I am creating this blog as the result of our decision to cancel church at HUCC tomorrow (1/31/2010). The roads are icy and snowy and we have decided to not take a chance on trying to gather in conditions that are not very inviting.
Having said that, I am inviting you to check in with and follow a conversation on our brand new HUCC Theological Conversations Blog.
I hope it works that our conversation is inspiring and meaningful!
Look for a post later today.
Peace,
Beth
I'm looking forward to the blog. Hope everyone is safe & warm & able to enjoy the beauty of this winter weather!
ReplyDeleteHere's a YouTube link to our Gathering Hymn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpVhh-motrA
ReplyDeleteIt cuts off toward the end of the hymn, but a beautiful performance with great images, I'm assuming from, St. Thomas's Church and Community Center, Huddersfield, UK (ttp://www.saintthomashuddersfield.org/default.htm).
Here are the lyrics to Gather Us In:
ReplyDelete1.
Here in this place, new light is streaming,
now is the darkness vanished away.
See, in this space, our fears and our dreamings,
brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in - the lost and forsaken,
gather us in - the blind and the lame.
Call to us now, and we shall awaken,
we shall arise at the sound of our name.
2.
We are the young - our lives are a mystery,
we are the old - who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history,
called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in - the rich and the haughty,
gather us in - the proud and the strong.
Give us a heart so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage to enter the song.
3.
Here we will take the wine and the water,
here we will take the bread of new birth.
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters,
call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion,
give us to eat the bread that is you.
Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion
lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
4.
Not in the dark of buildings confining,
not in some heaven, light years away,
but here in this place, the new light is shining;
now is the Kingdom, now is the day.
Gather us in - and hold us forever,
gather us in - and make us your own.
Gather us in - all peoples together,
fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
My response to the Call to Worship:
ReplyDelete"In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer." -- French writer Albert Camus, author of The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus
Here's a YouTube link to today's second hymn "In the Bulb There Is a Flower". A very appropriate hymn as I look out from my sun room today and see a few signs of vegetation poking out of the cold snow:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuYdIIQuZCI
Here are the lyrics:
In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Waiting for the rest of you to catch up. Despite the time stamp on these -- mine seems to be about three hours off.
ReplyDeleteOne last item. If you wish to listen to some high church music associated with the liturgy for today, try the Sing for Joy Website: http://www.stolaf.edu/singforjoy/
Mitch--I was very impressed that you were on here at 4 am! Although, I am glad to know that you really were not! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the posts that you have already added, and for the links and directions to the web-sites.
Your response to the Call to worship (written by Tammerie Day) gave me chills! It is absolutely beautiful. That summarizes exactly what I believe about living our passions! Thank you!
Thanks, Mitch, for posting today's hymns.
ReplyDeleteJeremiah is "only a boy"; Jesus is only "Joseph's son." I have only limited talents. No one is sufficient alone. But Jeremiah had God's assurance to speak without fear. Jesus understood that Nazareth was not his only place of ministry. I have communities of support and challenge. Someone once told me, You have no true "community" if it does not both challenge and support you.
Good morning everybody! I think the blog is cool. Thank you, Mitch, for the links to the hymns!
ReplyDeleteI'm writing for LEAH:
"I like what Richard said about community both challenging and supporting us. My love for the people with whom I am in community with propels me to keep moving forward. But also, the people who have different ideas from me, the people who I can push up against, often cause me to think of things in new and exciting ways. Also, I think of the community (especially my church community) as being like the safety net beneath a trapize artist. I can try out the more difficult moves because if I slip, I will fall into the net ... not onto a hard concrete floor. I can pull myself up from the net ... make my way to the top of the trapize and try again!"