Come Great Creator! A Chant to the Four Winds

Chant to the Four Winds 

Voices Found #52

One of the blessings of  convening the Voices Found committees was sharing our  diverse musical traditions. Each member brought unique gifts that have enriched the Voices Found hymnal supplement.  Bishop  Carol  Gallagher contributed “ Chant to the Four Winds,” from a Native American tradition. This chant is a song of welcome that gathers all believers to worship, to celebrate the Spirit of Life.

 Chant to the Four Winds

 

Refrain 

Come Great Creator! Come Life Giver! 

Come to this sacred place!

Come and be with us. 

Verse 1

Welcome cousins from the East! And bring your gifts,

Rising sun and gentle waters,

Soaring Eagle, new vision.

Refrain

 

Verse 2

Welcome cousins from the South! And bring your gifts

Our rich mother earth, innocence and love!

Refrain

Verse 3

Welcome cousins from the West! And bring your gifts

Thunder drum and wind, oceans and strong hearts.

Refrain

Verse 4

Welcome cousins from the North! And bring your gifts

Mighty buffalo and wisdom, rivers of harmony

Refrain

Verse 5

Welcome dear Christ! Our circle is complete!

We thank you for this circle, and for the home you made for all!

Refrain

The composer writes, “As a member of the Cherokee nation, I have inherited a rich tradition of chant and song.  Traditional songs in Cherokee were used to welcome people  or a time of year, to tell stories, or to share sorrows.  The drum is considered the heartbeat of the people and singing  or chanting….many Native American tribes consider all elements of nature (animals, plants, wind, and earth) to be imbued with life and related to all other living creatures including humans….We have attempted, through a merging and blending of influences and traditions  from both church and tribe, to create music that echoes the rhythm and heartbeat of our traditional ways while interweaving voices and harmonies familiar to modern church music.  Included in this piece is the Cherokee word O-si-yo which is an all-encompaassing  greeting that encourages the singer and the hearer to remember and welcome all our relations.”  It is included in the musical score as a choral accompaniment to the refrain and some verses.  (The Leader’s Guide to Voices Found)

Meditation

 Gallagher’s chant  encourages us to embrace Christians of diverse traditions, appreciating all gifts they bring. How does her song of welcome invite you to hear your neighbors

 from afar?  Can you think of spiritual gifts strangers have brought to you? Come Great Creator!

"Chant to the Four Winds"  invites  our Great Creator into worship   We are helped to feel the Presence in all Nature: in our mother earth, in wind and rain, in  oceans and rivers, and in all God’s creatures. Where do you experience the Great Creator? Give thanks for  for the Presence. Come Great Creator!

Ask the Great Creator to help you embrace  unexpected blessings in Nature, from your cousins from afar,  or in the love of nearby neighbors. Come Great Creator!

A Native Psalm setting

Bishop Gallagher also contributed a Native American musical setting of a paraphrase of Psalm 96, "Declare his glory." The  musical score with drumming suggestions are published in Voices Found.

"Sing to the Lord a new song!"

The Leader's Guide to Voices Found is available from Church Publishing.

www.churchpublishing.org