hymnsandbooks

Moon over Comberbach

We dare not risk forgetfulness

We dare not risk forgetfulness,

the eyes where light has been extinguished,

the gathered limbs and shattered bones,

that hone the memory, shatter hope.

The shadows lengthen, colour fades.

What now?

The choice is ours.

This turning of the year:

forgiving fault

can we renew relationships

or, festering, lurch onward into hell?

The choice is yours, is ours, is mine…

choose life…perhaps?

January – a poem at the turning of the year by Marjorie Dobson

January

(the month is named after the Roman god, Janus, whose two faces looked in opposite directions and who was the god of doors, or openings.)



At the turning of the year 
that two-faced Roman god 
looks longingly back, 
yet urges us forward 
into the unknown.


We stand at the threshold, 
knowing we must face
the unknowable, 
yet lingering and clinging 
to what we leave behind.


The changing pace of time 
may fill us with dread
when anxieties overwhelm, 
or danger threatens, 
or the future has predictable limitations.


There may be hope in days ahead, 
promises to be fulfilled, 
vows to be made, 
new life and new directions 
glittering with expectation.


But the two-faced god 
pays no regard to pain or pleasure, 
simply stands like stone 
gazing impassively 
in both directions.


Thank God, the God we know, 
holds past and future 
in living, loving hands 
and takes on flesh 
to prove the truth of that involvement.


Marjorie Dobson © Stainer & Bell Ltd 2019 from Unravelling the Mysteries

Looking backwards, looking forwards – New Year Hymn

1          What clutter has the last year left,
            what loving, laughing, sighing;
            what things of worth to hold and keep,
            what grace that we’re denying;

2          what battered fragments of the past,
            things best left un-remembered,
            what joys that we had once denied,
            by hatred we’ve dismembered?

3          Great God, amid the light of Christ,
            bring a discerning spirit,
            that we might hold the things of worth
            that others might inherit.

4          The things that we should treasure most,
            God, sharpen in our vision,
            that we might finely tune your love
            to fight against division.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
© 2016 Stainer and Bell Ltd.
8 7 8 7
DOMINUS REGIT ME

Words for Holy Innocent’s

1          Herod’s high and mighty stand
            Showed the power at his command,
            Slaughtered children in the land:
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy,
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy,
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy on us.

2          Mary wept, she understood,
            Wept as every mother should,
            Ramah’s echo, death to good:
            Chorus

3          Surely force has had its day,
            Brutish whim and power’s display;
            Yet our actions hurt betray:
            Chorus

4          Seen on every paper’s page,
            Words of hate and fists of rage,
            Signs of greed in every age:
            Chorus

5          Anger still inflicts the pain,
            Each excuse is seen as lame,
            Yet again we bear the shame:
            Chorus

6          Till through this and every time
            People cease from heinous crime,
            Till with peace their actions rhyme:
            Chorus

VERSION IN SONGS FOR A NEW MILLENIUM (7 7 7 D and refrain)

1          Herod’s high and mighty stand
            Showed the power at his command,
            Slaughtered children in the land:
            Mary wept, she understood,
            Wept as every mother should,
            Ramah’s echo, death to good:
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy,
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy,
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy on us.

2          Surely force has had its day,
            Brutish whim and power’s display;
            Yet our actions truth betray:
            Seen on every paper’s page,
            Words of hate and fists of rage,
            Signs of greed in every age:
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy,
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy,
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy on us.

3          Anger still inflicts the pain,
            Each excuse is seen as lame,
            Yet again we bear the shame:
            Till through this and every time
            People cease from heinous crime,
            Till with peace their actions rhyme:
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy,
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy,
            Kyrie, Lord have mercy on us.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948) From: Whatever name creed, No.28 (1999) & Songs for the new millennium.

Words © 1999, Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd.

Tune: HOLY INNOCENTS (Ian Sharp) Whatever name creed, No.28