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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 hist'ry,
lives, lived in love and faith.
We hold those memories precious,
affirm your signs of grace.
To build upon that hist'ry,
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: Aurelia MHB 701,
WOV 305
Lenten Journey (2)
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.
A Song for Easter
(based on Luke's account)
Early one morning
with their spices laden,
four women made their way
to their Lord’s garden tomb.
They came in sadness
fearful, broken-
for he whom they had loved was crucified.
“Why seek the living
here 'midst the dead?
the Lord is risen",
the watchers said.
Not dead but risen!
He lives for ever,
He will be with us,
of this we’re sure!
And that same ev’ning
as two friends were walking,
tearfully talking,
on the Emmaus road,
One came beside them
who then broke bread with them,
at once they knew he was their risen Lord.
“Why seek the living
here 'midst the dead?...
Our Lord is with us
this day and every day,
as in our daily life
we seek to walk his way.
He comes to comfort,
challenge and inspire,
calls us to service
that is his desire.
“Why seek the living
here among the dead?...
©Norman E Brookes
Tune: O Sole Mio
Do All the Good You Can
Do all the good you can,
to each and every man,
woman and child.
This is the way to live,
acting with those who give,
so others then can live,
life to the full.
Do all the good you can,
by all the means you can,
this is our prayer.
So, look for ways that meet,
poverty to defeat,
hopelessness to unseat,
life to secure.
Do all the good you can,
in all the ways you can,
to all you can.
Let us be colour blind,
accept all God designed,
to all be loving, kind,
this is our prayer.
Do all the good you can,
during your whole lifespan,
this is God’s plan
for you and all who seek,
to make this life complete,
sharing with all you meet,
faith, hope and love.
Tune: Moscow 806 Hymns & Psalms
© Norman E Brookes
This hymn is based on the saying below often attributed to John Wesley.
Historians tell us that it is debateable whether Wesley said this in its present form
but there are certainly echoes of the phrases in Wesley’s sermons and elsewhere.
"Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can."