The Galilee Song (Frank Andersen)

Deep within my heart, I feel voices whispering to me.
Words that I can’t understand; Meanings I can’t clearly hear!
Calling me to follow close, lest I leave myself behind!
Calling me to walking into evening shadows one more time!

Refrain:

So I leave my boats behind!
Leave them on familiar shores!
Set my heart upon the deep!
Follow you again, my Lord!

2. In my memories, I know how you send familiar rains
falling gently on my days, dancing patterns on my pain!
And I need to learn once more in the fortress of my mind,
to believe in falling rain as I travel deserts dry! Refrain

3. As I gaze into the night down the future of my years,
I’m not sure I want to walk past horizons that I know!
But I feel my spirit called like a stirring deep within,
restless, ’til I live again beyond the fears that close me in! Refrain

Composer: Frank Andersen

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

When I Needed A Neighbour (Sydney Carter)

1.  When I needed a neighbour
Were you there, were you there?
When I needed a neighbour
Were you there?
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
Were you there?

2.  I was hungry and thirsty
Were you there, were you there?
I was hungry and thirsty
Were you there?
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
Were you there?

3. I was cold, I was naked
Were you there, were you there?
I was cold, I was naked
Were you there?
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
Were you there?

4.  When I needed a shelter
Were you there, were you there?
When I needed a shelter
Were you there?
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
Were you there?

5.  When I needed a healer
Were you there, were you there?
When I needed a healer
Were you there?
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
Were you there?

6.
Wherever you travel
I'll be there, I'll be there.
Wherever you travel
I'll be there.
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
I'll be there.

Composer: Sydney Carter (1915-2004)

I Bind My Heart This Tide

I bind my heart this tide
To the Galilean’s side,
To the wounds of Calvary,
To the Christ who died for me.

I bind my soul this day
To the brother far away,
And the brother near at hand,
In this town, and in this land.

I bind my heart to thrall
To the God, the Lord of all,
To the God, the poor man’s Friend,
And the Christ whom He did send.

I bind myself to peace,
To make strife and envy cease,
God, knit Thou sure the cord
Of my thralldom to my Lord!

Text: "Thraldom," from The Tryst, by Lauchlan MacLean Watt (1907)

A Charge To Keep I Have

A charge to keep I have,
a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,
my calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage
to do my Master's will!

Arm me with jealous care,
as in thy sight to live,
and oh, thy servant, Lord,
prepare a strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,
and on thyself rely,
assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.

Text: Charles Wesley (1762)
Tune: BOYLSTON, SM, by Lowell Mason (1832)

Pues Si Vivimos

Pues si vivimos, para El vivimos
y si morimos para El morimos.
Sea que vivamos o que muramos,

Estribillio:

Somos del Senor, somos del Senor.
Somos del Senor, somos del Senor.

En esta vida, frutos hemos de dar.
Las obras buenas son para ofrendar.
Ya sea que demos o que recibamos, (Estribillio)

En la tristeza y en el dolor,
en la belleza y en el amor,
sea que suframos o que gocemos, (Estribillio)

En este mundo, hemos de encontrar
gente que llora y sin consolar.
Sea que ayudemos o que alimentemos, (Estribillio)

Text: Anonymous (st 1); Roberto Escamilla (sts 2, 3, 4)
Tune: Traditional Spanish melody

Lord Whose Love Through Humble Service

Lord, whose love through humble service bore the weight of human need,
who upon the cross, forsaken, offered mercy’s perfect deed:
we, your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone, but heart,
consecrating to your purpose every gift that you impart.

Still your children wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread;
still the captives long for freedom; still in grief we mourn our dead.
As, O Lord, your deep compassion healed the sick and freed the soul,
use the love your Spirit kindles still to save and make us whole.

As we worship, grant us vision, till your love’s revealing light
in its height and depth and greatness dawns upon our quickened sight,
making known the needs and burdens your compassion bids us bear,
stirring us to tireless striving your abundant life to share.

Called by worship to your service, forth in your dear name we go
to the child, the youth, the aged, love in living deeds to show;
hope and health, good will and comfort, counsel, aid, and peace we give,
that your servants, Lord, in freedom may your mercy know, and live.

Text: Albert F. Bayly (1961)
Tune: BEACH SPRING 87.87 D (attr. to B.F. White, 1844)

Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love

Refrain:

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbors we have from you.

Kneels at the feet of his friends,
silently washes their feet,
master who acts as a slave to them. (Refrain)

Neighbors are rich and poor,
varied in color and race,
neighbors are near and far away. (Refrain)

These are the ones we should serve,
these are the ones we should love;
all these are neighbors to us and you. (Refrain)

Loving puts us on our knees,
serving as though we are slaves;
this is the way we should live with you. (Refrain)

Kneel at the feet of our friends,
silently washing their feet;
this is the way we should live with you. (Refrain)

Paraphrase of John 13:3-5

Words: Tom Colvin (1969)
Music: Chereponi, Ghana folk song, adapt. Tom Colvin (1969)

Here I Am, Lord (Dan Schutte)

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Refrain:

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send? (Refrain)

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
'Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send? (Refrain)

Paraphrase of Isaiah 6:8 and 1 Samuel 3.

Composer: Dan Schutte (1981).

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.