Blessing, beginning and ending with song
In my edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, now over 100 years old, there is a section for School and College use. Set for the beginning and end of term –‘Lord, behold us with thy blessing, strongly petitions God’s blessing for the term’.
What a great way to begin a term with singing. At the end of term another song – ‘Lord dismiss us with thy blessing. And be with us in the holidays and more. Wherever we are, Bless us lord!’ Echoes of these hymns resound in the wonderful story of Goodbye Mr Chips.
Sadly such hymns are not widely used today. But many schools still begin with a service in a local church. Speech nights ending with the choir singing John Rutter’s tune The Lord Bless You And Keep You are special! We need to keep praying for the guidance and blessing on all life, family, school community and government, beginning and ending. Sadly The Lord’s Prayer said at the beginning of a Parliamentary day is often gabbled and rushed through.
Are such simple, yet profound words, prayed and really understood?
Reflection
The Bible sings with songs of praise and prayers of blessing in worship, as we come into God’s presence. Psalm 95:1 is a wonderful invocation. ‘O come and let us sing unto the Lord. Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation’. Beginning and ending in worship, life and service. Singing on, our songs joining, with the singing angels before the throne of Grace returning with abundant blessings, for life’s continuing journey.
Bill Pugh
Fellowship café
In the days of Methodism, the opening of the Victorian Annual Conference was something not to be missed. Each minister and their lay Circuit representatives were obliged to be present. For the clergy Conference was a time of reunions and fellowship as well as the business sessions which directed the administration of Methodist in this state.
The opening hymn was one written by Charles Wesley, now only found in the Methodist Hymn Book. Its opening lines are:
And are we yet alive
And see each other’s face?
Glory and praise to Jesus give
For his redeeming grace!
And continued with a chorus of fervent “Hallelujahs, Praise ye the Lord”.
What of today? In the Leighmoor Uniting Church we have a weekly hour we call Fellowship Café, which is treasured, especially by those of us who live alone. We share our experienced and laugh at our jokes. The remaining verses of this hymn reflect the lives we live – what troubles we have seen – fightings without and fears within – but out of all the Lord has brought us by his love.
Reflection:
Another hymn of yesterday sings:
Blessed be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above
Joan Addinsall
Who do I belong to?
Who do I belong to?
I am an instrument of possibilities governed by the Holy Spirit’s light.
My tongue proclaims worldly principles Christian in nature that value and appreciate the faiths of all who walk this earth.
I strive for a purity of righteousness and inclusivity for all.
My days are spent on a cross of my design, my nights consumed by dreams, I rise in servitude to an authentic calling that suggests I am an instrument of peace and unification.
Who do I belong to? I belong to you as I do to me; strengthened by my plight, I vocalize a calling whispered from the heavens above.
I once was blind to worldly atrocities; I once was deaf to the cries of those in need.
Crippled by the indifference of materialistic values, I set my heart a course on a pilgrimage for truth guided by the Holy Spirit, on a journey of self-discovery.
Just as Moses sought the burning bush I too found my own, this giving tree spoke of a tone and journey that would lead all toward happiness and spiritual enlightenment.
Once I accepted that my voice was important, validations followed that my neighbours’, my sister’s and my brother’s voices the world over were equally as important and valued.
The voice of the world became my guide and salvation was found in my hand, tongue and ear. I belong to your heart as I do to mine.
I belong in your pure conscious ideals as you do to mine. I belong in the heart of God as he does mine. I belong, you belong, we all belong and together we shall prevail; just and true.
BeliefEqualityLoveObservanceNurturingGiving.Belong.
Russell Hawkins
Reflection: Think about your own life. Who do you belong to?
SLEDGING
I love watching a slow bowler at work. So patient, a plan in mind.The grace of a stroke maker when batting.All part of the great game of cricket. A gentleman’s game, it was called.
Now, apparently, sledging the opposition is part of the game. What makes it worse is the presence of well-placed microphones. We all hear the comments. Most unpleasant. And what an example to children and families! And how quickly a few in the crowd can change the atmosphere and things get out of hand.
Sledging is not new. Christians were thrown to the lions in the Roman Colosseum. Stirred up by the atmosphere and mockers present, the crowd cheered as innocents were torn to pieces. A cheering crowd joined Jesus and his friend cheered on as they made their way to Jerusalem on the day we now call Palm Sunday. There were already murmuring sledgers in the crowd, who wanted his blood.
At his trials, Pilate tried to release him, asking what was his real crime. They could not answer. It was the custom to release an innocent man, as an act of clemency. They were given a choice. “Release Barabbas,” (a common criminal), the crowd shouted. “What will I do with Jesus of Nazareth?” said Pilate. Even louder they roared, “Crucify him!” The sledgers had won.
Reflection. What would your answer and mine be if we were there on that fateful day? TIS 345 that moving African-American spiritual, asks us the same question, again and again:
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”
Where are we in the crowd?
“O sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble;
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”
Bill Pugh