HOLY WEEK TO EASTER - All these are from UNRAVELLING THE MYSTERIES, along with poems and other readings.
HOLY WEEK – Thursday to Friday
Afraid and alone and worn out with his praying
Afraid and alone and worn out with his praying,
his friends sleeping soundly and all unaware
that out in the darkness arrest was approaching,
and Jesus was frightened and full of despair.
Accused and alone and awaiting the judgement,
surrounded by enemies out for the kill,
with none to defend him and friends who'd betrayed him;
yet Jesus stood resolute, silent and still.
Abandoned, alone and in agony dying,
the torture and pain brought a cry of despair.
For then, as the crisis of death was approaching
for Jesus, it felt as if God wasn't there.
Now dead and alone, they would bury his body,
those friends who found courage to deal with his death.
A stone sealed the tomb and with soldiers to guard it,
his enemies thought they'd seen Jesus' last breath.
Alone in a garden, a woman was weeping.
In spite of precautions, the body was gone.
But then through her tears, she could hear her name spoken
and Jesus is living. The story goes on!
Marjorie Dobson (born 1940)
Words © 2019 © 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.
Metre: 12 11 12 11
Tune: AFRAID AND ALONE 12 11 12 11 (Ian Sharp) or THE ROAD AND THE MILES TO DUNDEE
GOOD FRIDAY
First the cheering, then the jeering
1 First the cheering, then the jeering-
crowds can change their minds at will.
First they hail him, then condemn him;
aim to please, or aim to kill.
2 First the anger, then the whipping,
clearing out the Temple court.
First the traders, then the money-
space for prayer cannot be bought.
3 First the perfume, then the poison-
money should not go to waste.
First anointing, then annoyance-
do not judge her deed in haste.
4 First the trusting, then betrayal-
Judas seeking cash in hand.
First he loved him, then provoked him,
daring him to take a stand.
5 First the kneeling, then the serving,
showing deep humility.
First bread breaking, then wine sharing-
'Do this as you think of me.'
6 First the garden, then the praying-
sweating blood, then traitor's kiss.
First the trial, then denial-
Peter, has it come to this?
7 First the nails and then the hammer
piercing flesh and splitting bone.
First the sighing, then the dying-
Jesus on the cross, alone.
8 First the grieving, then the praying,
agonizing through your death.
First we share your desolation-
while you wait to take new breath.
Marjorie Dobson (born 1940)
© 2005 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.
Metre: 8 7 8 7
Tune: STUTTGART 8 7 8 7
EASTER SUNDAY
No soldiers and no body - (particularly suitable for Mark's gospel account.)
1 No soldiers and no body,
an empty linen shroud
and women with a story
they dare not tell aloud.
So, put away the spices
intended for the dead
and wait with fear, as they did,
to see some way ahead.
2 And did the story end there,
the last words torn away?
No final resolution?
What happened on that day?
What changed the gloom to glory?
What cancelled out their loss?
How could there be a victory
beyond that bloody cross?
3 Before the day had ended
the rumours ran around
that Jesus was still living,
no body could be found.
Authorities denied it,
said that the guards had fled,
but they feared most the story
'He's risen from the dead.'
Based on the break in the writing of Mark 16, where the fragment of writing has been torn away
Marjorie Dobson (born 1940)
© 2008 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.
Metre: 7 6 7 6 D
Tune: SALLEY GARDENS 7 6 7 6D
Come in the morning
Come in the morning.
Come see the dawning.
Come to the garden -
life has broken through.
1 Jesus, dead and buried.
To his grave they hurried.
Anxious women found that
life had broken through.
Chorus
2 Soldiers could not keep him
for they were found sleeping
and the tomb was open -
life had broken through.
Chorus
3 Peter, unbelieving,
left, still full of grieving.
Nothing would convince him
life had broken through.
Chorus
4 Mary, greatly shaken,
thought he had been taken.
Heard his voice that told her
life had broken through.
Chorus
5 Where there was despairing,
grief and horror sharing,
now there is a rumour
life has broken through.
Chorus
6 So God's word is spoken,
when our hearts are broken
there will come a time when
new life will break through.
Chorus
Marjorie Dobson (born 1940)
© 2008 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.
Metre: 6 6 6 5 and Chorus 5 5 5 5
Tune: DANCE TO THI DADDY 6 6 6 5 and refrain
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