The priestly choir came forward

The priestly choir came forward to sing the song of praise,

With harps and lyres and cymbals and trumpet tones to raise;

“Our God is good forever,” the priestly choir did sing,

“His love is always for us!” the sounds of praise did ring.

At this the Lord’s true glory did fill the holy place;

A cloud of holy presence broke forth in every space.

So let our songs of gladness break out across the sky,

That God’s great holy presence might lift our hearts on high.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after 2 Chronicles 5:11-14

MUSIC: Tune LANCASHIRE, Henry Thomas Smart, c. 1845

Another hymn of need not liturgy-based in this case but for a special series I got myself into. There aren't necessarily a huge number of hymns or songs that take this account from 2 Chronicles as a theme. You'd figure that a story like this would be the favorite passage of scripture of any church choir director worth his or her salt, but evidently not.

Live in love for one another

Live in love for one another, in the love of Christ for you.

Show such kindness to the stranger in the things you say and do.

Let not wealth claim your affection, but do good with what you own.

Have no fear for what the world does, for with Christ you’re not alone.

Share the good and offer comfort to the ones you find in need,

For our Christ is glorified so, and our God is served indeed.

For our Jesus is forever, yesterday, today the same,

So forever let us praise him and give glory to his name.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, rev. 2021; after Hebrews 13:1-8

MUSIC: Tune CHARLESTOWN, The United States Sacred Harmony, 1799

Notes: This one came about a couple of years ago in a different way than most of the hymns I've written, as a deliberate "find something in this week's lectionary readings and do the work as discipline" effort. And yet I find I really like it; it grew on me very quickly. Also, I did not actually have this hymn tune in mind when I wrote the hymn, but once I found it (it's always been a tune I've liked even though it doesn't get sung nearly often enough; mind you, that has nothing to do with the tune name) I fell in love with the combination, and completely forgot whatever other tune had been in my head before.

Our God Did Plant a Vineyard

Our God did plant a vineyard, and hedged it all around;

            With care God rooted choice vines in clear and fertile ground,

God raised a strong watchtower, to guard the fruit and see

            These vines bear fruit in season, as God made them to be.

We are the fruit God planted and tended on the vine,

            With care and grace God watered, on which God’s sun did shine;

O Lord, may we you planted grow strong and ripe and true,

            So that in your due season we bear your name anew.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after Isaiah 5:1-7

MUSIC: Tune AURELIA, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864

[Alternate and actually preferred tune suggestion: MERLE'S TUNE, Hal H. Hopson, 1983, (c) Hope Publishing Company (hence why I'm not reproducing it here)]

Let us argue it out

“Let us argue it out,” says the Lord strong and sure:

“Though your sins be as scarlet, yet you shall be pure.

Your loud sacrifices are nothing to me;

When you cry out aloud, only burden I see.”

“I have had quite enough of these offerings of beasts;

I take no more delight in your gifts or your feasts.

I cannot endure while you still live in sin,

While your heart is corrupted and hateful within.”

“Wash yourselves, heart and soul; lay your evil aside.

Learn the good, seek the right, and make justice your guide.

When you learn obedience and care for the poor,

God’s provision for you will be plenteous and sure.”

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019; after Isaiah 1:10-20

MUSIC: Tune FOUNDATION, American folk melody

This One Thing Only, very lightly edited version

This one thing only

This one thing only, loving God, 

            plant firmly in my heart; 

Amidst our work, to hear your word 

            and choose the better part;

Lord, show us when to labor on 

            and when to stop and rest,

To hear your voice and, so restored, 

            to serve you at our best.

O give this gift, our loving God, 

            and this one grace please give:

To know one thing above all else 

            and in this one thing live.

Text: CSF, 2013 (on Luke 10:38-42), ed. 2019

Tune: McKEE, African American spiritual: Jubilee Songs, 1884

O love your God

O love your God with all your heart,

            With all your power to love;

Now show that love to all around

            As to your Lord above.

O love your God with all your soul,

            With all your power to feel; 

Give to the world your greatest gifts

            To show your Lord is real.

O love your God with all your strength,

            With all your power to do;

Show deeds of holy service now

            To serve your Savior true.

O love your God with all your mind,

            With all your power to know;

In word and thought be full of grace,

            The power of God to show.

With mind and strength and soul and heart

            The love of God proclaim,

That all the world may know that love

            And call on Jesus’ name.

TEXT: CSF, June 2019, Gainesville, FL

MUSIC: Suggested tune AZMON, Carl Gotthel Glaser, 1828;

            arr. Lowell Mason, 1839 (many other tunes are possible)

CREDO hymn

Who we are in God’s great service, who we all are called to be,

What our lives are still becoming in our call to ministry:

This we seek to learn and follow, as our Lord would have us see

What we value, what we cherish: what is our identity?

How do we come to this knowledge? How do we know what to say?

Which the path that truly shows us our call for God’s new-born day?

In our search for God’s vocation let us watch and learn and pray;

So we always seek discernment, so we always find our way.

How then shall we claim our calling? How shall we find what to do?

What the work that finally helps us come to our vocation true?

Not mere flash of inspiration, nor lone bolt out of the blue;

Only through devoted practice shall we truly be made new.

This our quest to live God’s service, yearning still to be made whole,

Always learning to give over; yielding life to God’s control;

Living shaped in God’s true image; always drawn toward God’s true goal,

That our God might bring upon us transformation, mind and soul.

TEXT: CSF, June 2019, CREDO, Solomon Episcopal Conference Center

MUSIC: Suggested tune BEECHER, John Zundel, 1870