A Place in God's Heart... A Place at Christ's Table
Hymns & Ministry of Music
Published by the Institute for Welcoming Resources, a program of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and home of the Shower of Stoles Project www.WelcomingResources.org. Unless otherwise noted, permission is granted to reprint individual selections for congregational use.
CHORAL MEDITATION
Be Still
By David Lohman
IWR & Faith Work Coordinator, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources
Written for the 2003 National Gathering of the
United Church of Christ Coalition for Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns
(This is to be sung slowly and repeated many times. Begin with the basses alone. After a few repeats, add the tenors, and so on. After several repeats with everyone, begin dropping out voices, beginning with the sopranos.)
HYMN
The Creation/Wind Upon the Waters:
A Weaving of Poetry and Song
Adapted from "The Creation" by James Weldon Johnson
and "Wind Upon the Waters" by Marty Haugen
© 1986 GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Used by permission.
Available in the Marty Haugen collection, "Spirit of God Among Us"
Adapted by Rev. Rebecca Voelkel and David Lohman
(The poem is spoken by readers, perhaps placed in various spots around the sanctuary. The congregation sings the hymn, printed in bold. This provides the pianist a great opportunity to improvise, all in G minor, the key of the hymn. The pianist begins playing sparsely, setting the mood. Music continues to underscores each section of the poem, and then brings the congregation in to sing each verse.)
| One: | And God stepped out on space, And God looked around and said, "I'm lonely - I'll make me a world." And far as the eye of God could see Darkness covered everything, Blacker than a hundred midnights Down in a cypress swamp. Then God smiled, And the light broke, And the darkness rolled up on one side, And the light stood shining on the other, And God said, "That's good!" |
| All: | Blazing light of wonder, flame that pierces night; Burst the dark asunder, fill our souls with light. God of glory, fill the skies, make an end to hatred's cries, Be the blazing Sun of justice in our lives. |
| One: | Then God reached out and took the light in Her hands, And God rolled the light around in Her hands Until she made the sun; And She set that sun ablazing in the heavens. And the light that was left from making the sun God gathered it up in a shining ball And flung it against the darkness, Spangling the night with the moon and stars. Then down between The darkness and the light She hurled the world; And God said, "That's good!" |
| All: | Showers from the heaven, water from the earth; Gift so wholly given, source of every birth. Joy of every living thing, making all creation sing, Shower down upon the dry earth of my soul. |
| One: | Then God himself stepped down - And the sun was on His right hand, And the moon was on His left, The stars were clustered about His head, And the earth was under His feet. And God walked, and where He trod His footsteps hollowed the valleys out And bulged the mountains up. Then He stopped and looked and saw That the earth was hot and barren. So God stepped over to the edge of the world And He spat out the seven seas; He batted His eyes and the lightnings flashed; He clapped His hands and the thunders rolled; And the waters above the earth came down, The cooling waters came down. Then the green grass sprouted, And the little red flowers blossomed, The pine tree pointed her finger to the sky, And the oak spread out his arms, The lakes cuddled down in the hollows of the ground, And the rivers ran down to the sea; And God smiled again, And the rainbow appeared, And curled itself around His shoulder. Then God raised His arm and He waved his hand, Over the sea and over the land, And He said, "Bring forth, bring forth." And quicker than God could drop his hand, Fishes and fowls, And beasts and birds Swam the rivers and the seas, Roamed the forests and the woods, And split the air with their wings. And God said, "That's good!" |
| All: | Rock and hill and garden, wood and desert sand; Prairie, field and meadow, shaped by Love's own hand. Love that fills the world around, springing up from barren ground, Grow Your love within the garden of my soul. |
| One: | Then God walked around, And God looked around On all that She had made. She looked at Her sun, And She looked at Her moon, An She looked at Her little stars; She looked on Her world With all its living things, And God said, "I'm lonely still." Then God sat down On the side of a hill where She could think; By a deep, wide river She sat down; With Her head in Her hands, God thought and thought, Till She thought, "I'll make me a human!" |
| All: | Wind upon the waters, voice upon the deep; Rouse Your sons and daughters, wake us from our sleep. Breathing life into all flesh, breathing love into all hearts, Living wind upon the waters of my soul. |
| One: | Up from the bed of the river God scooped the clay; And by the bank of the river He kneeled Him down; And there the great God Almighty Who lit the sun and fixed it in the sky, Who flung the stars to the most far corner of the night, Who rounded the earth in the middle of His hand; This Great God, Like a mammy bending over her baby, Kneeled down in the dust Toiling over the lump of clay Till He shaped it in His own image; Then into it He blew the breath of life, And the human became a living soul. Amen. Amen. |
| All: | Wind upon the waters, rains upon the sand; Grace Your sons and daughters, newborn by Your hand. Come, O Spirit, and renew all the life that comes from you, Send Your winds upon the waters of my soul. |
HYMN
For All the Children
Word and Music by David Lohman
IWR & Faith Work Coordinator, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources
REFRAIN:
O, may our hearts and minds be opened,
fling the church doors open wide.
May there be room enough for everyone inside.
For in God there is a welcome,
in God we all belong;
may that welcome be our song.
© Welcome Song Music, 2007
For more information about the use of For All the Children, Click Here
HYMN
God Made Us From One Blood
Sung to "Immortal, Invisible"
Tune: ST. DENIO 11.11.11.11
Words by Thomas H. Troeger, 1988
God made us from one blood all families of earth,
The circles of nurture that raise us from birth,
Companions who join us to work through each stage,
Of childhood and youth and adulthood and age.
We turn to You, God, with our thanks and our tears,
For all of the families we've known through the years,
The intimate networks on whom we depend
Of parents and partners and children and friends.
Through families we've tasted the value of trust
And felt what it means to be loving and just.
Yet families have alos betrayed their best goals,
Mistreating their members and bruising their souls.
Help families in all of their various forms
To face with integrity struggles and storms;
Grant peace to our homes that will nurture the bud
Of peace for the families You made from one blood.
HYMN
Guide Us To Openness
Sung to "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"
Tune: FAITHFULNESS 11.10.11.10 with refrain
Words by The Rev. W. Robert Martin, III
Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto, CA
Dedicated to the faithful ministry of More Light Presbyterians
Guide us to openness, Spirit of mercy,
Aid us in seeking God's justice and grace.
Move us to show Christ's compassion through witness,
Love first to offer and hate to erase.
Guide us to openness! Guide us to openness!
Let no one ever be shunned or denied.
Make of the Church a bold place of compassion,
That all who seek You may come and abide.
Spirit of tenderness, impart Your presence,
Fill both our hearts and our hands with Your care.
Let no one suffer or grieve unattended,
Grant us Your kindness and warmth here to share.
Guide us to openness! Guide us to openness!
Let no one ever be shunned or denied.
Make of the Church a bold place of compassion,
That all who seek You may come and abide.
Though there are those who would limit Christ's graces,
Still we refuse to believe in such lies,
For in this time we have made a commitment
Never to limit love's power or size.
Guide us to openness! Guide us to openness!
Let no one ever be shunned or denied.
Make of the Church a bold place of compassion,
That all who seek You may come and abide.
© W. Robert Martin, III
HYMN
Hear Our Prayer, O Holy God
Sung to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" 7.7.7.7.7.7
Also works with the following melodies:
"Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me" GETHSEMANE
"For the Beauty of the Earth" DIX
"Jesus Savior Pilot Me" PILOT
"Rock of Ages" TOPLADY
Text by Rev. Pamela June Webb
Founder, Covenant of Inclusion, Open and Affirming Ministries
of the GLAD Alliance, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Hear our prayer, O Holy God.
Help us place our trust in you.
Be for us new strength each day.
Let us follow in your way.
With your Spirit, like the Dove,
Healing others with your love.
Hear our prayer, O Holy God.
Bless us with the skill we need.
Help us listen with our ears
To the feelings and the fears.
With your Spirit, like the Dove.
Healing others with your love.
Hear our prayer, O Holy God,
May we always be prepared.
Sense the need of those in pain,
Let their tears flow like the rain.
With your Spirit, like the Dove,
Healing others with your love.
Hear our prayer, O Holy God,
Free us from our closet's dark.
Give us courage we can share,
Daring lives which show we care.
With your Spirit, like the Dove
Healing others with your love.
PRAYER RESPONSE
O God, Remind Us
Word and Music by David Lohman
IWR & Faith Work Coordinator, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force's Institute for Welcoming Resources
HYMN
Welcoming God
Sung to "Blessed Assurance"
Tune: ASSURANCE Irr.
Words by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
Co-Pastor, Limestone Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Delaware
Children are welcome, Christ said one day,
When the disciples urged them away.
Children are welcome at Jesus' knee:
God's own example for ministry.
Welcoming God, You open the Way:
Even the smallest worship and pray,
Singing with faith and serving You well,
Your life to know and good news tell.
Women are welcome, as are the men;
Through God's own Spirit, we're partners again.
Partners as prophets, ministers, too:
No more divided - made one anew.
Welcoming God, You open the way;
Those once divided join now to pray,
Serving at Table, preaching Your Words,
So that Your love for all will be heard.
Outcasts are welcome; sinners are, too,
Eating with Jesus and being made new:
Some like Zacchaeus turned right around;
Wounded and poor ones felt peace profound.
God of great love, You stand at the door,
Welcoming people outcast and poor.
So You forgive and call us to be
Filled with the joy of Your jubilee.
So may we welcome into our pew
All who in Jesus are being made new-
All those who seek him, wanting to know,
Wanting to love him, wanting to grow.
Welcoming God, You stand at our door,
As someone different, outcast or poor.
With longing eyes, Lord Jesus, You search
May we all welcome You in Your church.
HYMN
Word of Welcome
Sung to "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee"
Tune: HYMN TO JOY 8.7.8.7.D
Words by David R. Weiss, 2003
Poet & Theologian, Lutherans Concerned/North America
In this holy place we gather, claimed through grace by God above;
Heaven's wings now wrap around us, downy depths of boundless love.
Freed from fears that keep us hidden, for the work that You desire.
Reconciling as we're bidden, hearts aflame with joyful fire.
Earth in all her verdant beauty sings Your joy made manifest;
Winged and finned and scaled and limbed life; fruitful frenzy, quiet rest.
Rushing wind and roiling waters, green of forest, blue of sky,
Dark of night and dawn of morning, all give praise to You on high.
As by imprint nature offers witness to Your gracious care
So in freedom's faith we follow after Christ if we but dare.
Rushing wind of Spirit able, blowing from the most to least
From the font and for the table, born again and bid to feast.
Word of welcome walk among us, watching as these wineskins burst
Breaking bread and pouring wine for all who hunger, all who thirst.
Now as we go forth to scatter, may Your presence yet abide
Joy of life and Love of justice, be our Wisdom and our Guide.
