Christ On the Margins

When Christ was born in Bethlehem, the angels came to sing

Not to the highest emperor or to a mighty king.

To lowly shepherds in the fields those angels did appear,

A witness borne to folks whom most would never choose to hear.

 

When Jesus chose those followers who would his gospel find,

He did not choose the highest-born or those of brightest mind. 

He chose some lowly fisherman (A tax collector too), 

But not the sons of privilege, with whom his work to do.

 

When Jesus named the ones with whom he would identify,

Or those whose lot in life he would be represented by,

He did not name the powerful or those who aimed to please,

But those the well-to-do of us would call "the least of these."

 

When Christ was raised, the angels told the raising of God's Son

Not to the priests or to the scribes, not Peter, James, or John, 

But to the women at the tomb this news they did avail --

This news that men who were not there would call "an idle tale."

 

When Christ's good news is sounded forth, how often is it told

Not to the great, the proud, the rich, the powerful or bold,

But to the cast-aside of life the gospel is unfurled!

And so Christ's call is sounded from the margins of the world.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2022.

MUSIC: Suggested tune NOEL, English melody; arr. Arthur S. Sullivan, 1874.

 

 

It was stanza four of this text that came first, in this case; the dismissal of the women's report as "an idle tale" provoked the reflection that led to the rest of the hymn. Though an Easter gospel text started the story, the Nativity story is also alluded, and thus the use of a tune commonly associated with a Christmas text (one tune used for "It came upon the midnight clear") seemed like a fun idea. 

Crosses

Crosses stand against a gray sky, seen by all of those who pass by.

Cruel imperial creation, made for full humiliation.

From such there is no escaping, fear and acquiescence shaping.

Hear the spite and mocking shaming, crowds caught up in fear and blaming.

 

Crosses, meant for pain unyielding, power imperial now wielding, 

Here become a scene of wonder where such power is torn asunder.

Jesus hangs there, bruised and bleeding, in our lives now interceding.

One who dies there for his nation, seeking only our salvation.

 

Crosses could not thwart his love new; to his final breath he stayed true.

We behold in awe and wonder as our bonds are torn asunder.

You who gave so to regain us, may your Spirit now sustain us, 

So that, in your love undying, we might live, all sin defying.

 

Crosses now abound around us, though their uses may confound us:

Waving like a sign of empire, wielded with such anger and fire.

God forbid! Does this not grieve you? Do they think this will deceive you?

May we never so betray you or so falsely thus display you.

 

Crosses now are not for hatred, lest our God's own grace be wasted; 

Not for God's whole world reviling, nor for lists of wrongs compiling;

But for steadfast love revealing, and the power of sin repealing.

Let this cross be now the token of God's love that is not broken.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2022.

MUSIC: Tune SCHMÜCKE DICH, Johann Crüger, 1649.

 

 

Aside from a reference to John 11:49-50 in stanza 2, this is not bound to any particular scripture on the Passion. It is a reflective text, on what crosses were used to do then and what they sometimes are used to do now. The first three stanzas might stand OK for a hymn on their own, but I hope the fourth and fifth stanzas will be heard.

See the new Jerusalem

See the new Jerusalem, coming down in glory!

All adorned in splendor bright, as in ancient story.

Now the throne of God is here, midst the whole creation;

God will call all people home, home from every nation.

 

Tears no more shall strain the eye, nor shall death be found there;

No more mourning, no more pain; sorrow will be nowhere.

All these things have passed away, banished all forever.

Suffering there will have no place and will be felt never.

 

See the One upon the throne, hear the words he speaks true:

"I am first and I am last, and all things I make new." 

All adorned in splendor bright, as in ancient story,

See the new Jerusalem coming down in glory!

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2022, after Revelation 21:1-6.

MUSIC: Tune TEMPUS ADEST FLORIDUM, Piae Cantiones, 1582.

 

I was not expecting to write any new hymn texts for a forthcoming series of sermons from the book of Revelation, but here you go.

Now Jesus sent Peter and John

Now Jesus sent Peter and John on their way

To find a room where the disciples might stay.

He gave them instructions and sent them ahead,

And there they found everything just as he said.

 

And so they prepared for the Passover meal, 

Where Jesus would to his disciples reveal, 

In bread and in cup, his great gift to us all, 

Which in this true sacrament we do recall.

 

But Jesus was troubled, his heart was dismayed,

For truly he knew that he would be betrayed. 

He also knew Peter, before the night's end, 

Would yet deny knowing his teacher and friend.

 

Still Jesus did give them this meal and this sign,

That we might remember in bread and in wine

The One who, despite how we fail and betray,

Sustains us and saves us in every new day.

 

To Jesus, Redeemer, we offer our praise,

And Spirit, Sustainer through all of our days,

And Holy Creator we praise and adore:

We worship the triune God forevermore.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2022, after verses from Luke 22:7-34.

MUSIC: Tune ST. DENIO, Welsh folk melody; adapt. in Caniadau y Cyssegr, 1839.

 

 

A new hymn text developed from Luke's account of the Last Supper. He seems to emphasize particularly how Jesus goes forward with the sharing of bread and cup despite knowing that two of the disciples will turn against him before the night is over, which hopefully comes across in the hymn. It certainly can be sung without the Trinitarian doxology at the end, but a note of praise at the last seemed appropriate.

 

  

What once was gain

What once was gain, for Christ's own sake, I count it all as loss.

In knowing Jesus as my Lord, all else is hateful dross.

All gains I knew in life before, all status, every prize,

Are wasteful madness in my heart and on my tongue are lies.

 

In Christ is found my righteousness, not from decree or law,

But in true faith that comes from God and fills my heart with awe.

I long to know the power of him who over death did rise,  

Even if his suffering I must share; for Christ my spirit cries.

 

This goal, this hope is far away, but still I must press on,

Because my Lord has made me his until all time has flown.

Forgetting what has come before, toward what before me lies,

I press on toward God's holy call, in Christ my godly prize.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2022, after Philippians 3:4b-14 (Lent 5C)

MUSIC: Tune RESIGNATION, USA folk melody, Lewis's Beauties of Harmony, 1828.

Written for the epistle reading again, here for Lent 5C (April 3, 2022). I clearly have a weakness for this tune; something about the melancholy shade it bears in my ears seems to resonate, and sometimes tempers texts that might otherwise turn a little bit more jaunty or proud than would be appropriate.

Be reconciled to God

Be reconciled to God.

This is our Savior's call: 

Bear witness to the saving grace

Of One who died for all.

 

Creation now made new!

This is our Master's call: 

Bear witness to the new-made life

Where sin cannot enthrall.

 

Ambassadors for Christ:

This is the Spirit's call. 

Bear witness to the love of God

For all things great and small.

 

The righteousness of God:

This is our godly call.

Bear witness to the living Christ

Who will not let us fall. 

 

Be reconciled to God.

This is our life's true call: 

Bear witness to the saving grace

Of Christ who died for all.

 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2022 (after 2 Corinthians 5:16-21)

MUSIC: Tune FESTAL SONG, William H. Walter, 1894. 

 

 

I've had this passage engraved on my brain ever since being a "Royal Ambassador" as a boy (some of you might know what that means). 

God is faithful in our living

God is faithful in our living;

Let us offer our thanksgiving.

No temptation will approach you

That there will not be a way through.

 

God is faithful in our living; 

Let us offer our thanksgiving.

Trials that come, no, these are not new;

Others knew them all before you.

 

God is faithful in our living; 

Let us offer our thanksgiving.

You can bear what tempting tries you;

'Tis God's gift, for sure and all true.

 

God is faithful in our living; 

Let us offer our thanksgiving.

Let the choice of what you will do

Be the work of God within you. 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2022; after 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Lent 3C).

MUSIC: Tune DEIRDRE, Irish melody; harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906. 

 

 

Another "procrastihymn," written in the course of sermon prep. Though this verse tends to be regarded as the reassuring conclusion to Paul's argument in verses 1-12, somehow this text did not want a terribly upbeat or reassuring melody; it wanted a tune that conveyed melancholy or even regret that such reassurance was even necessary in the first place.