When earth is standing dusty dry

When earth is standing dusty dry

We pray and plead for rain; 

And then when waters from the sky 

Bring flood and chaos, how we cry

For earth to dry again!

When will we learn? Oh, when?

 

This damaged earth has suffered so 

From schemes of our design. 

Yet, even when this truth we know, 

Our cravings will not let us go,

And nature we malign;

Our deeds are not benign.

 

These things we make unmake the earth; 

We kill it with our waste.

These creatures made with holy worth

Have no more place, but only dearth,

And fall away in haste, 

Their habitat debased.

 

Dear God! Will we yet spoil your world

Beyond what it can bear? 

Make us restrain, our wants in-curled,

Until with joy we see unfurled 

Creation everywhere.

Can we make this our prayer?

 

 

Text: Charles Spence Freeman, May 2023.

Music: Tune REPTON, C. Hubert H. Parry, 1888.

 

 

After a week spent driving halfway across the country, including through some particularly beautiful stretches I had not seen before, creation (and our spoilage of it) was on my mind, I guess. Exaggerated and unpredictable weather patterns are merely the tip of the iceberg, and it's hard to know if humanity has the will to rein in those behaviors that create such debasement of our planet and its climate. I'll never put it as eloquently as Bruce Cockburn does in his song "If a tree falls," but then that song would be harder for a congregation to sing, so there's that.

Through the Hands of Friends

God's mighty works are sometimes seen 

In great and marvelous ways;

In miracles or deeds of power 

Great glory God displays.

And yet how often we have known

That, to achieve these ends,

The workings of the Lord our God

Come through the hands of friends.

 

Those friends who lend a helping hand

At time of crucial need,

And labors that seemed all but lost

Are finished by this deed; 

In gifts of time and energy

Then come great dividends, 

When many hands make lighter work

Done by the hands of friends.

 

In costly deeds or simple steps

We help each other through

When one among us is at loss,

Does not know what to do.

What seems a simple kindly deed

Now so much more portends: 

The love of God made manifest,

Shown through the hands of friends.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, August 2023.

MUSIC: Possible tunes: 

            ELLACOMBE, Gesangbuch der Herzogl. Wirtembergischen Katholischen Hofkapelle,                                                1784; alt. 1868.

            NOEL, English melody; arr. Arthur S. Sullivan, 1874 (used here).

 

Written after receiving some desperately needed help at the last minute in preparing to move.

At the morning's silent dawn

At the morning's silent dawn lies a body in a tomb.

Body broken, flesh all torn, lifeless at the break of morn.

See the grave now closed and drawn, silent in the morning gloom.

 

As the morning light shines out, Sabbath time is now observed.

He who died the previous day hastily was sealed away

Before Sabbath, have no doubt. See this death most undeserved.

 

As the sunlight dims and fades, what will happen none could know:

God will raise this man aright, trumping death with life and light.

Still, for now, in evening shades, Jesus's body still lies low.

 

 

Text: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2023.

Music: Tune REDHEAD 76, Richard Redhead, 1853.

Holy Saturday has become, over the past several years, become more of a provocation and challenge in any Holy Week observances I have led. If anyone else feels the need to live in this in-between day a bit more, maybe this hymn will be some help. 

Still cloaks and branches scattered

Still cloaks and branches scattered on the ground,

Donkey and colt now safely taken home. 

No more "hosannas" from the people sound;

Wondering and watching where will Jesus roam.

 

Jesus then turns to face the Temple walls;

Heart of the faith, but what there does he see?

"This house of prayer you make a den of thieves!"

Buyers and sellers forced in shock to flee.

 

Then came the ones who sought again to walk,

And those who yearned for sight for blinded eyes; 

Healing and saving, Jesus welcomes all! 

Once more "hosannas" from the children rise. 

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, April 2023.

MUSIC: Suggested tune TOULON, Genevan Psalter, 1531; adapt. from GENEVAN 124.

 

 

A text that takes the long view of what we call Palm Sunday, as recorded in Matthew 21, where the action doesn't stop with the triumphal entry. 

Take and eat

"Take and eat this and remember me."

Bread he gave, both blessed and broken, as an everlasting token:

"Take and eat this and remember me."

 

"Take and drink this and remember me."

Jesus gave the cup, revealing covenant and new life sealing:

"Take and drink this and remember me."

 

Take and live this and remember him.

Show his death till his returning, blessed hope of all our yearning.

Take and live this and remember him.

 

 

 

Text: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2023, after 1 Corinthians 11:24-26.

Music: Suggested Tune RANDOLPH, Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.

 

 

 

The confluence of two separate but overlapping events - a presentation on this hymn tune and preparation for a service using this scripture - somehow merged the two into one in my head, so to speak, and then into print. Could be a useful Maundy Thursday hymn.

 

Rise up, rev. 2023

Rise up, old bones, return to life,

Take sinew, flesh, and breath; 

Give witness to the power of God,

A power that conquers death                     

(A power that conquers death).

 

Rise up, dear friend, return to life,

No longer in the grave; 

Give witness to the love of God

That drives the Christ to save                                 

(That drives the Christ to save).

 

Rise up, old church, return to life,

No longer drowned in fear; 

Give witness to the Word of God

The world declines to hear                         

(The world declines to hear).

 

Rise up, my soul, return to life,

No longer lost in sin; 

Give witness to the grace of God

And let new life begin                                  

(And let new life begin).

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2014, rev. 2023, after Lent 5A texts

MUSIC: Tune CHRISTMAS, G.F. Handel, 1728; arr. Lowell Mason, 1821.

 

The combination of Ezekiel’s “valley of bones” vision and Jesus’s raising of Lazarus (Lent 5A) became a prompt for considering new life in institutions (such as churches) or people struggling to stay afloat. (The repeated phrases in parentheses correspond to the suggested tune; they can be left out if a different tune is used.)

 

Seek out the dark night

Seek out the dark night, 

Banish any stray light. 

Turn from the day's toil, come and rest.

Freed from the bright day,

Seeking a calm way; 

We rest now so to serve our best.

 

Why are we failing,

Running, hurried, flailing? 

Why this unholy rush in vain? 

Turn from this fluster,

Banish such bluster

And leave aside the striving pain.

 

Seek quiet, make space,

Give yourself to God's grace; 

Carve out a pause from marching time.

Let holy healing, God's hope revealing,

Repair your soul with love sublime.

 

Then, with this soul care

Turn yourself and now share; 

Serve as a vessel of God's peace. 

Practice such hearing, 

Sure and endearing,

That human loneliness might cease.

 

 

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, March 2023.

MUSIC: Tune CRUSADERS' HYMN, Silesian folk melody; Schlesische Volkslieder, 1842.

 

 

It might seem a bit much to have a hymn the basic message of which is "get a good night's rest and get back to work refreshed in the morning." Then again, so many people don't seem to be very good at it (raises hand), so maybe the counsel is useful after all. Anyway, make what use you will.