Voices of Victory: Miriam's Song

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Come, sing the joy of Miriam

Voices Found #121

Come, sing the joy of Miriam,

for she has seen dry land.

Come dance with her as now we join

this grateful, glorious band.

Our faithful God delivers us 

when enemies assail,

the world will bring false promises.

Our God will still prevail.

Come, journey on with Miriam,

empowered, strong, and free.

Come live our praise through all our days,

serving God's family.

Words: Edith Sinclair Downing

Music: Asmon, Carl G. Glaser (1784-1829); adapt. and arr. Lowell Mason (1792-1872)

About the text and music 

Edith Sinclair Downing based her hymn  text on the biblical Song of Moses which quotes Miriam's Song (Exodus 15:21) NIV. 

    Sing to the Lord,

    for he is highly exalted,

Both horse and driver

    he has hurled into the sea

The canticle is suggested for use at at the Easter Vigil. This hymn could be substituted for the canticle.  Azmon is a well known hymn tune that is easily accessible for any congregation.  

Reflection

In this hymn text, poet Janet Wooten celebrates the pioneering  women who who struggled to gain acceptance into the ordained ministry, empowered and emboldened by the victory of Miriam.  Here Wooton celebrates Constance Coltman,  first women ordained in UK, (1918), who led the  journey to ordination for women who followed.  The hymn can also  honor Florence Li Tim-Oi, the first woman ordained in the Anglican Communion, (1944), the Philadelphia Eleven (1974) first women ordained in the Episcopal Church, and other ordinations.

With Miriam we will dance

Voices Found #16

With Miriam we will dance and celebrate the day

when sullen seas were swept apart to show the way.

The dancers lend us grace to turn from seas of fear

towards the unknown wilderness for God is there.

With Mary we will wait when even hope seems dead

when others rush down roads they say we may not tread.

And waiting strong and still through all our grief and pain

we hear the whisper of God's will we hear our name.

With Constance we will stand for what we know is right

in answer to God's just demand and searching sight,

confronting each abuse that strangles liberty,

God help us simply state the truth that sets us free.

Made whole, the human race may answer to God's call

in dance and silence, truth and grace, embracing all.

This journey never ends, God's promise calls us on,

until our sisters, brothers, friends may join the song.

Words: Janet Wooton

Music: Leoni, Hebrew melody; Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1

Meditation: 

I cannot dance, O Love, unless you lead me on,

I cannot leap in gladness unless you lift me up.

From love to love we we circle, beyond all knowledge grow, 

for when you lead we follow, to new worlds you can show.

Jean Wiebe Janzen, after Mechtild of Magdeburg (ca.1210-1282)

Voices Found #63, verse 1

  

"Dance of the Angels and the Just in Paradise," a detail from The Last Judgement (1431) by Fra  Angelico.