A
COLLECTION OF HYMN TEXT
written by Rev. Peggy McDonagh
The
voice of God (Tune: Kingsfold)
The voice of God I heard to day
speak to my searching soul;
come forth into the mystery,
reach for your sacred goal.
Be one with self and whole in mind,
seek wisdom’s truth inside;
use strength of will until you find
true courage as your guide.
I fear the shadowed realms of life,
my heart beats constant dread;
for want of peace and quiet days,
I dare not move ahead.
But thirst I do for hope and light,
and joy to mark my day;
I’ll journey with my finite sight,
God’s love will show the way.
If ever I should dare to risk
this sacred call to grow,
may courage be my spring of life,
a steady, bubbling flow.
If I but cling to God’s embrace,
and trust my heart’s true plea,
my soul will show its radiant face,
for I’ll be whole and free.
Seeking
the quiet way (Tune: Beach Spring 8787D)
As we walk the paths of living,
fears and heartache crowd our way;
hate and anger, anxious worry,
are the feelings we obey:
seek the pathways of the Spirit
that give hope to souls so torn;
love can free us as we journey,
so within us truth is born.
Honest choices bring sweet justice
to a soul entrapped in pain;
love and goodness feed the spirit,
greater strength and trust we gain:
breaking patterns that enslave us,
free the heart for wisdom’s grace,
human souls find blessed freedom
through the courage we embrace.
These
two verses name the chaos of pain and joy and the freedom that comes from
facing that chaos courageously.
In the chaos of our living,
hurt and anguish find their
place,
chasing joy and bright
tomorrows,
into empty, silent space.
Met with weakness, chaos
deepens,
threatens life’s most gracious
peace.
Empty longing, restless
aching,
deepest doubt will never
cease.
Chaos chains our lives in
turmoil,
darkness reigns as days
unfold.
Met with strength and
faithful courage
chaos breaks its gloomy
hold.
Courage frees the heart for
living,
opens life to joy once
more.
When we move beyond the
chaos
hope and faith our joy
restore.
Hymn for Adult baptism
In this sacred space (Tune: Abbot’s Leigh or 8787D)
In
this sacred space of worship
standing here before us now,
men and women seeking knowledge;
learning, growing is their vow.
May their faith be rich in wisdom,
justice love with them abide;
as they seek to find new meaning,
truth and hope will be their guide.
We the church embrace these people,
care and , love we give;
with these gifts we bless their journey,
help them find the strength to live
faithful lives and true in service,
loving deeds to light the way,
through this sacred act of blessing,
joy and gladness touch our day.
Hymn for Child
Baptism/Adult Confirmation
Child of Wonder (Tune:
Stuttgart 8787 or Omni Dei)
Child of wonder, child so precious,
parents bring you to this place
to receive love’s richest blessing,
filling you with holy grace.
Adults bring themselves before us,
on this joy-filled special day;
confirmation names their journey
as they seek to live love’s way.
See our act of arms wide open,
reaching out, extending care;
may these children and these adults,
feel the love we freely share.
This
hymn can be used to celebrate the beginning or the closing of a church year.
Today We Celebrate (Tune: St. Peter 8686)
Today we come to celebrate
the start of a new year.
With joyful hearts we dedicate
the faith we hold so dear.
With each new year our children grow,
they blossom in our sight.
They live with zeal and help to show
love’s joy and deep delight.
With understanding and in trust
we’ve build a sacred space.
Through learning, teaching, sharing too
our children we embrace.
In gratitude we name our thanks
for smiles and fun and play.
We pray for young hearts in our midst,
for love to guide their way.
With trusting hearts and eager minds
we welcome this new day,
to celebrate community
and love that guides our way.
Alternative
words for “The church is wherever.”
All verses can be sung or just a few or split up
throughout a service.
All verses can be sung or just a few or split up
throughout a service.
The church is wherever (Tune: Old Cornish Carol)
1. The church is wherever a spirit-filled
people
offer ourselves through the love we
impart.
The church is a people who walk with each
other,
revealing love’s presence alive in our
heart.
2. The church is wherever the faithful know
Jesus,
living his love, which is
daring and free.
The church is wherever the
faithful are open,
unveiling our hearts so
with wisdom we see.
3. The church is wherever the vision of Jesus
stirs our compassion, infuses our care.
The church is a people communing together,
expressing our faith through the life that
we share.
4. The church is a people embracing a mission,
living for justice, addressing deep need.
The church is the faithful who struggle together
to
show love’s compassion in work and in deed.
5. The church is a people who welcome each
other,
elders and babies and youth we include.
The lonely, the lost and the hungry blend
with us,
we cherish each spirit, not one we
exclude.
6. The church is a people communing together,
seeking true wisdom and eager
to live.
With service and vision,
through learning and laughter,
we touch every heart with
these gifts that we give.
The
following words were written to follow a sermon about how we express the Christ
spirit within. The sermon spoke of how
the Christ Spirit is alive in a loving, caring community. Two verses can be replaced with two communion
verses in a service in which communion will be shared.
Christ
of compassion (Tune: Tenderness
5 5 10D)
Christ of compassion, Christ of all
giving,
our hearts are full with your comfort and
care.
Love’s living presence, Spirit of Sharing,
nourish and strengthen the faith that we
bear.
Love for our neighbor, friend to the
stranger,
gently we open a place in our heart.
Peace to the fearful, hope to the lonely,
spirits renewed through the care we impart.
Traveling companions, friends on the
journey,
sharing our kindness, our joy to increase.
Truth gives our faith its courage and
wisdom,
shaping our world with the love we release.
Love from the heart, the sweetest
expression,
tells of the Spirit alive in this place.
Spreading that love to people around us,
touching our living, with honor and grace.
Communion verses
Grain of the
land, and fruit of the planet,
gifts of
Creation, we share in this place.
Feeding our
courage, banish our failure,
bringing new
life for the whole human race.
We who would
hunger, thirsting for justice,
through
faithful action our love is made real.
Bread of
abundance, cup of renewal,
our lives seek meaning through this sacred meal.
Move
in the world (Tune: Sine Nomine)
Move in the world, with kindness as your creed;
Move in the world, with kindness as your creed;
open your eyes to see its
deepest need;
let peace and justice be
the truths we heed,
Alleluia, alleluia.
Move in the world,
embracing its despair;
the poor and hungry seek
our love and care;
with outstretched hands the
gift of hope we share,
Alleluia, alleluia.
Live in the world, strive
for a better day,
let truth and fairness
birth a kinder way,
where people, all, the love
command obey,
Alleluia, alleluia.
Stewardship
Hymn/Offertory Hymns
God
of open, honest giving (Tune: 8787)
God of open, honest giving,
stir our hearts that we may
share
riches from our daily
living,
free the world from its
despair.
God who dreams a world of
beauty,
shares our human struggling
plight;
may our wisdom, truth and
justice
save us from all narrow
sight.
When we act as faithful
stewards,
letting wealth and mercy
flow,
all that rises from such
goodness
shapes a world where love
can grow.
In
Christ, we gladly share our gifts (Tune: 8686)
In Christ we gladly share
our gifts
with those who come our
way;
our mission is to show our
love
to those we meet each day.
For some we’re called to
feed and clothe,
for others, teach and heal;
for some we listen to their
pain,
their hope, their joy,
their zeal.
This is the season of the
heart,
the time to care is here;
the future will demand new
ways
to serve this world so
dear.
Loving
Spirit (Tune: 8787D)
Loving Spirit, through our
worship,
fill us with your pow’r and
grace.
When our hearts are filled
with goodness,
then with trust we leave
this place
full of courage, joy and
wisdom
for the living of your
word;
take our lives and use
their moments,
living well the truth we’ve
heard.
May we dare to plant new
meaning
into seeking, searching
hearts.
We can pave a path to
freedom,
when in faith we do our
part
to rebirth a world of
justice,
full of passion, grace and peace;
we can change a world of darkness,
when our fear and anger
cease.
We give life to deep new
vision,
when we see through Jesus’
eyes.
Changing habits, altered
living,
open minds will make us
wise.
Acts of wisdom quell
injustice,
stifle greed’s most bitter
face;
Wisdom’s gentle, honest
passion
leaves a world blessed by
God’s grace.
(An alternative verse to
encourage people to ask questions and
to open their minds to the
possibility of reframing Christianity.)
May we dare to plant new
meaning
into seeking, searching
hearts.
When we honor thoughtful
questions,
truth and freedom we
impart.
Grant us courage, grant us
wisdom,
grant us strength to find a
way
to reframe the church’s
story,
birth new life each blessed
day.
Honoring
Life (Tune:Omni Die or 8787)
God
of courage, God of wisdom,
through your grace we long to see
through your grace we long to see
how to love each other
fully,
honor our divinity.
Unkind speaking, hurtful
actions,
break the soul and rend the
heart;
ending human thoughtless
discourse,
fear and cruelty depart.
Life is sacred, life is
precious,
life of each, a gift of
grace;
God’s own beauty finds
expression
in each cherished human face.
When we see all life has value,
healing stirs the heart awake.
Cherishing all human living,
bitter chains of hate we break.
When we claim the power within us
to uphold all human life,
we give birth to love’s own kingdom,
peace and justice ease our strife.
Hope
Begins a Journey (Tune: Stuttgart or 8787)
Hope begins the healing journey
From the grip of grief and fear;
May we walk this path of wisdom
with love’s presence ever near.
Pain and loss can shape our living,
Sadness moves our souls to mourn;
How we ache to end the darkness,
Find the path that will transform.
Hope awakes us from our slumber,
Lights the way for us to see;
Spirit’s breath and loving presence
stirs the heart and sets it free.
Hope will guide our journey forward,
grace and peace will bless our way;
Hearts will rise from dread to wonder,
Freed again to laugh and play.
The
following two hymns are similar; one celebrates love and the other joy.
Love’s
Creation (Tune: 8787)
Praise the birth of Love’s
creation,
love with passion guides
our way:
love that lifts the human
spirit,
bringing hope with each new
day.
Celebrate the gift of
loving,
may it always with us stay.
Praise with gladness Love’s
creation,
human love we long to
share:
love that stirs concern
within us,
so each other’s pain we
bear.
Celebrate the gift of
loving,
that infuses human care.
Praise with gladness Love’s
creation,
love for freedom, hope and
worth:
love that conquers pain and
sorrow,
love that gives the soul new
birth.
Celebrate the joy of
loving,
changing tears to wondrous
mirth.
Praise with gladness Love’s
creation,
love that lifts the heart
to sing:
love that frees the soul
from bondage
soaring, as a bird on wing.
Celebrate the gift of
loving,
joy and peace such love may
bring.
Joy’s
creation (Tune: Lauda
Anima or 878787)
Praise the birth of Joy’s creation,
Praise the birth of Joy’s creation,
joy of wisdom, love and peace:
joy that lifts the human spirit,
joy so true it shall not cease.
Celebrate the joy of living,
giving hearts a glad release.
Praise with gladness Joy’s creation,
joy of strength to guide our way:
joy that heals a grieving sadness,
leads the heart to dance and play.
Celebrate the joy of healing,
bringing hope to each new day.
Praise with gladness Joy’s creation,
joy of laughter, hope and worth:
joy that conquers pain and sorrow,
joy that gives the soul new birth.
Celebrate the joy of goodness,
changing tears to wondrous mirth.
Praise with gladness Joy’s creation,
joy to face despair and need:
joy that blesses hearts in action,
joy infusing all our deeds.
Celebrate the joy of kindness,
make it our most noble creed.
This hymn was written following a
Jesus Seminar on the road held at Robertson-Wesley United church. The focus of one of the speakers was on the
ancient stories of the Hebrew Testament.
The speaker delivered the sermon on Sunday and this hymn seem to fit for the
occasion.
Stories of Faith (Tune: Lancashire)
From scripture we have
wandered,
compelled to drift away
from ancient, far-off
stories,
lost to our modern day.
Their words and style
confound us,
their messages unreal;
to modern minds that reason
such stories lack appeal.
In Ruth we hear a story
of freedom from despair:
a love and deep compassion,
a woman’s faithful care.
The wisdom of her action,
her courage, hope
and zeal,
upheld the strength of
friendship,
helped women’s hearts to
heal.
This poignant, loving story
of Jewish scripture fame
reveals a potent message
for modern faith to claim.
These stories test our
courage
through truths that still
survive;
though distant, yet
persuasive,
they bring our faith alive.
A
hymn to honor a woman’s encounter with Jesus at a well.
Hope
and Peace Found at the Well (Tune: Promise)
To the well the woman journeyed,
in the fullness of the day.
Parched and thirsty, seeking water,
so to soothe the sun’s hot ray.
In her life the deepest longings
in her heart did sorrow swell.
Jesus spoke, the spirit blessed her,
hope and peace found at the well.
Living Water, quench the dryness
of our lives so full of pain.
Move within our empty spaces
so with you our hearts remain.
Give us wisdom, strength and courage,
for the healing that we need.
As we face our many struggles,
let not fear our quest impede.
Living Spirit, in our worship
may your goodness fill the space
in our hearts where we are longing
to enfold your holy grace.
We can change our lives of searching
when in courage we can dwell,
in our soul’s most deepest centre
hope and peace found at the well.
This
hymn was written in response to a sermon that focused on the destructive power
of the modern myths of conventional wisdom that inhibit humans from claiming
their goodness and wonder and how these myths promote inequality, poverty,
self-loathing and mistrust.
Healing
Love (Tune:
Lancashire)
In all the world around us
we see strange imag’ry,
where beauty, wealth, and
power
prescribe who we should be.
Though we regard perfection
the true and living Way,
through Jesus’ truth and
justice
such sin can hold no sway.
When searching for
acceptance,
some find their hearts
distressed
with poverty and hunger,
they feel their lives
oppressed.
Love touches their deep
sadness
with faith and truth and
light;
they gain a clearer vision,
and free their inward
sight.
The lost, the ill, the
hurting
find living hard to bear;
their pain and hopeless
struggle
are what they seek to
share.
Our love can bring them
healing,
relief from toil and
strife;
their journey we must honor
that they might cherish
life.
With joy we sing our
praises
for life’s most precious
gift;
each person’s human spirit
we value and uplift.
With hope and grace and
courage
together we must face
the goodness and the
splendor
within the human race.
A
hymn reclaiming the historical Jesus
Jesus,
Mysterious One (Tune: Wroslyn Road)
Jesus, mysterious one,
who through time was named
Son of God above,
to the realm below did you
send your love.
Jesus, the one true God.
Jesus, the silent one,
scripture story tells of
your godly fame,
images divine you would
never claim.
Jesus, the undefiled.
Jesus, the hidden one,
should the truth be told of
your earthly place,
challenge faith of old with
your human face.
Jesus, reveal your truth.
Jesus, courageous man,
speaking daring words to
the righteous proud,
how you suffered wrong by
an angered crowd.
Jesus, the martyred one.
Jesus, reveal yourself,
flee the mythic shroud of a
passing age,
see you rise again as a
human sage.
We set your Spirit
free.
©Rev. Peggy McDonagh, 2003
All rights reserved
A
hymn written in response to the lectionary reading during Lent of Jesus turning
the tables in the temple.
The
carpenter, in anger (Tune: Lancashire)
The carpenter, in anger,
raged through the Temple gate,
drove out the money changers,
their greed had set their fate.
The temple is for worship,
not selling merchant wares,
my Father’s house stands firmly
a sacred place of prayer.
The angered One sought justice,
when others failed to see
the lost and lonely peasants
who longed to be set free.
The temple place was holy,
but in their urgent fear,
they challenged God’s kind mercy,
and sold their souls with tears.
Our passion leads to freedom
when we respond and live
the loving acts of Jesus,
to challenge and forgive.
Though systems of oppression
may keep God’s people down,
our anger, love and justice
set them on sacred ground.
These Lenten days remind us,
God’s grace is never lost.
With passion and with purpose
we love despite the cost.
We move beyond the boundaries
that hinder us each day;
we honor peace and justice,
embrace love’s living way.
HYMN The
Goodness of this Friday (Tune: St. Christopher)
The goodness of this Friday, is tempered with
deep pain,
an evil plan, an act of hate, a vibrant life was slain.
A human heart that shared a dream, a vision for
his time;
to see the world a loving place was Jesus’ only crime.
Upon the cross of sorrow, an honest life did end,
so deep an anguish filled the hearts, who lost a
cherished friend.
The pain and grief, the desperate hope, the yearning
yet to grow,
to live their lives as Jesus had, where love and faith
did flow.
We see its silent shadow, the cross upon our lives,
It rends the heart with sad regret, but brings the truth
alive:
From deep within this darken deed, an act we can
embrace,
to stand with those who suffer most, and share
God’s healing grace.
This
hymn was written in response to a sermon that focused on destructive vs.
justice-love (term used by Carter Heyward) power.
Justice-love (Tune: 8787)
God of Courage, God of
Wisdom,
clear our eyes, unstop our
ears.
Justice-love, God’s
truthful power,
feeds our hope, dismantles
fears.
Hurtful power, hate-filled
living,
break the soul and rend the
heart.
Move us God from harmful
action,
fear and tyranny depart.
Life is sacred, life is
precious,
life of each, a gift of
grace.
God’s own goodness finds
expression
in each cherished human
face.
Words of healing, sacred
caring,
bless the wearied soul
awake.
Cherishing our human
living,
bitter chains of sin we
break.
Justice-love, the power
within us,
hallows God-blessed human
life.
Justice-love and honest
action
bring an end to human
strife.
A
hymn for Advent.
Advent’s
Hope (Tune: Stuttgart)
Advent hope begins the journey
into this new Christian year;
may we enter this new season
with love’s presence ever near.
Advent is a time of waiting,
waiting for our hearts to see
peace and justice, human loving
touch the world and set it free.
Fear and anguish shape our waiting,
dread can cause our souls to mourn;
Advent hope frees hearts from darkness,
human lives hope will transform.
God of Promise, bless this Advent,
bringing peace and joy our way;
fill our lives with hopeful waiting
for a new and better day.
Communion Hymn during the Christmas
Season
Advent
communion hymn (Tune:
Regent Square)
All who come with hearts
confessing,
now approach
this meal of grace.
Let us, with
love’s richest blessing,
Christmas hope
and joy embrace.
Come with
praises, come with praises,
celebrate the
power of love.
To this table bring your
vision
for a world of
peace and love.
Where all
people share their wisdom
truth and
justice shall increase.
Come with
praises, come with praises
Celebrate the
hope of love.
May the bread
and wine unite us
in our quest
for peace on earth.
May our hearts
be moved within us
to embrace our
own new birth.
Come with
praises, come with praises,
Celebrate the
way of peace.
As
is true for the all hymns, the following hymns were written because it was
difficult to find hymns that fit with the sermon.
In the turmoil of our living (Tune: Nettleton)
In the raging storms of living,
hurt and anguish find their place.
Chasing joy and bright tomorrows
into empty, silent space.
Met with weakness, sadness deepens,
threatens life’s most gracious calm;
endless freting, restless pacing,
deepest pain will never cease.
Storms of Life can chain our spirits
darkness reigns as days unfold.
Met with strength and noble courage,
hardship
breaks its gloomy hold.
Faith awakes the heart for living,
opens life to love once more;
when the raging storm is silenced,
hope and peace our joy restore.
Gracious Spirit, in these moments
may our lives be blessed with grace.
We give thanks for treasured blessings,
love and joy, our hearts embrace.
Days of gladness brighten spirits,
tender smiles that set us free;
when we’re happy, filled with pleasure,
all good things in life we see.
Same
hymn but some changed wording
In the
turmoil of our living (Tune: 8787D)
In the turmoil of our living,
hurt and anguish find their place.
Chasing joy and bright tomorrows
into empty, silent space.
Met with weakness, sadness deepens,
threatens life’s most gracious peace;
endless worry, restless pacing,
deepest pain will never cease.
Suffering chains our lives in anguish,
darkness reigns as loss unfolds.
Met with strength and noble courage
hardship
breaks its gloomy hold.
Love awakes the heart for living,
opens life to hope once more;
when we cease our anxious brewing,
grace and peace our bliss restore.
Loving Spirit, Sacred Presence,
blessing us with endless grace.
We give thanks for healing moments,
trust and hope, our hearts embrace.
Days of gladness brighten spirits,
tender smiles that wake our hearts,
freed from grieving, filled with pleasure,
all good things in life we see.
Embrace
this life (Tune:
Sine Nomine 101010 with hallelujahs)
Embrace this life and all its wondrous days,
let go of fear that in our heart betrays
the joy of life, the beauty and the praise.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
When truth becomes the gospel that we spread,
it lifts the shadows of our deepest dread;
with honest words our hearts are richly fed.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
The strength of truth creates a warming light
of peace and freedom, born when things are right;
an honest heart expands our inward sight.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Give thanks for love that opens ways to care,
to ease the struggles and the pain we bear;
the way of truth improves the lives we share.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Embrace
this life
Embrace this life and
all its wondrous days,
let go
of fear that in our heart betrays
the joy
of life, the blessings and the praise.
Hallelujah,
hallelujah.
When
thanks becomes the gospel that we spread,
it lifts
the shadows of our deepest dread;
with
grateful hearts our lives are richly fed.
Hallelujah,
hallelujah.
A
grateful heart creates a warming light
of hope
and freedom, born when life feels bright;
a
thankful faith expands our inward sight.
Hallelujah,
hallelujah.
Embrace
God’s love that opens ways to care,
to ease
the struggles and the pain we bear;
the way
of truth improves the lives we share.
Hallelujah,
hallelujah.
To
love each other fully
(Tune: Omni Die [Dic Maria] or an
alternative 8787D)
God of Courage, God of Wisdom,
with our eyes we long to see
how to love each other fully,
honor our humanity.
Justice was the power of Jesus,
feeding hope to those in pain;
loving actions, caring touches,
free the lives of those in shame.
As we live our lives with value,
healing stirs our soul awake.
Cherishing our human living,
bitter chains of sin we break.
Life is sacred, life is precious,
life of each, a gift of grace.
God’s own goodness finds expression
in each cherished human face.
Gentle
Spirit, calming presence (Tune: 8787D)
Gentle Spirit, Calming Presence,
help our searching eyes to see
ways of living that compel us
to be bold and strong and free.
Pain and hardship mar the good life,
weigh us down in fear and grief;
with persistent hearts and actions,
strength and courage bring relief.
Gentle Spirit, Calming Presence,
touch our hearts with truth and grace;
days of darkness, endless worry,
loss and hurt we learn to face.
In our asking, in our seeking,
in our quest for inner peace,
may the door of wisdom open
and our trust in self increase.
Gentle
Spirit, Calming Presence
Gentle Spirit, calming Presence
help our searching eyes to see
help our searching eyes to see
ways of
living that compel us
to be
bold and strong and free.
Pain and
hardship, stress and sadness,
weigh us
down with endless grief;
Perseverance,
faith and courage,
Guide
the heart and bring relief.
Gentle
Spirit, Calming Presence,
touch
our hearts with truth and grace;
Days of
darkness, endless worry,
loss and
hurt we learn to face.
In our
asking, in our seeking,
in our
quest for inner peace,
may the
door of wisdom open
and our
inner strength increase.
Give Praise for Summer (Tune: Mount or 6686)
Give
praise for summer days, the blue bright summer ways,
that
bring us healing, hope and joy, give praise for summer days.
Give
praise for summer sun, its golden shining fun,
that
sends warm light into the heart, give praise for summer sun.
Give
praise for summer rain, the softly falling rain,
that
brings new growth to all the land, give praise for summer rain.
Give
praise for summer rest, a quiet place to nest,
that
gives us comfort, strength, and peace, give praise for summer rest.
Give
praise for summer mirth, the joy it brings to birth,
that
draws deep laughter from the heart, give praise for summer mirth.
May
summer bless your soul, your searching, thirsty soul,
and
bring it healing, hope and joy, may summer bless your soul.
Same tune as above with words slightly changed to represent spring
Give
praise for springtime days, the blue bright shining ways,
that
bring us healing, hope and joy, give praise for springtime days.
Give
praise for spring’s bright sun, its golden shining fun,
that
lifts the heart with warming light, give praise for spring’s bright sun.
Give
praise for fresh spring rain, the softly falling rain,
that
stirs new growth within the land, give praise for fresh spring rain.
Give
praise for springtime mirth, the joy it brings to birth,
that
stirs deep healing in the heart, give praise for joyful mirth.
May
springtime green your soul, your trusting, thirsty soul,
and
bring it healing, hope and joy, may springtime bless your soul.
Joy is Now in
Every Place (Tune: Resonet in Laudibus)
Joy is now
in every place, Advent lightens every face;
Now be with
us, in your grace, O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.
May God’s
joy that shines so bright, guide our way toward the light
of that
special ancient night, O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.
Through this
season let us stay, joyful as we make our way,
to the
Christ child Christmas day, O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.
alternative words by Rev. Peggy
McDonagh
Give to Us Play (Tune: Oldham)
1. Bless us with play, O Creator of life,
Fool hearty fun can ease struggle and strife.
Laughter and cheer dispel darkness and gloom,
Opens the heart for your wisdom to bloom.
2. Let us be playful, as signs of God’s grace;
Pleasure and glee can calm life’s rapid pace.
Wading, and skipping, and flying a kite,
playing and laughing bring inner delight.
3. In times of illness, in sadness, in grief,
moments of play bring a gentle relief.
Find time to play, seek its freedom and peace,
playing and pleasure our joy to increase.
Give to Us Play (Tune: Oldham)
1. Bless us with play, O Creator of life,
Fool hearty fun can ease struggle and strife.
Laughter and cheer dispel darkness and gloom,
Opens the heart for your wisdom to bloom.
2. Let us be playful, as signs of God’s grace;
Leisure and joy can calm life’s rapid pace.
Wading, and skipping, and flying a kite,
playing and laughing bring inner delight.
3. In times of sorrow, in sadness, in grief,
moments of play can bring gentle relief.
Find time to play, seek its comfort and peace,
playing and pleasure our joy to increase.
Spiritual
Blessings
(Tune:
Oldham)
1. Spiritual blessings bring meaning to life,
Blessings of hope can ease struggle and strife.
Blessings in darkness and moments of gloom,
opens the heart for God’s wisdom to bloom.
2. Blessings in life show us signs of God’s
grace;
Blessings of peace calms our life’s rapid pace.
Blessings in life bring us warmth and delight,
Chasing away all our sadness and fright.
3. In times of sorrow, as tears name our grief,
Blessings of God can bring gentle relief,
Deep in each heart lives rich blessings of peace
Seeking
that peace helps our joy to increase.
Hymn for the first Sunday in Advent)
Hope Begins the Journey (Tune: Stuttgart)
Hope Begins the Journey (Tune: Stuttgart)
Hope begins the healing journey
From the grip of grief and fear;
May we walk this path of wisdom
with love’s presence ever near.
Pain and loss can shape our living,
Sadness moves our souls to mourn;
How we ache to end the darkness,
Find the path that will transform.
Hope awakes us from our slumber,
Lights the way for us to see;
Spirit’s breath and loving presence
stirs the heart and sets it free.
Hope will guide our journey forward,
grace and peace will bless our way;
Hearts will rise from dread to wonder,
Freed again to laugh and play.
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ReplyDeletethanks peggy
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