Faithful cross, O tree of beauty,
tree of Eden, tree divine!
Not a grove on earth can show us
leaf and flow’r and fruit so fine.
Bearer of our Savior’s body,
tree of life, salvation’s sign!
Cross of pain transformed to gladness
ever green and sheltering tree,
symbol once of shame and bondage,
now the sign that we are free!
Cross of splendor, cross of glory,
cross of love’s great victory!
Christians, chant your grateful praises
for the tree of triumph won,
proof of overflowing mercy
and redemption in the Son.
To the cross of Christ give glory
while the endless ages run!
Psalm for Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, RCL Year A
Psalm 133
A litany: a sung response alternating with spoken word (preferably with feeling)
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Maker of heaven and earth
v 1-3 1 If the LORD had not been on our side—
let Israel say— 2 if the LORD had not been on our side
when people attacked us, 3 they would have swallowed us alive
when their anger flared against us;
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Maker of heaven and earth
v 1a, 4-5 1a If the LORD had not been on our side 4 the flood would have engulfed us,
the torrent would have swept over us, 5 the raging waters
would have swept us away.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Maker of heaven and earth
v 6-7 6 Praise be to the LORD,
who has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Maker of heaven and earth
Psalm for Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, RCL Year A
Psalm 105:1-6 (optional ending: 16-22)
A litany: a sung response alternating with spoken word (preferably with feeling)
Seek the Lord, keep on seeking
Seek His presence; seek His strength
v 1-2 1 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done. 2 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Seek the Lord, keep on seeking
Seek His presence; seek His strength
v 3-4 3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 4 Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
Seek the Lord, keep on seeking
Seek His presence; seek His strength
v 5-6 5 Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, 6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
Seek the Lord, keep on seeking
Seek His presence; seek His strength
OPTIONAL ENDING
v 16-22 (about Joseph in Egypt)
(Refrain)
Psalm for Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, RCL Year A
Psalm 17:1-7, 15
A litany with a sung response alternating with spoken word (preferably with feeling).
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me
Turn your ear to me and hear my prayer
v 1-3 1 Hear me, LORD, my plea is just;
listen to my cry.
Hear my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips. 2 Let my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right. 3 Though you probe my heart,
though you examine me at night and test me,
you will find that I have planned no evil;
my mouth has not transgressed.
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me
Turn your ear to me and hear my prayer
v 4-5 4 Though people tried to bribe me,
I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
through what your lips have commanded. 5 My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not stumbled.
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me
Turn your ear to me and hear my prayer
v 7, 15 7 Show me the wonders of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes. 15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me
Turn your ear to me and hear my prayer
Quiet my heart, quiet my mind
Gentle Jesus, I seek and I find
I rest in your presence, Prince of Peace.
Shepherd, lead me beside quiet streams
I wrote this song last month, as part of the current 12 Song Challenge hosted by resoundworship.org. The recording features my friend, Margriet van Overbeeke, singing harmony.
Trust in God, and do what is good;
live with quiet confidence where God has placed you.
Delight in God’s presence,
and you will have all that your heart desires.
Commit everything you do to God — trust Him completely —
and He will never let you down.
Be patient.
Don’t worry or get upset when things don’t go well.
Instead, learn to rest in God’s presence.
For those who trust in God will have everything they need.
For some years now I’ve taken part in various editions of the 12-song challenge, a songwriting initiative hosted by resoundworship.org. The challenges and the supportive songwriting community have kept me writing at least one song a month. even during busy and trying times like vacancies and the pandemic.
This month the assignment was to write Assembly Bangers:
assembly – gathered, collective worship in schools, supposed to be daily and of a broadly Christian character. Though not so common throughout the school experience as it once was, it remains a staple of many children’s experience in primary school (ages 4 to 11)
bangers – a British colloquial terms for great song that make you want to get up and dance
songs that:
– are repetitive and hooky
– have a simple structure
– are easy to play and lead on piano (or guitar)
– have an accessible vocal range
– have words that children can read/memorise/understand
To start with I revamped an existing song called “God is my refuge”, also based on Psalm 46. Slowly but surely the revamp evolved into a song in its own right, including a new verse that references war and peace and a bridge based on “Be still, and know that I am God” (v.10).
I don’t know if I hit the brief exactly. Perhaps the song is too confessional and belongs in the church, more than the school assembly. Time will tell.
GOD IS OUR HELP (PSALM 46)
CHORUS
God is our help in times of distress
God is our refuge and strength
God is with us always
No need feel afraid
for God will keep us safe.
VERSE 1
Even if the earth starts to tremble
and mountains start to slip and slide
even if the waves start to roar like lions
God is by our side
(Chorus)
VERSE 2
One day God will stop all the fighting
All weapons will be scrapped and burnt
One day God will reign over all the nations
Peace will come on earth
(Chorus)
BRIDGE
Be still and know God is on the throne
Be still and know, God is in control.
As I was working on this post I discovered that a webpage featuring the lyrics to my song, “Thank you, thank you”, had some curious typos. Also, the verse I wanted to spotlight (“Thank you, Lord, for making me”) isn’t included in the recording.
Please overlook the oversight, and join in this simple song of thanks to the God who made us, loves us, saved us and blesses us in countless ways. Perhaps make it personal and add some verses of your own.
A prayer
O my God teach my heart where and how to seek you,
where and how to find you …
You are my God and you are my All
and I have never seen you.
You have made me and remade me,
You have bestowed on me all the good things I possess,
Still I do not know you …
I have not yet done that for which I was made …
Teach me to seek you …
I cannot seek you unless you teach me
or find you unless you show yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire,
let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you,
let me love you when I find you.
~ written by Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109), posted on re:worship
‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’
During a two-week stay at Dutch L’Abri last autumn, the subject of what it means to be like children came up in a lecture entitled, Hoping for the best but expecting the worst: Do you really want to live forever?
Here are some pointers our speaker, Arthur Metz, noted about children in his talk:
they are trusting because they don’t have many other options
they don’t overthink or become overly critical
they are in tune with the natural world
they don’t pretend to have all the answers and they’re curious – hence they keep asking ‘why? why?’
they trust their parents, even when the answer is ‘no’
they are good at living in the present, without major concern for the future or the past
A few days after the lecture, as I reflected on Matthew 19:13-15 and why Jesus was such a magnet for children, I was inspired to write verse 1 of this little song. Jesus’ invitation in Matt 11:28-30 was a perfect match and inspired verse 2.
I hope the song ministers to you, as it does to me.
JESUS, WE COME AS LITTLE CHILDREN
by Irene Bom
Verse 1
Jesus, we come as little children
We see in you the Father’s heart
You make the time
You make us welcome
You draw us close
into your loving arms
Verse 2
Jesus, we come bringing our burdens
We find in you the rest we need
Humble in heart
Ever so gentle
You bind our wounds
and bless us with your peace
For more songs written at L’Abri in autumn 2021, click here.
