25 March 2012
Ecumenical Advocacy Days
Washington, DC
Tag Archives: song
Grieve well
I grieve for my friend’s death.
I grieve for my friend’s family and friends and all who mourn this day.
I give thanks for my friend’s life and work and witness.
I give thanks for the love we shared.
I give thanks for the love we share this day and always will.
I give thanks that God is Lord of heaven and earth;
and I cannot keep from singing.
So even at the grave I make my song:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
May God comfort and sustain all who grieve.
Grieve well. Grieve well. And peace may come.
See you along the Trail.
Giving thanks for song
Originally written for my work blog:
I give thanks today for those who cannot keep from singing.
Song sustains us, guides us.
Song expresses our deepest fears and our most profound hopes.
Song challenges the powers and proclaims an alternative vision.
Song leads us into living that alternative.
The January Term Doctor of Ministry class meeting at the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations attended chapel at the Church Center for the United Nations today. Chaplain Kathleen Stone reminded us of the power and roles of song. And I thought of:
Victor Jara
Odetta
Pete Seeger
Paul Robeson
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Vedran Smailović
Tommy Sands
and musicians through the age whose names I cannot remember, whose names I do not know, will never know,
but whose songs touch and inspire and bless people,
cause tyrants to tremble,
shape and support struggles for justice.
For each, for all I give thanks.
And it seems to me that since I believe Love is Lord of heaven and earth, it might be time to get out my guitar.
See you along the Trail.
Step on
Step by step, we march toward peace,
step by step, the march goes on.
No one steps every step;
each one steps but some.
We may not reach the journey’s end,
but without our steps,
however few, however small,
no one ever will.
Step on.
Step on.
Act by act, justice is done,
act by act, justice does grow.
No one takes every act;
each one takes but some.
We may not see full justice done,
but without our acts,
however few, however small,
no one ever will.
Act on.
Act on.
Note by note, we play our part,
note by note, the song goes on.
No one plays every note;
each one plays but some.
We may not hear the last coda,
but without our notes,
however many, however few,
no one ever will.
Play on.
Play on.
27 June 2011
Shire on the Hudson
Filed under Poem
And in the end
And in the end
God gives a song.
When death has come,
and pain aches deep,
it’s all we have,
it is enough.
For in the end,
God gives a song.
And in the end,
God gives us hope.
When all seems lost,
despair runs high,
it’s all we have,
it is enough,
For in the end,
God gives us hope.
And in the end,
God gives us love,
when hate reigns strong,
when fear looms large,
it’s all we have,
it is enough.
For in the end,
God gives us love.
And in the end,
God gives justice.
When systems wound,
exclude, exploit,
it’s all we have,
it is enough.
For in the end,
God gives justice.
And in the end,
God gives us peace,
when wars rage hot,
violence strikes,
it’s all we have,
it is enough.
For in the end,
God gives us peace.
And in the end,
God gives us Christ,
when all is done,
and all is said,
Christ’s all we have,
Christ is enough.
Give thanks to God,
God gives us Christ.
25 May 2011
Jet Blue 868
KIN – JFK
Filed under Poem
