Listen to the silence

Listen to the silence; what have we been missing? 

Are we now its truth dismissing?

Leave the world's distraction, words that preen and flatter,

Idle noise and empty chatter. 

Focus on God alone and on holy wonder,

            Not what draws us under.

 

Mighty wind was roaring, earthquake and then fire,

Sounds that fear and awe inspire.

Then the silent stillness, God's own Self revealing,

Broke through noise and fire concealing.

So might we learn to see in the peaceful, mute calm,

            God's own healing and balm.

 

Refuge in the quiet from the noise assailing,

Holy Spirit now unveiling;

Even from our singing praise and exaltation, 

Make a space for sound's cessation.

Strive to hear, loud and clear, God's own holy being

            In the silence freeing.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, July 2022 (with reference to 1 Kings 19:11-13).

MUSIC; Tune ARNSBERG, Joachim Neander, 1680.

  

 

This text started coming at around the midpoint of the trip home after an amazing week at the centennial anniversary conference of the Hymn Society of the United States and Canada. It was one of the best things I've done in a very long time, but even after the best kinds of such gatherings, I need quiet. If that is how you are too, enjoy this hymn. (Quirky note: for me that first line comes from a Bruce Cockburn song.)

Worlds of song

Worlds of song are called to life,

Joined in prayer and praise.

Grace is sung around the world,

Sung in many ways.

Yet some lift up cries of pain,

Canticles of need; 

For such longing, may our song

Plant a holy seed. 

 

Songs of praise are known to all

Churches everywhere,

Praise and glory on our lips

In the songs we share.

Yet for those with broken hearts,

Who will sing their song?

Dare we lift our voice for

Sufferers of wrong?

 

As our voices, lifted high,

Loud hosannas raise,

Singing glory to our God

And to Jesus praise, 

What of those whose hearts are lost,

Broken by our greed?

Is there space to sing of grief

With the ones in need?

 

Midst our adulation singing,

Midst our songs of joy,

Can we see that how we live 

Has power to destroy?

Will we change our wasteful lives

And destructive speech?

May we finally, in our song,

Let the suffering teach.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, July 2022

MUSIC: Tune TOKYO, Japanese gagaku mode, Isao Koizumi, 1958.

 

Inspired by experiences at the centennial anniversary conference of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, which I attended July 17-21, 2022. In particular hearing the words of a cohort of hymn writers and scholars from Japan reflecting on the challenges of creating hymns for their church stood out, and also likely set off this tune in my head. (Their work was encapsulated in the collection pictured below. Full disclosure: I had the extreme pleasure and privilege to develop three of the translations/paraphrases included in this collection for the conference, so maybe the seed has been in my brain longer than I know.)

NOTE: since the copyright status of this tune isn't entirely clear - it seems to be copyrighted? - it is not included here; it can be found in Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal (#311 and #813) and twenty-something other hymnals as well.

 

This one thing only, updated

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: Charles Spence Freeman, Summer 2013 (after Luke 10:38-42), ed. 2019

Music: Suggested tune McKEE, African American spiritual; Jubliee Songs, 1884; adapt. Harry T. Burleigh, 1940.

 

 

One of my oldest hymns. During my parish internship in seminary I needed a hymn on the visit of Jesus to Martha and Mary, and nothing in the hymnal satisfied. So I wrote one. Sounds so simple, huh? While such things happened a few times then, there was no indication at that time that such practice would become quite what is has. (Plus, now I've gotten enough of a grip to create a basic four-part version of the music.)

O love your God with all your heart

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.

 As you have loved the Lord your God,

            So love your neighbor well; 

There is no rule of greater worth 

            Than in these loves to dwell. 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, June 2019, October 2021, after Luke 10:26-28 or Mark 12:28-31.

MUSIC: Suggested tune AZMON, Carl Gotthelf Gläser, 1828; arr. Lowell Mason, 1839.

The text has been tweaked a little, and is fitting for (among other things) the lectionary lesson on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Also continuing to take advantage of finally learning how to create more hymn-like scores on Finale. 

When Jesus saw the people of power

When Jesus saw the people of power and high place

Seek out a seat of honor and then to fall from grace,

He taught all those who listened a lesson on false pride, 

How to avoid such downfall, lay arrogance aside.

Seek not the place of honor, seek not the place of power; 

Instead, find humble setting, lest pride your soul devour.

 

Seek not your neighbor's favor in hope of like return, 

But let your gifts be given for those the world would spurn,

Those who cannot repay you, whose favor holds no sway;

Then blessing will come to you that resurrection day.

Our Jesus teaches living in true humility

Will bring true exaltation for all the world to see.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, June 2022, after Luke 14:7-14

MUSIC: Tune THAXTED, Gustav Holst, 1918; various harmonizations.

 

 

Given my musicological past, I'm inevitably going to give in to the temptation to set a text to any tune that is lifted out of classical music of some kind. This challenging tune got caught up with an upcoming lectionary text with few good hymn options, and this is the outcome of that meeting.

 

 

 

When will your people learn to live

When will your people learn to live within the blessings that you give?

Why do the ones called by your name bring on your church such pain and shame?

 

Why must your followers claim to be soldiers of Christ for all to see?

Where are the servants that you seek? Those who know "blessed are the meek"?

 

What kind of witness is this, where this world sees hate instead of care?

Power that should be all yours alone such leaders grasp and claim to own.

 

When we your love ought to extol, why then by force seek to control

Those whom, in serving, you we please, who once were called "the least of these"?

 

When will your people learn to live in love you call us all to give? 

Come, shatter now these hearts of stone; make us to live in grace alone.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, June 2022.

MUSIC: Tune MENDON, German melody; harm. Lowell Mason, 1831.

 

 

Just ... because.

We gather here, Lord Jesus

We gather here, Lord Jesus, to give you thanks and praise

For this, your faithful servant now at the end of days.

We know, even in dying, that this one yet shall live;

Now for this full assurance, to You our thanks we give.

 

And yet, our hearts are broken, and yet our souls still grieve;

This loss is yet so painful, this loss without reprieve.

We weep and mourn, dear Savior, not out of rank despair,

But since, when next we gather, this friend will not be there.

 

So hear our prayers, Lord Jesus, so hear our thanks and praise,

And hear, as well, our sorrow, the cry that we upraise.

Hold close our grieving hearts, Lord, and your dear comfort give,

So that, in your sustaining, we who survive might live.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, June 2022.

MUSIC: Suggested tune WIE LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN, Johann Steurlein, 1575.

 

 

In my time in the pastorate, I've performed far more funerals (excuse me, Services of Witness to the Resurrection in PCUSA-speak) than baptisms or weddings. I've had more than a few occasions to consider that balance between the hope in that witnessing to that resurrection and the mourning and sorrow that is not negated by that hope, unless you're some kind of unfeeling something. After all those times, this is finally the result.