Holy and beloved

Holy and beloved, chosen ones of God:

Kindness and compassion and humility,

Also patience, meekness; so to serve your God,

Clothe yourselves in these things for the world to see.

 

Bear with one another; take this call to heart:

As our Lord forgives you, so you must forgive.

So now clothe yourselves in love and do your part

That in joyful harmony we all might live.

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you heart and soul, 

As his peace lives in you, showing grace to all. 

So you teach other, striving towards the goal, 

Living in God's wisdom as our Lord does call.

 

Singing psalms and hymns and spirit-songs as well, 

All with gratitude and praise for every day,

In the name of Jesus let our lives now tell

In word and in deed how we will seek God's way.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, June 2025, after Colossians 3:12-17.

MUSIC: Tune KING'S WESTON, Ralph Vaughan Williams, 2025.

 

 

First of all, I've wanted to set this passage (with its "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" hook having been in my head for many years). This week being at the Worship & Music Conference at Montreat, with this larger passage as the "theme scripture," provided extra emphasis. I don't know what brought this tune to my mind, but it was the key that unlocked things. I'll probably need to do some fixing up (and definitely learn some better notation software), but at least it's here and ready to be fixed. (Oh, and this passage really does show up in the RCL ... for the first Sunday after Christmas, year C.) 

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.