Hymns
In this time of still thanksgiving
In this time of still thanksgiving As your song within us lifts, Come we now our God most holy, Raising thanks for all your gifts. Come we now our Lord most loving, Trusting in your guiding hands. Lead us toward our Jesus' passion That your grace might heal the lands. Lord of Love, who made apostles Out of every clan and race, In this time and in this valley, Show us Jesus' risen face. As we feel your strong redemption Burning hot within our mind, Make us prophets of deliv'rance Chains to break and wounds to bind. As we come to kneel before you, Seeking blessings from your hand, Make our lives in turn a blessing In this cold and troubled land. As we face the burnished offerings To the gods of power and greed, Make of us a living offering, Sow in us your Kingdom's seed. As we speak the name of Jesus, Crucified that we might live, May we take up crosses freely, Giving life as Christ did give. From our grave raise up a people, You who raised our servant king; From the hold of death release us, That we might your love proclaim! In this time of still thanksgiving As your song within us lifts, Come we now, O God most holy, Raising thanks for all your gifts. Grant us grace to face the struggle Which the world yet holds in store; Walk beside us, Lord most loving, Grant us peace forevermore. 8.7.8.7.D Suggested Tune: In Babilone ("Son of God, Eternal Saviour") 1987; Written for the occasion of the ordination of Ernest Duff Jr. With such a cloud of witnesses With such a cloud of witnesses, How can we turn from trust aside? So let us run this race with joy, And come what may, in love abide. Strong light You cast across the years, In human souls we still recall-- These gave their lives to testify The rising grace that frees us all. Some had no place to call their home Some died in chains, some faced the sword! Yet to the end, they walked in faith, Held by your promise, living Word. For all whose steps we slowly trace, We give You thanks, still dawning Sun! Till comes the day when love rules earth, In Jesus’ name, we’ll carry on. With such a cloud of witnesses, We dare not throw their hope aside! We’ll stay Your course till night is done, And come what may, in love abide. Peter JB Carman L.M. 2003 A Meditation on Hebrews 11 and 12 for the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, offered to God in thanksgiving for Ineke Wichers Carman, April 1933 to June 2003. She survived a war and insisted on love. My rising up, my walking path My rising up, my walking path Lie plain within your gaze, O God, Before a word comes from my mouth, You know its shadowed hopes, its thought. Oh, where now shall I flee at last, In order to escape your heart? Lord, in the heavens, you hold me fast, And in the dust, we're not apart! If morning's wings bear me afar, The shining sea to call my home, Yet even in the distance there Your guiding hand will lead me on. And if from light I tear away, And name the daytime thickest night, The very gloom turns bright as day For darkness can't conceal your sight. Great God, you shaped my inward parts, You wove me in my mother's womb. I praise you for your fearful works; For secret places you have known! L. M. (8.8.8.8) Steve Schalchlin wrote a lovely tune and adapted these words for a piece of music in 2008. |
Candle in the Dark
Words and tune November 2012. A song in drop D tuning: let me know if you want the tune. There’s a candle in the dark Making patterns all around And the gentle song you sing Is the only haunting sound. In the cool November night light and shadows haunt my mind. But the candle burns along: In your eyes it’s hope I find. It is clay from which we’re made, solid clay from which we’re formed, and it’s solid red brick clay to which we shall return. But the candle’s in the dark making patterns in the night, And the smooth sound of your voice fills the emptiness with light. There are silences to break; there is hollowness to fill. There is laughter in the dark; there are ancient tales to tell. There are patterns on the wall: There’s a candle burning strong. There’s an opening in the night: it’s a simple loving song. It is clay from which we’re made, solid clay from which we’re formed, and it’s solid red brick clay to which we shall return. There are silences to break; there is hollowness to fill. There is laughter in the dark; there are ancient tales to tell. Now hear a new thing I will do "Now, hear a new thing I will do," said God, so long ago. "I'll let the rivers of my love into the desert flow. The deaf shall hear, the mourners laugh, the prisoner sing new songs. I'll bring you round from distant lands: for this my spirit longs." "Through the deep sea I'll carve a path, where armies shall lie down." Thus speaks the God of shattered swords, Who stills the battle sound. "Do not recall your ways of old, nor turn to Babylon, But turn instead to love your God-- redemption is begun." "I am your God, the Holy One, from Pharaoh all I saved. I'll break through every iron bar that keeps each one enslaved." A new creation is begun, now fade you captive past; Lord, lead the way through wilderness, our hearts renew at last! We see the new thing You have done; let hearts and hands confess The streams of hope our God does pour upon the wilderness! Let all creation rise to sing thanks to the living God; Let Justice be our sweet refrain and Love God's final word. C.M.D. Suggested Tune: Resignation ("My Shepherd Will Supply My Need") Based on Isaiah 43:14-21 1990 Peter JB Carman |