steadfast hope in Christ the same.

Sisters and brothers, we know God has chosen you,

In how the gospel came to you with power

With full conviction from the Holy Spirit too.

We thank our God for you in every day and hour.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, October 2023, after 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10.

MUSIC: Tune LONDONDERRY AIR, Traditional Irish tune.

 

 

At this point I'd describe this text as a stub. I don't quite see it as a full hymn, but the rest of the passage cited doesn't really suggest a completion of the hymn. So what comes next? An (imagined) response from the church at Thessalonika? Something to draw the text into our own time? I mean, if someone really desperately wants to use this next Sunday with this RCL epistle reading I'm certainly not going to say no (as long as my name stays on it), but I don't think it's finished yet.

Rejoice in our Lord always

Rejoice in our Lord always; again I say, rejoice!

In how you live with others, make gentleness your choice.

 

Let worry not consume you, nor be weighed down with care,

But bring your needs before God with thanksgiving and prayer.

 

Then God's own peace, surpassing all things that we can know,

Will guard your hears and minds sure as you with Jesus go.

 

Keep on with these things you have learned, seen, received, and heard,

And God's peace will go with you to keep you in God's Word.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, October 2023, after Philippians 4:5-7, 9.

MUSIC: Tune CHRISTUS, DER IST MEIN LEBEN, Melchior Vulpius, 1609.

 

 

 

Somehow this text, after the heart of the RCL epistle reading for next Sunday (10/15/23), got up in my face to be written down even though I have no plans to preach on it for next week. But it's an epistle, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. The reading itself is longer, but these central verses and the final verse fit themselves together to this calm-but-resolute tune.