When Mary went out to the tomb

When Mary went out to the tomb alone in darkness, burdened sore,

She saw the tomb was standing open, guarding stone in place no more.

She ran to tell what she had seen and two disciples made their way;

They saw the grave clothes lying there and wondered, but they did not stay.

 

But Magdalene remained in place, now even more consumed with grief,

Then in the tomb she saw two angels - wondrous sight beyond belief!

She turned and saw the gardener, or so she thought this man must be;

So sore confused and still in shock that Jesus there she could not see.

 

When still she could not see her Jesus, he then stopped and said her name;

Both strong and clear, it stirred her sight so she would never be the same.

He had to tell her not to cling, but gave her this as her reward;

To bear the news to his disciples, saying "I have seen the Lord!"

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2025, after John 20:1-18.

MUSIC: Tune YE BANKS AND BRAES, Scottish melody.

 

 

Various necessities have slowed hymn-writing, but after a few weeks of intermittent work an Easter hymn is finally here. Somehow I have written two hymns on Mark's minimalist Easter account but none on any other gospel reports, so the text from John's gospel - the scripture the RCL always recommends - was chosen, with Mary Magdalene's role as first witness brought forward. 

There were two disciples

There were two disciples who took to the road when Jesus their teacher was gone.

Their master had been crucified like a thief and now seemed the time to move on.

But as they were walking, despairing and low, another man came alongside;

When he questioned the two, they told all that happened and how their great teacher had died.

 

Much to their surprise, the man started to teach and opened the travelers' eyes

With words of the prophets that spoke of the one, their Teacher both holy and wise.

They came to Emmaus to stay for the night, invited this man to join in;

But when he broke the bread, something opened their eyes - see, their Teacher was living again!

 

As they were astounded to see Jesus there, he then disappeared from their sight. 

They gathered themselves to go back to the city, hastening with all of their might, 

And there they did hear how their Jesus drew near to Simon and others that day.

Resurrection had come! Now their call was so clear: time to follow their Lord on the way.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2025, after Luke 24:13-35.

MUSIC: Tune SAMANTHRA, American folk melody.

 

 

Apparently being on a plane with no wifi can be a moment when hymn inspiration can happen. This text sits oddly in the Easter cycle, but it's a good scripture text, and I figure it was eventually going to force its way into hymn-text form somehow. 

 

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 or 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.

See the stone rolled away (Easter Hymn)

See the stone rolled away on Easter morn, 

That day when death was slain, and hope was born.

Three followers had come at dawn’s first light, 

And what they saw and heard set them to fright.

 

See the young man in white set to one side; 

He said, “You seek one who was crucified;

But Jesus is not here; he has been raised!” 

And so the three were frightened and amazed.

 

“He goes ahead of you to Galilee; 

He’s waiting there for you to come and see.

Tell his disciples all, and Peter too, 

To follow there and hear his call to you.”

 

This is the calling still for us today: 

To follow Jesus on his saving way.

He bids us come, that new life he may give; 

So will we follow Jesus Christ and live?

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2021, rev. March 2023, 2024; after Mark 16:1-7

MUSIC: Tune TOULON, Genevan Psalter, 1551.

This text has been through a few revisions; in this case the adaptation to a somewhat more accessible hymn tune necessitated a few changes here and there. I don't know of a lot of Easter-event hymns that take Mark's highly abbreviated account as their starting, so here's one that does, complete with open-ended narrative.

 

How can a resurrection come

How can a resurrection come when bodies do not heal?

A thousand cuts felt every day, and each one takes some hope away;

So grief and pain we feel.

 

Or nameless torments of the mind now drive us to the edge;

When sighs too deep for words to frame still leave us soaked in fear and shame,

How do we keep our pledge? 

 

How do we keep our promises to serve our God alone,

When every step becomes a fall, or moment's doubt casts deathly pall,

And hope is soon far gone?

 

Lord, show us where new life begins when mind or body fail!

O Resurrected One, draw near despite infirmity and fear!

Let hope at last prevail!

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2024.

MUSIC: Tune REST, Frederick Charles Maker, 1887.

 

 

Not everyone is able to participate fully in the joy and celebration of days like Easter Sunday. Whether it be from physical illnesses or impediments, or due to injuries to the mind or the soul, the "alleluias" and songs of praise simply cannot rise with that kind of joy, no matter how earnestly desired they may be. If you are one of those people or have ever been one of those people (raises hand), this is for you. 

 

See our Jesus now ascending

See our Jesus now ascending, heaven-bound for us to plead! 

Now, his earthly work completed, he for us will intercede

For our pains and for our sufferings, for our want and daily need.

 

See his body lifted upward, wounded hands and feet and side!

Every scar is now exalted, every wound is sanctified.

Crucified and then arisen, now forever glorified!

 

His disciples upward gazing, mute in wonder at the sight;

Now their Friend and true Companion from their side has taken flight.

Now his call is their commission as he takes to holy height.

 

Praise to God the great Creator; praise to God, redeeming Son;

Praise to God, sustaining Spirit, one in three and three in one.

So it was in the beginning, and shall be ‘til time is done.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, May 2021, after Luke 24:36-53.

MUSIC: Suggested tune WESTMINSTER ABBEY, Henry Purcell, 1680; adapt. Ernest Hawkins, 1843.

 

 

So apparently, I have a thing for overlooked occasions on the liturgical calendar. After the somewhat longer struggle to complete the previous entry, “When Jesus knew his time had come,” this text fell together ridiculously fast while preparing to give a devotional on “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation” as paired with WESTMINSTER ABBEY in Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal. If only either one had come together early enough to get into the recording process for the week’s service…

When Jesus knew his time had come

When Jesus knew his time had come, his followers he drew near

And gave this word to comfort them and drive away their last fear.

 

“The Holy Spirit’s guiding power will surely come upon you,

And to the world my Word you’ll take; my witness lives within you.”

 

When this he said, they watched, and lo! their Lord was lifted upward!

In holy cloud he was caught up and no more was his voice heard.

 

While this their eyes were following with wonder and amazement,

Two bright-robed men had drawn nearby to bear a witness heaven-sent: 

 

“Why do you stand here looking up? This Jesus you have witnessed

Will yet return in this same way, all sanctified and heaven-blessed.”

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, May 2021, after Acts 1:1-11

MUSIC: Suggested tune ST. COLUMBA, Irish melody.

 

 

So Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal contains a section of hymns labeled “Ascension and Reign.” In truth, though, only one of the hymns contained therein is really about the Ascension itself. Of course that was going to provoke a hymn for Ascension.  

The stone was rolled away

The stone was rolled away that Easter morn, that day when death was slain, and hope was born.

Three followers had come at dawn’s first light, and what they saw and heard set them to fright.

The stone was rolled away that Easter morn, that day when death was slain, and hope was born.

 

A young man dressed in white sat to one side; he said, “You seek one who was crucified;

But Jesus is not here; he has been raised!” And so the three were frightened and amazed.

The stone was rolled away that Easter morn, that day when death was slain, and hope was born.

 

“He goes ahead of you to Galilee; he’s waiting there for you to come and see.

Tell his disciples all, and Peter too, to follow there and hear his call to you.”

The stone was rolled away that Easter morn, that day when death was slain, and hope was born.

 

This is the calling still, to us today: to follow Jesus on his saving way.

He bids us come so he new life can give; so will we follow Jesus Christ and live?

The stone was rolled away that Easter morn, that day when death was slain, and hope was born.

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2021, after Mark 16:1-7

MUSIC: Tune VENITE ADOREMUS, Italian folk melody, Children's Praise, 1871

This one was a struggle from first idea to final form (for now). Only when this tune (mostly associated with a Christmas text in hymnals) somehow popped up randomly in my brain did the text begin to take shape. To me the great value of this particular Easter account is the open-ended quality of its seemingly unfinished narrative; the question is open to us, will we "go to Galilee?" Will we follow where Jesus has gone?