When they saw their Teacher lifted

When they saw their Teacher lifted far above all human sight,

Still they stood, still gazing upward, filled with wonder and with fright.

"Alleluia, alleluia" on their lips did not seem right.

 

Then two men were standing by them, robed in white; they asked them this:

"Why do you stand gazing upward? What do you think is amiss?

Alleluia, alleluia! Christ will come back just like this!"

 

So they turned and headed homeward to Jerusalem to stay;

In the upper room they gathered there to meditate and pray,

Alleluia, alleluia! Waiting, watching for that day.

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, May 2026, after Acts 1:9-14.

MUSIC: Suggested tune LAUDA ANIMA (Andrews), Mark Andrews, 1930.

                Given tune LAUDA ANIMA, John Goss, 1869.

 

 

 

I have written two hymn texts for Ascension, whatever day it might be observed. This one is Ascension-ish, but is more strictly from the reading for the seventh Sunday of Easter, year A. As for the suggested tune, it's one I like a lot and wish would be used more often, but the more common tune is given here. I will make a version to the Andrews tune as soon as I have time.

 

 

 

The God who made the world

The God who made the world and everything therein,

Who is the Lord of heaven and earth since all time did begin;

 

This God lives not in shrines built up by human hands;

The One who gives us life and breath beyond such walls expands.

 

The nations all God made to live across the earth,

And set their times and places, too, so they might seek God's worth.

 

In God we live and move and have our being all;

For we are God's own offspring, too; so let us on God call.

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2026, after Acts 17:24-28

MUSIC: Suggested tune ST. BRIDE, Samuel Howard, 1762.

 

 

A text drawn from Paul's speech at the Areopagus is the basis for this fairly simple hymn, hopefully suitable for Easter 6A. It should be fairly adaptable to other short-meter tunes. 

 

 

 

  

The stones that struck the deacon down

The stones that struck the deacon down

         came not from soldiers' hands,

For neither law nor government

         did issue such commands.

No, those who seized and dragged him out

         to crush his life away

Are given no name or title here;

         the scripture calls them "they".

 

How often since, in centuries gone,

         have deeds of violence

Been done by those unnamed, unknown;

         the darkness their defense.

Our history hides in darkened doors

         while we still look away

While nameless, faceless, masked-up hate

         is killing still today.

 

Enslaving barons stealing lives

         across the distant seas

To hold in chains, to whip and shame

         and bring down to their knees;

Indigenous children taken, too,

         from family and from names;

And garment girls locked in the shop

         to perish in its flames.

 

No, Stephen likely was not first

         and certainly not last

To be struck down by mindless rage

         while we still stand aghast.

Lord, give us righteous anger now

         to make such violence cease,

And kneel before your holy throne

         and yield before your peace.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2026, after Acts 7:55-60.

MUSIC: Tune RESIGNATION, USA folk melody, Lewis's Beauties of Harmony, 1828.

 

 

References in verse 3: kidnapping, trafficking, and enslaving Africans in North America; kidnapping of Indigenous children and inserting them into "Indian schools" to strip away all Indian-ness; the death of over one hundred workers at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory by fire with the factory doors locked.

 

 

  

On Pentecost

On Pentecost the followers all gathered in one place,

When Holy Spirit fell on them and wholly filled the space.

Divided tongues like flaming fire anointed each one there,

And languages they did not know poured forth like earnest prayer.

 

Outside the place where they had met a crowd was gathering 'round,

And wonder filled their minds and hearts at this outpouring sound.

"How can we hear this word ring out in language that we know?"

But some made fun and called them drunk, in words both mean and low.

 

Peter stepped out to give the word, and facing all of them,

Said "This is not a drunken spree; it's only nine a.m.!

No, this is what the prophet told in words from long ago:

God pours the Spirit on all flesh for all the world to know."

 

Those who had heard this prophet-word were stricken to the core;

They longed to hear this holy news and clamored to learn more.

Three thousand souls were added to the followers that day,

All joining in the sacred work of following the Way.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, May 2024, after Acts 2.

MUSIC: Tune SALVATION, Kentucky Harmony, 1816.

 

 

A hymn for Pentecost. The tune is an old shape-note tune that seemed somehow appropriate for the outbreaking of the Holy Spirit in brash and unrelenting fashion. 

Teach us to wait, Lord

Teach us to wait, Lord, teach us to wait 

Like the disciples seeking their fate

After Ascension, as Jesus said; 

Wait for the Spirit, wait to be led.

 

Teach us to wait, Lord, teach us to wait - 

Not get discouraged, not hesitate; 

But fix our hearts on seeking God's will,

Prayerful and patient, yielded and still.

 

Teach us to wait, Lord, teach us to wait,

Knowing the Sprit's power is great. 

Pentecost, peril, protest, or praise; 

Lord, make us ready for coming days.

 

Teach us to wait, Lord, teach us to wait,

To seek the pathway narrow and straight

So that not our will but yours be done; 

Lord, make us ready. Lord, make us one. 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, May 2024, 

              after Acts 1:15-17, 21-26,

MUSIC: Tune ADELAIDE, George C. Stebbins, 1907.

 

 

Trying to make hymn verse out of this passage would be a bit like trying to set meeting minutes to music. Waiting as a practice necessary for the disciples at this point offers a way in to an instruction the church can sing.

The Holy Spirit fell

The Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the Word

When Peter taught, their hearts were moved, their spirits stirred.

Who can deny? Who can deny the Spirit's work? Who can deny?

 

Believers were amazed to see what God had done.

So, could it be the Spirit comes for everyone? 

Who can deny? Who can deny the Spirit's work? Who can deny?

 

They spoke and praised the Lord with tongues of heaven's fire; 

Is reaching out to all the world our God's desire?

Who can deny? Who can deny the Spirit's work? Who can deny?

 

Then they were all baptized, on whom the Spirit fell.

And how our Savior's holy word did spread and swell!

Who can deny? Who can deny the Spirit's work? Who can deny?

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2024, after Acts 10:44-48.

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

 

 

This tight conclusion (although not really; see Acts 11) of an expansive story doesn't seem to invite hymn treatment, but there is an invitation for us to reflect on how we might not always recognize (or want to recognize) the Spirit's moving among us, or others around us.  

 

When God sent Philip

When God sent Philip to a road out in the wilderness,

He went, despite the work he had in this Samaritan town.

Are we so ready to move on, without great bitterness, 

When God calls us out from a place where we have settled down?

 

When Philip saw a chariot near and heard a prophet's words,

The Spirit sent him to join in and witness to the Way.

Are we prepared to join in as the Spirit undergirds

A seeker's search for healing hope for living out the day?

 

When Philip had baptized the man with gladness and with joy,

He found himself again removed to yet another place.

Are we so ready for this work, to serve and to enjoy?

Lord, make us witnesses to you in this and every place.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2024, after Acts 8:26-40.

MUSIC: Tune KINGSFOLD, English Country Songs, 1893; 

            harmonization Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.

 

 

Philip's trail through Acts 8 is brief but meteoric; from Samaria to that wilderness road to Azotus, zip-zip-zip. Would we even be remotely ready for that kind of divine deployment? Philip just does the work he finds before him. May we, with the Spirit's help, be so steady.

When Peter and John at the Temple

When Peter and John at the Temple were held, 

The Spirit stayed with them and all fear dispelled. 

They knew even then that they were not alone,

But stood firm and fast upon God's cornerstone.

 

The Temple's own leaders did question them sore, 

"What power do you claim for this act we abhor?"

They answered "This power is in Jesus alone;

The one crucified is the true cornerstone."

 

The Temple officials warned them not to say 

That Jesus alone healed this man in this way.

But they would not answer to humans alone, 

But only to Jesus, the real cornerstone. 

 

Then Peter and John were dismissed from their sight,

Set free from to go forth into day's gladdening light. 

They knew deep inside they were never alone,

But stood firm in Jesus, the one cornerstone.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2024, after Acts 4.

MUSIC: Tune ST. DENIO, Welsh folk melody.

 

 

After some time struggling with the Easter 4B reading from Acts 4, the idea of following up on the previous hymn for Easter 3B, from Acts 3, bringing back the tune used for that hymn as well, finally loosened the mind to make more or less a sequel hymn. 

When Peter and John came to Temple

When Peter and John came to Temple one day,

A man who could not walk was there on the way.

Then Peter reached out to him, told him to rise,

And pulled him up, much to the man's great surprise.

 

The people all wondered to see this man walk,

And how this could happen was all of their talk.

They saw that he held close to Peter and John,

So Peter bore witness to God's only Son.

 

He spoke of their God and the Son God had sent,

How he was rejected, his life gravely spent;

How God raised him up and how faith in his name

Gave strength to this man walking to such acclaim.

 

Then Peter gave witness to God's true design,

How Jesus faced suffering and did not decline. 

Because one man stood up and walked by God's grace

So many received the good news in that place.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2024, after Acts 3:1-19.

MUSIC: Tune ST. DENIO, Welsh folk melody. 

 

 

The reading for the second Sunday after Easter does not include the account of the healing in verses 1-11, but it seemed that the hymn would make better sense by including it. The through line runs from the healing of this man to the spread of the good news to many, although that part doesn't necessarily become clear until chapter 4 in Acts!

See the people of God

Refrain:

See the people of God, held in love and grace together;

Formed in Christ's loving heart, any storm or trial to weather.

See the people of God. 

 

See them one in heart and soul, with no care or claim for owning;

They shared all things together, no complaining and no groaning.

Refrain

 

With great power they spoke of Christ and his resurrected glory;

God's grace held them in union as they told our Savior's story.

Refrain

 

There was no one here in need, no one lording over others;

What they once owned, they now sold for their siblings, sisters, brothers.

Refrain

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2024, after Acts 4:32-35 (Easter 2B)

MUSIC: Tune WILD MOUNTAIN THYME, Irish melody (note: harmonizations under various copyrights).

 

 

Admittedly most pastors that I know kind of give in and preach from the mandatory gospel reading from John about Thomas and his failure to show up. For those who venture elsewhere, this reading from Acts on the communeity of Christ-followers in the early days has found its way into a hymn text with the help of a well-known Irish folk tune. 

Different harmonizations of the tune may treat the melody differently; this one follows most closely after #629 in Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal, which was harmonized by Alfred V. Fedak. Some adjustments may be needed if different harmonizations are used.