Song (to the tune of I vow to thee, my country)
I dream this world will wake up and see the grief and pain –
lives broken by division, the barriers that remain –
to see that all our hatred brings misery and tears
and conflict with each other will never quench our fears.
For there must be another way to be this human race;
together we can find it and build a better place.
A place where lives are cherished and no one has it rough,
where no one is neglected and each one has enough.
This dream will be accomplished in give and not in take;
through sharing with each other a new world we can make.
A world of peace and justice, with love for everyone,
where hand in hand, united, we all can live as one.
© Gary Hopkins 2011
Tune: Thaxted (I vow to thee, my country – from Jupiter by Holst)
Hymn
When troubles are around us
and all we see is pain,
may love surround the hurting ones
and healing come again.
God’s care and love is stronger
than all the world’s distress,
so for the love that reaches out
we’ll praise God through darkness.
There’s hope that tries to linger
amidst this darkened world
and echo God’s eternal love
where helpless ones are held.
But when we see such anguish,
of torment and despair,
we find it hard to mean the words,
’We’ll praise God,’ in our prayer.
When suffering is questioned
no quick reply appears
and Jesus didn’t give answers
but shared life’s hurt and tears;
this love that keeps us going
in Christ will never end,
so for the hand that tries to help
we’ll praise God as our friend.
Give praise to God who holds us
and knows our every tear,
whose Spirit walks the path with us
to love and keep us near.
We cannot see the future
or know just what’s in store,
but for the closeness through heartache
we’ll praise God evermore.
In heaven we shall gather
and there’ll be no more pain;
for God will heal and tend the wounds
and peace with joy shall reign.
When all the harm of past years
has faded at that place,
in harmony and one accord
we’ll praise God face to face.
© Gary Hopkins 2011
Metre: 76 86 76 86
Suggested Tune: Bolton (by Michael Higgins in ‘Cantate Domino’, published by Kevin Mayhew Ltd)
http://www.kevinmayhew.com/cantate-domino.html
Hymn
Come, all who seek for love and its renewing,
gather in peace and look to God above;
unfold hard hearts and let Christ’s swift enduing
renew, restore and fill each heart with love.
Love is the key to unlock heaven’s beauty,
with every turn God’s power can make a way;
strength found in love that’s true and not cold duty:
love’s climax opens God’s eternal day.
When guilt destroys the hope, and joy is far gone,
love’s promise stays and echoes once again:
nothing can part us from God’s love and pardon,
the end in Christ is in God’s heavenly reign.
Then at the end, with Christ, there’ll be love’s treasure,
sealed with the kiss of Spirit, Maker, Word,
flung open wide with joy beyond all measure,
consumed in love and harmony restored.
© Gary Hopkins 2010
Hymn
This day we come to celebrate
the love that calls uniting;
a gift from God that is so great,
two joining, with rejoicing.
Deep love, together bind these two;
their paths be shared, one journey!
Beginnings new, come breaking through,
and fade the doubts that may be.
With loving hearts, they give to share,
uniting hopes and visions;
commitment here they now declare
with joyous celebrations.
O God of love, give rich blessing
upon love that embraces
and may your presence in loving
be cherished in all places.
© Gary Hopkins 2005
Metre: 87 87
Suggested tune: St Columba
Hymn for Easter
When hopes are dashed and all seems lost
in emptiness and silent prayer,
the love of God delights to prove
the possible in sheer despair.
And when the world still crucifies
through selfish acts of hate and greed,
the resurrection light of Christ
seeks to renew in love and deed.
The hand of love that reaches out,
in tender care of human pain,
speaks of the cosmic love of God,
which no confinement could contain.
For when the love of God is glimpsed,
and whispers through each broken place,
an empty tomb is found again
and Jesus lives in time and space.
© Gary Hopkins 2010
Metre: 88 88 (Long Metre)
Suggested tune: O Waly Waly