O little town

O little town we saw before, so precious in our sight,

How have you passed those days and hours since that most holy night?

What of those restless travelers, bound here by law of Rome

To register and give account in their ancestral home?

 

What of that child born in this town, laid in a manger stall,

Whose birth drew shepherds to this place who heard an angel's call? 

What of his mother Mary dear, and father Joseph too, 

Those homeless migrants stranded in your town; what did you do?

 

O little town we call our own, or city great or small,

Or rural route, or mountainside, wherever home may fall: 

How do we welcome strangers who vainly seek a place?

May we yet learn to show them all God's mercy and God's grace.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, December 2022.

MUSIC: Tune FOREST GREEN, English folk melody; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.

            Alternate tune ST. LOUIS, Lewis Henry Redner, 1868.

 

 

Since this potential "twelve hymns of Christmas" thing hasn't let go yet, what was it like in Bethlehem after that night had passed? And what did become of all those folks who had to come in for that census, or to Mary and Joseph and the child Jesus, after that night? And what would happen in our town in such a circumstance?

All creatures of our God on high

All creatures of our God on high,

Who swim and run and hop and fly,

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Cry out from land and sea and air!

Cry praise to God from everywhere!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

Cry praise, you lions on the plain,

You goats who roam the high terrain,

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Cry out, you whales that roam the deep,

You otters, who your vigil keep,

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

Sing out your praises from the sky,

You birds who 'cross the heavens fly!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

You bees and insects that take flight,

Sound forth your praise before God's sight!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

You who our homes do fill with grace,

Cry out your praise from every place!

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Cats, dogs, and rabbits, many more; 

Birds, fish your Maker now adore!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

Animals all, join in the song!

All creatures to our God belong.

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

All you who run, swim, or take wing,

Lift up your voice and with us sing!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, October 2022, after St. Francis of Assissi

MUSIC: Tune LASST UNS EFREUEN, Geistlichen Kirkengesang, 1623; alt.

One of the results of a hymn workshop I attended October 19-22. Did you ever notice that there really aren't all that many creatures in "All creatures of our God and King"? Our clinician did, and that meant I couldn't sleep until I came up with something to address that deficit. I could see it for a "blessing of the animals" event or maybe a Creation season service especially, but that doesn't mean it can't be used other times. 

 

This is the day the Lord has made

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice! Be glad!

Save us, O Lord; let all our lives be in your armor clad. 

 

Blessed is the one who comes to us, who comes in God's own name.

Let us give blessing from God's house, his honor to proclaim.

 

God is the Lord, who shows us light; God shows us life and light.

Now let our offering be raised up, upon the altar's height.

 

God is our Lord, and only God; to God we lift our praise.

God is our Lord! Now let us all exalt him all our days.

 

Now we give thanks unto the Lord; for God alone is good. 

God's mercy is forevermore and has for ages stood.

 

 

Text: Charles Spence Freeman, October 2022, after Psalm 118:24-29 and Isaac Watts's "This Is the Day the Lord Hath Made."

MUSIC: Tune NUN DANKET ALL' UND BRINGET EHR', Johann Crüger, c.1647.

 

 

I had chosen the Watts hymn for a service this coming Sunday (10/9/22), and also for a hymn devotional lesson during the week. Delving into the hymn and its origins, and wondering at some of Watts's choices, somehow turned into writing a version of my own from the source psalm verses, staying away from Watts's Christianizing impulse and trying to let the psalm speak on its own terms. Make of it what you will. 

This is my Father's world, adapted

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears

All nature sings, and ‘round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world; I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas, his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world. The birds their carols raise,

The morning light, the lily white declare their Maker’s praise.

This is my Father’s world. He shines in all that’s fair.

In rustling grass I hear him pass; God speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. Among the mountains drear,

‘Mid rending rocks and earthquake shocks, the still, small voice I hear.

This is my Father’s world, now close to heaven bound,

For dear to God is the earth Christ trod; no place but holy ground.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world. Why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; Let earth be glad!

TEXT: From Maltbie D. Babcock, “My Father’s World,” in Thoughts for Every-Day Living, from the Spoken and Written Words of Maltbie Davenport Babcock, 1901; adapted from stanzas 2-5, 9, 11, 14, 16 and alt. Charles Spence Freeman, 2020.

MUSIC: Tune TERRA BEATA, Franklin L. Sheppard, 1915 

Going back to Maltbie Babcock's original poem from which the popular hymn is extracted yielded some interesting verses not typically preserved in modern hymnals. Seeking to use this hymn for an Earth Day-themed service made those stanzas seem worth reinstating. Hopefully Babcock will be pleased with this (in whatever afterlife he may be) enough to be unconcerned about the few word alterations needed for music rhythm and such.

Hymn adaptation/editing: O God of Earth and Altar

Adapted for use in service 11 November 2018

O God of earth and altar, bow down and hear our cry; 

Our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die; 

The walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide;

Take not your thunder from us, but take away our pride.

 

From all that terror teaches, from lies of tongue and pen, 

From all the easy speeches (that comfort cruel men) that lead us wrong again,

From sale and profanation of honor and the sword,

From sleep and from damnation, deliver us, good Lord!

 

(Tie in a living tether the prince and priest and thrall,

bind all our lives together; smite us and save us all;

in ire and exultation aflame with faith, and free, 

live up a living nation, a single sword to thee.)

 

God, be our only Ruler, our Guardian and our Guide;

No more let earthly rivals distract us from your side.

Bind all our lives together; rebuke and save us all;

O God of earth and altar, now hear our desperate call.

 

 

Text:

Stanza 1: G. K. Chesterton, 1906

Stanza 2: Chesterton, alt. CSF

Stanza 3: first Chesterton, then CSF

Tune: ELLACOMBE, Gesangbuch der Herzogl,. Wirtembergischen Katholischen Hofkapelle, 1784; alt. 1868.