Main menu:
God of new beginnings
O God of new beginnings,
Creator, Spirit, Lord,
Be present in this moment,
Be worshipped and adored.
We stand upon a threshold
Seek wisdom for this hour,
That ministry and mission,
Your Spirit may empower.
Our past is rich with history,
Lives, lived in love and faith,
We hold those memories precious,
Affirm your signs of grace.
To build upon that history,
To venture to the new,
Take risks of faith and courage,
These Lord, we seek to do.
So bind us now together,
In ministry and faith,
Enlarge our Christian vision,
Make us true signs of grace.
Take from us every blind spot,
Give us warm open hearts,
Inspire us by your Spirit,
Commitment, hope, impart.
© Norman E Brookes
Tune: Day of Rest H&P 704 (ii)
MHB 776.
Alt. tune: Aurelia MHB 701,
WOV 305
Lenten Journey
It was a journey charged with love,
This stumbling journey to the cross,
Midst tears and sorrow it was made,
By one who counted all else: loss.
It was a journey charged with hope,
Our health and wholeness, his desire,
In spite of darkness, dread and death,
His purpose charged with holy fire.
It was a journey charged with faith,
Faith holding fast to love’s great plan,
Christ stumbled on, determined, strong
This faithful, God full, Son of Man.
It was a journey charged with God,
As charged are stories, sparks and stars,
The cross, the shame, he did endure,
So love and faith can now be ours.
© Norman E Brookes
Tune: Winchester New
Or Tallis’s Canon
NOTE: This hymn was in part inspired by the quote below:
“All things therefore are charged with love, are charged with God
and if we knew how to touch them give of sparks and take fire,
yield drops and flow, ring and tell of him.”
The poet Gerard Manley Hopkins in a letter to Robert Bridges.
Note: GMH lectured at a Dublin University for several years.