Voices Found: Blessing the journey

 

Voices Found #142

Bless now

Bless now, O God, the journey that all your people make,

the path thru noise and silence, the way of give and take.

The trail is bound in desert and winds the mountain round,

then leads beside still waters, the road where faith is found.

Bless sojourners and pilgrims who share this winding way--

whose hope burns through  the terrors, whose love sustains the day.

We yearn for holy freedom, while often we are bound.

Together we are seeking the road where faith is found.

Divine eternal lover, you meet us on the road.

We wait for land of promise where milk and honey flow.

But waiting not for places--you meet us all around.

Our covenant is written on roads, as faith is found.

Words: Sylvia G. Dunstan(1955-1993)

Music: Ana Hernandez

 

(Jesus said) "I shall not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you all.  Yet in a little while the world will not see me, but you will see me; because I live you also shall live.  On that day you will know that I am in my Abba, and you all in me, and I in you all.  The one who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me, will be loved by my Abba; I shall love that person and reveal myself to them.  Judas (not Iscariot) said, "Rabbi, how is it you will reveal yourself to these and not to the world?" Jesus answered him,"The one who loves me will keep my word and my Abba will love that person and we will come to them and make our home with them.  Whoever doe not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine rather it is from the Creator who sent me." John 14: 18-24 (tr. Gafney)

John 14:18-24 is appointed for the fourth Sunday of Easter in The Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church which is currently in trial use in some Episcopal parishes with the permission of the Bishop. 

Sylvia Dunstan's text rejoices in the coming of the Paraclete, our companion for the journey.  In John 14, Jesus prepares his disciples for the miracle of Pentecost,  the arrival of the his Spirit.  He assures them they will not be left as orphans and reminds them they must keep his commandments,  saying those who keep his word will be blessed with the Spirit of  the Creator. she  who will live with them, guiding and guarding their journey.

                                                    

 Meditation:

Voices Found #143

Love astounding

Love astounding, love confounding limits fearful minds impose.

Love renewing, love pursuing every heart until it knows

love's transforming, healing goodness, love's abiding, gentle grace.

love's endurance, love's assurance, love's consoling, strong embrace.

Love receiving, love believing, we rejoice with thanks and song,

faith regaining, hope proclaiming; love has taught us, we belong

safe within love's tender keeping, safe from fear's persistent call.

Love defending, love unending, love of God enfolding all.

Words: Jeannette M. Lindholme

Music: Holy Manna, from The Southern Harmony, 1835;. Margaret M. Mealy

The Leader's Guide to Voices Found offers performance suggestions and accompaniments to both hymns.  
www.churchpublishing.org