I am no longer what I was

I am no longer what I was – deceitful tongue and violent mind – 

For my Lord Christ has made me strong through his own mercy, good and kind.

I did not know my futile ways; my ignorance led down paths of wrong.

But Jesus claimed me for his own, and cleared my heart, and changed my song.

The grace of God flowed o’er my soul with faith and love that are Christ’s own,

For Jesus came to save us all, and plant his love where hate had grown.

Now to the Lord, our only God, unseen, immortal God of love,

Give all our honor for all time, and glory here as giv’n above.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after 1 Timothy 1:12-17

MUSIC: Suggested tune O WALY WALY, English folk melody

I thank my God

“I thank my God each time that I remember you.

            I thank my God who reigns on high above, 

Because your faith in our Lord Jesus shines in you,

            and how you hold the saints in faithful love.”

Oh, let our love so shine in how we choose to live

            within the body of the Christ, our Lord;

In how we give and care and serve each other too;

            for thus we show our love for Jesus Christ our Lord.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after Philemon 4-5

MUSIC: Tune LONDONDERRY AIR, Traditional Irish tune (public domain)

Again, more hymn writing for the sake of disciplining myself to do it without waiting around for "inspiration," and I suppose being accountable with it too (otherwise I could just trash this and never let anybody see it). I suppose it was inevitable that someone who marched for four years in the Dublin (GA) High School Fighting Irish Band would eventually turn to LONDONDERRY AIR, a modified version of which was the fight song we played oh, so many times. It does show up as a hymn tune in some hymnals, though, so it's not completely nuts. And hey, Philemon needs some hymns.

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