Advent hymn: A voice cries out in the wilderness

A voice cries out in the wilderness: “Prepare the Lord a way!”

A voice calls out of our loneliness for night to break into day.

We cry that wars and violence and rank injustice cease:

We pray the holy peace of God; come now, O Prince of Peace.

A choir sings into the silent night, “O come, Emmanuel!”

The song breaks into our darkened hearts, our frightened voices now swell.

We cry for healing and for hope, for broken souls’ release:

We pray the holy peace of God; come now, O Prince of Peace.

O every valley shall be filled up, and every heart elate;

For peace is stronger than violence, and love is louder than hate.

We cry for joy and yearn for love and grace now to increase:

We pray the holy peace of God; come now, O Prince of Peace.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, November 2018 (after liturgy by Anna Traynham)

MUSIC: Tune CAROL, Richard Storrs Willis, 1850.

Advent hymn: When the world tells us

When the world tells us “all is lost,” God still says “all is loved in me.”

All is loved and all is forgiven; open your eyes, behold and see!

Love! Love! Show us that Christ is coming!

Love! Love! Show us that Christ is near!

When the darkness says “light is gone,” Light reminds us to be surprised:

See the fire igniting before us; see how the dawn invades the skies!

Light! Light! Show us that Christ is coming!

Light! Light! Show us that Christ is near!

Fear says “cover your eyes and ears”; Hope says “listen and watch and wait.”

Stand and watch, redemption is coming; now hope will come and not be late!

Hope! Hope! Show us that Christ is coming!

Hope! Hope! Show us that Christ is near!

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, November 2018

MUSIC: Tune BRING A TORCH, French melody

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.

Blessing for Epiphany 7A

A Blessing for Ordinary 16B

A Charge and Blessing on Romans 10

(c) 2014, Charles Spence Freeman

Rise up

Rise up, old bones, return to life,
Take sinew, flesh, and breath;
Give witness to the power of God,
A power that overcomes death,
A power that overcomes death.

Rise up, dear friend, return to life,
No longer in the grave;
Give witness to the love of God
That drives a Savior to save,
That drives a Savior to save.

Rise up, old church, return to life,
No longer drowned in fear;
Give witness to the word of God
The world refuses to hear, etc.

Rise up, my heart, return to life,
No longer bound in sin;
Give witness to the grace of God
And let a new life begin, etc.



Text: Charles Spence Freeman, 2014
        (Inspired by scriptures for Lent 5A: Ezekiel 37:1-14 and John 11:1-45)
Tune: DOVE OF PEACE, American folk melody