Voices Found

  Voices Found #116 Sing to celebrate the city! Sing the lives of people there, sing the work of skill and beauty, all who serve and all who care. In the dictates of the dollar, in the systems where we live, find the currency of kindness, eyes to smile and hearts to give. Celebrate the art of living! Every color, every sport, every culture's dance and music, every truth that love has taught. Be for God within the city, life and loving are not priced: light the lights of joyful worship, set the table for the Christ! (repeat verse 1) Words: Shirley Erena Murray (1931-2020) Music: Wellington, Colin Alexander Gibson About the song:  Shirley Murray, a city dweller most of her life, wrote this text to counter negative views of city life.  Part of the working community of Wellington, New Zealand, she wanted to lift up the "activity of the Christ presence there, the stimulus of living close to the decision-makers, and celebration of art and sport."   Murray was an ...

  Voices Found # 72 Mothering God you gave me birth  In the bright morning of this earth.  Creator, source of every breath,  You are my rain, my wind, my sun .  Mothering Christ, you took my form, offering me your food of light, grain of life, and grape of love, your very body for my peace. Mothering spirit, nurturing one, in arms of patience hold me close, to that in faith, I root and grow until I flower, until I know . Words: Jean Wiebe Janzen after Julian of Norwich (ca1342-ca.1416) Music: Ana Hernandez Psalm 144:3-4 and Mark9:14-29 are appointed in the Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church, Proper21B Womb of Life, what is humanity that you even know them, or the woman-born that you think of them? Humanity is like a breath: whose days are like a passing shadow. Psalm144:3-4 ( tr. Gafney) Reflection  Just as God is our Father, so God is also our Mother.  And He showed me this truth in all things, but especially in those sweet words when He says: "I...

  Rejoice for Women Brave Voices Found: #18 Rejoice for women brave, who laughed and cried and sang, who listened to angels, believed their God,  from them salvation sprang. Refrain: Lift up your heart, lift up your voice, rejoice,  again,  I say rejoice. Rejoice again, I say rejoice. Rejoice for Sarah's mirth;  she listened laughingly. In joy she brought forth a new nation,  saying all will laugh with me. Refrain Rejoice for Hannah, bold;  she loudly made her plea. Then God heard her prayer  and she, exultant, sang of victory. Refrain Your gracious love divine,  like Miriam we proclaim. May we now rejoice  and with Mary magnify your holy name. Refrain Lift up your heart, lift up your voice, rejoice,  again,  I say rejoice. Rejoice again, I say rejoice. Words: Lisa Neufeld Thomas  Music: Mayfair, Frances McCollin (1892-1960) 1 Samuel 1:1-6, 9-18 and 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 are appointed for Proper 19B in The women's Lection...

Voices Found #150, verse 2 Declare his glory among all nations; and his wonders among all peoples. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; let the whole earth tremble before him. Tell it out among the nations: the Lord is King; he will judge the peoples with equity. Declare his glory among all nations; and his wonders among all peoples! Words and music: Carol  Gallagher and Michael Plunkett para. Psalm 96 Bishop Gallagher's Native American chant declares the good  news that Jesus's salvation is for all nations and all peoples. Her music itself is a blend of Native  and traditional Anglican chant. It embodies the message of Jesus embracing all peoples.  He revealed himself as Messiah to a Samaritan woman, an alien to the Jews of Israel, unwelcome as a foreigner.  Nevertheless, the nameless woman proclaimed God's miracle: Messiah for all! John 4:27-29, 39-42 and 1 Peter 5:6-11 are appointed for Proper 18B (Closest to September 7) in The Women's Lectionary...

  When like the woman at the well Voices Found #24 When like the woman at the well, I lived with broken dreams, Christ came to me, good news to tell, of everliving streams Christ knew my heart, my wayward ways, yet gave me hope, not fear. The God I once thought far away, I could approach, draw near. I learned I could forever live and worship God aright, could trust the power the Spirit gives  to guide me in truth's light. Each day I lift my cup above and once again receive  the living water of God's love revealed for my belief. Since now I am in grace immersed, set free, forgiven, whole I share with those who thirst the wellsprings of my soul. Words: Edith Sinclair Downing Music:  Wayne,  CCW Sparks, arr. Robert  A. M. Ross Ephesians 4:1-8 and John 4:7-26 are appointed for Proper 17B (closest to August 31) in the Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church  Reflection Jesus said to the Samaritan women at the well ,"God is Spirit, and those who worship God ...

  Voices Found #143 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. Words: Jeannette M. Lindholm Music:  Holy Manna,  from  The Southern Harmony, 1835;  acc. Margaret M. Mealy Ruth 4:9-17 and Matthew 5:48 are appointed in The Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church for Proper 16B (Closest to August 24) Ruth gave birth to Obed, son of Boaz.  Obed was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David.  Thus began the lineage of David and Jesus. The marriage of Ruth, a Moabite,  to Boaz, a Jew, embodied the astounding love of the Source of Life, who brought  together two warring peoples in their son Obed, ancestor of Jesus. So Boaz took Ruth as his own for a wife.  He came to her and The Source of  Life gra...

  Voices Found # 87 All who hunger gather gladly, holy manna is our bread. Come from wilderness and wandering. Here in truth we will be fed. You that yearn for days of fullness, all around us is our food, Taste and see the  grace eternal, taste and see that God is good. All who hunger, never strangers, seeker, be our welcome guest. Come from restlessness and roaming, here in joy we keep the feast. We that once were lost and scattered in communion's love have stood. Taste and see the grace eternal.  Taste and see that God is good. Words: Sylvia G. Dunstan (1955-1993 ) Music: Holy Manna , from The Southern Harmany, 1835, acc. Margaret Mealy Ruth 3:1-18 and Luke 8:1-3 are appointed in the Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church for Proper 15B Ruth was hungry and tired.  She and Naomi, her mother-in law,  had been wandering as refugees, fleeing famine in Moab. As impoverished widows, they were seeking respite from a punishing journey.  Naomi brought Rut...

Judith 13:18-20   , Luke1:46-55, (Magnificat) and Luke 1:26-38 are appointed for the Feast of the Ever Blessed Virgin Mary in the Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year B Voices Found #158 A Song of Judith, verse 1 I will sing a new song to my God, for you are great and glorious, wonderful in strength, invincible. Let the whole creation serve you, for you spoke and all things came into being. Words: a Song of Judith, Enriching Our Worship 1 Music: William Bradley Roberts   Uzziah said to Judith, "O daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all other women on earth, blessed by the Holy God, who created the heavens and the earth, who has guided you to cut off the head of the leader of our enemies.  Praise of you will never depart from the hearts of women and men who remember the power of God." Judith 13:18-19 tr. Gafney Voices Found  # 64 Mary, when the angel's  voice called you highly favored. dread and joy in your heart mixed, pondered t...