Then Jesus came from Galilee

Then Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John,

Who in the Jordan's rolling flow did baptize those who came.

But John did question whether this request he should act on;

"You should baptize me here instead, in your own holy name."

 

But Jesus answered "Let this be, for this is right to do

To fulfill this one righteous call for all the world to see."

Then John consented to this task, in trust that Jesus knew

That he should carry out this work and what his role should be.

 

And then once Jesus was baptized and then raised up again,

He saw the heavens opened up and down the Spirit came.

Alighting like a dove, the Spirit cried out through the din,

"This is my Son, Beloved One, who goes forth in my name."

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, December 2025; after Matthew 3:13-17

MUSIC: Tune KINGSFOLD, English Country Songs, 1893; harmonization Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.

 

 

A reworking of a hymn from almost two years ago, written to suit the account of Jesus's baptism in the gospel of Mark. Matthew's account goes into rather more detail than Mark's but the basic structure still worked. 

Come to the water

Come to the water, hear the waves roll; 

Quiet and powerful, touching the soul.

God spread these waters over the earth

For us to find new life and new birth.

 

Come to the water, hear the brook flow;

Small streams, great rivers help life to grow. 

Jesus was baptized in one like this; 

Sharing our burden, sharing our bliss.

 

Come to the water, see the font full.

Feel how our souls are drawn by its pull.  

Sacrament living, filling the heart,

All in the power of God's holy art. 

 

Think and remember how you once came,

Then went on your way never the same. 

Come to the water! Hear once again

How God still loves you as God did then.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, January 2023.

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

I have found that if I sit long enough within earshot of a beach, something will come. In this case the steady rhythm of wave upon sand worked its way to the waters of the earth, and then to the waters of baptism. This one may lean slightly toward adult baptism, which does still happen. The tune represents another repurposing of those tunes that were the stuff of my church childhood. 

Come celebrate this newborn child of God

Come celebrate this newborn child of God!

Sing songs of joy and shout your praise abroad.

Behold this wonder! Let your hearts be awed! 

Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

See how this babe, who looks so frail and small,

Is yet a child of God our all in all 

And will, one day, hear God's own holy call.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

Now let us all, here gathered in God's name,

Bear witness to God's honor and God's fame

So this same child might our true Savior claim.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

Give thanks to God, Creator of us all,

And to our Lord, once born like this child small,

And Spirit true who will not let us fall.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2022.

MUSIC: Tune SINE NOMINE, Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.

Written in honor of the (then-forthcoming, now-accomplished) birth of Mary Evelyn Traynham to Anna and Blake Traynham.