Holy and beloved

Holy and beloved, chosen ones of God:

Kindness and compassion and humility,

Also patience, meekness; so to serve your God,

Clothe yourselves in these things for the world to see.

 

Bear with one another; take this call to heart:

As our Lord forgives you, so you must forgive.

So now clothe yourselves in love and do your part

That in joyful harmony we all might live.

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you heart and soul, 

As his peace lives in you, showing grace to all. 

So you teach other, striving towards the goal, 

Living in God's wisdom as our Lord does call.

 

Singing psalms and hymns and spirit-songs as well, 

All with gratitude and praise for every day,

In the name of Jesus let our lives now tell

In word and in deed how we will seek God's way.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, June 2025, after Colossians 3:12-17.

MUSIC: Tune KING'S WESTON, Ralph Vaughan Williams, 2025.

 

 

First of all, I've wanted to set this passage (with its "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" hook having been in my head for many years). This week being at the Worship & Music Conference at Montreat, with this larger passage as the "theme scripture," provided extra emphasis. I don't know what brought this tune to my mind, but it was the key that unlocked things. I'll probably need to do some fixing up (and definitely learn some better notation software), but at least it's here and ready to be fixed. (Oh, and this passage really does show up in the RCL ... for the first Sunday after Christmas, year C.) 

For a king the people clamored

For a king the people clamored

To the prophet Samuel.

"Other nations have such rulers,

And we want a king as well."

So the prophet, grieving sorely,

Asked of God what he should do.

God replied, "Give them an answer,

Tell them all that I tell you."

 

"Now the king who will reign o'er you 

Will declare his right to claim

All your sons and all your daughters

To serve only in his name

As his soldiers, cooks and servants,

Serving at his will alone;

So much of your grain and cattle,

What your worked for will be gone."

 

Still the people would not hear him;

For a king was all their cry.

God told Samuel so to give them

What they wanted in reply.

Saul was tall in human stature,

But he was not strong of heart;

David did win many battles,

But his family fell apart.

 

Solomon did tax them sorely,

All for his own selfish gain; 

At the last the kingdom sundered;

Conquered, exiled, doomed to pain.

No king is for God's own children 

Who must follow God alone!

No kings can claim our allegiance,

No king but our God alone!

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, June 2025, after 1 Samuel 8.

MUSIC: Tune EBENEZER, Thomas John Williams, 1890.

Let the reader understand.