The rains that fall without remorse

The rains that fall without remorse 

         have washed their lives away.

For those caught in its deadly course,

Or broken by its brutal force,

         O Holy One, we pray.

 

The seas that surged beyond their shore

         have swept their lives away.

For those who lost it alll, and more,

Are longing for their lives before,

         O Holy One, we pray.

 

The winds that howl with reckless power

         have blown their lives away.

For those who in the ruins cower,

Who seek relief for just one hour,

         O Holy One, we pray.

 

O God of rain and wind and sea,

         when will the horrors cease?

For those who seek what cannot be,

Come, bring relief and set them free.

         O Holy One, grant peace.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, September 2024.

MUSIC: Tune REST, Frederick Charles Maker, 1887.

 

 

after Helene

How will I show my faith to you?

How will I show my faith to you?

How will you know who rules my heart?

I pray my deeds will show me true

And thus show my faith's better part.

 

How will I show my faith to you?

How will you know my faith is real?

My words alone, they cannot do

What this world needs to grow and heal.

 

How will I show my faith to you?

How will you know whose child I am?

I pray my God will give me tasks 

That show my faith is not a sham.

 

How will the world know faith is real,

Not mere belief, self-righteous claim?

When church acts out its works of love

To high and lowly all the same.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2024, after James 2:18.

MUSIC: Tune GERMANY, Gardiner's Sacred Melodies, 1815.

 

 

For this verse-right-after-a-lectionary-reading text, the best approach seemed to be to bring some humility to the author's brash claim ("I will show you my faith by my works"), humility that had better be present when we make such a claim (as well as a lot of prayer).