Voices Found: WLWC Epiphany IV C: VF 59, 96, 35: Breath of God

Voices Found #59

Breath of God, life-bearing wind,

waking matter into birth,

planting promise, prompting hope:

with your life renew the earth.

Breath of God, word-bearing wind,

truth revealer, prophet's speech,

guide to vistas of the mind:

let your word excite and teach.

Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr.

Music: Bingham, Dorothy Howell Sheets (1915-2011

After [the miracle multiplying the meal and oil], the child of the woman (of Zarephath), the owner of the house--became ill and his illness was so overwhelming that there was no breath left in the child.  ...Elijah cried out to the Most High, "Holy One my God, let this child's soul come into him again."  And the Most High God listened to the voice of Elijah and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

I Kings17: 17, 21-22, tr. Gafney 

A day after [healing the centurion's slave] Jesus went to a town called Nain...When the Messiah saw her (a widow who had lost her son) he had compassion on her and said to her,"Do not weep."... Then Jesus came forward and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still.  And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" The dead man sat up and began to speak and Jesus gave him to his mother...  The people said "A great prophet has risen among us! and " God visited God's people!"

Luke 7: 11, 14-16, tr. Gafney

Reflection:

Voices Found #96 

Healing river of the Spirit, 

bathe the wounds that living brings.

Plunge our pain, our sin, our sadness 

deep beneath your sacred springs.

Weary from the restless searching 

that has lured us from your side,

we discover in your presence 

peace that world cannot provide.

Words: Ruth C. Duck (1947-2024)

Music: Beach Spring, from The Sacred Harp, Philadelphia, 1844

Ruth Carolyn Duck (born November 21, 1947, died December 26, 2024) was an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ, a liturgical theologian and retired professor of worship who taught for 27 years at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. Duck is best known for her work as a composer, writer and adaptor of hymns. In 1973, she was part of the committee at the Ecumenical Women's Center of Chicago that produced Because We Are One People, the first 20th century collection of original and adapted hymns that promoted the use of “non-sexist language.” Since that time, Duck wrote over 150 hymns, edited three books of sources for worship services and wrote on the topic of Trinitarian theology, all with an eye toward facilitating the use of gender inclusive language in the context of Christian worship. She was a leading contemporary champion for and developer of inclusive language worship sources.

(from the Ruth Duck website.)

Prayer:

Living stream that heals the nations, 

make us channels of your power.

All the world is torn by conflict; 

wars are raging at this hour.

Saving Spirit, move among us, 

guide our winding human course,

till we find our way together, 

flowing homeward to our source.

Ruth Duck

Voices Found # 96, vs. 3

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For background and performance suggestions please see The Leader's Guide to Voices Found