The Sabbath day was made

The Sabbath day was made to serve the needs of humankind;

We are not made to serve the day nor how it is designed.

This day was made for human good in body, soul, and mind; 

Oh, let us keep this day to serve the needs of humankind.

 

How shall we keep the Sabbath day? How shall we do God's will?

Are we to act to help or harm? Are we to heal or kill?

This day is meant to bring us life, our yearning souls to fill; 

Oh, we shall keep the Sabbath day and do our God's good will.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, May 2024, after Mark 2:23-3:6.

MUSIC: Tune KINGSFOLD, English Country Songs, 1893; 

       harmonization Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.

 

 

The gospel reading here appears on the second Sunday after Pentecost, year B, but only under certain conditions, apparently. That is, it doesn't come up every year B, and resources for it are sometimes hard to find, hymns included. Well, here's one.

Comes the darkness

Comes the darkness, comes the night, 
Comes the time for human rest. 
Daily rush is put to flight, 
Though sometimes our minds protest,
And such cares are put away
‘Til the breaking of the day.

Yet for some this is untrue;
Darkness brings no time for sleep.
Labor that must yet be done, 
Midnight work hours forced to keep:
Hear our prayers this eventide,
With these workers, Lord, abide.

Night for some can bring no peace, 
Due to tortures of the mind.
Darkness will not bring release;
Only torment they will find.
Jesus, bring rest to their souls, 
‘Gainst the struggling mind’s controls.

Loneliness, another foe
Keeping weary hearts awake. 
Partners pass and children grow;
Left alone, no rest to take. 
Holy Spirit, rest and stay;
Drive such loneliness away.

For these to whom rest’s denied, 
Guide them and protect them well. 
We who now seek slumber’s tide
Let this resting night excel, 
So that we, at morning’s light,
May serve those of sleepless night.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2024.

MUSIC: TUNE REDHEAD 76, Richard Redhead, 1853.

 

 

In essence, a prayer for those who don't get to sleep at night. Partly inspired after the Baltimore bridge disaster, perhaps?

The spark is in living

The spark is in living, receiving and giving,

A life lived together in time and in place. 

No longer divided, with true care provided, 

This spark brings new light to the whole human race.

Let each day now teach us (let no one deceive us) 

For striving and winning to no more resign,

But in daily journey, not contest or tourney,

We find the true measure of God's own design.

 

For wins do not make us, nor will failure break us,

But in daily life is where our God draws near. 

Not mountaintop treasure nor valley of pleasure,

But in each day's working the Spirit is here.

No matter how lowly, each day bears the holy,

And everyday life bears the spark of God's grace; 

That spark waits in living, receiving and giving,

In lives lived together in this time and place.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, January 2024.

MUSIC: Tune ASH GROVE, Welsh folk melody.

 

 

The inspiration for this one came while watching a movie. That's new. Otherwise, a reminder (to myself as much as anyone) not to get hung up on constantly seeking mountaintop experiences, lest you miss the divine grace of the everyday.

Seek out the dark night

Seek out the dark night, 

Banish any stray light. 

Turn from the day's toil, come and rest.

Freed from the bright day,

Seeking a calm way; 

We rest now so to serve our best.

 

Why are we failing,

Running, hurried, flailing? 

Why this unholy rush in vain? 

Turn from this fluster,

Banish such bluster

And leave aside the striving pain.

 

Seek quiet, make space,

Give yourself to God's grace; 

Carve out a pause from marching time.

Let holy healing, God's hope revealing,

Repair your soul with love sublime.

 

Then, with this soul care

Turn yourself and now share; 

Serve as a vessel of God's peace. 

Practice such hearing, 

Sure and endearing,

That human loneliness might cease.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2023.

MUSIC: Tune CRUSADERS' HYMN, Silesian folk melody; Schlesische Volkslieder, 1842.

 

 

It might seem a bit much to have a hymn the basic message of which is "get a good night's rest and get back to work refreshed in the morning." Then again, so many people don't seem to be very good at it (raises hand), so maybe the counsel is useful after all. Anyway, make what use you will.