Saturday, July 20, 2019

O God, You Give Us Neighbors

Happy ordinary time!  Happy Summer! 

I hope you will find much of today’s music familiar, prayerful and easy to sing.

We last sang our processional song: “Table of Plenty” (#310) at the first communion celebrations during the Easter season.

For the third week we will use Psalm 19 as a seasonal psalm.  Please be reminded that the words do not match what is printed in the hymnal.  The refrain is as follows:

“Lord, you have the words of everlasting life”.

At offertory we will sing a new composition by Carol Winfrey Gillette “O God, You Give Us Neighbors.” You will recognize the music reprinted in today’s bulletin as “The Church’s One Foundation”.   

The text was written specifically for last week’s gospel. (The Parable of the Good Samaritan).

The question that prompts Jesus to share the parable (“Who is my neighbor?”) is echoed in today’s first reading and recent news reports.

(The text is written below)

Thank you for your efforts to learn and sing our new mass setting at the Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation and Amen.

Finally, our recessional hymn will be Amazing Grace (#432).  

Blest to be in ministry at St. Mary’s,

Bruce

PS
Music selections and hymnal numbers are listed on the inside back cover of the bulletin.



AURELIA 7.6.7.6 D (“The Church’s One Foundation”)
O God, you give us neighbors for whom your love abounds.
They’ve come here seeking refuge; they work here in our towns.
Their children go to school here; they come to church and pray.
O Lord, we grieve when neighbors are being sent away.
O God, you give us neighbors in this world that divides.
We see them at the border; they’re struggling for their lives.
They’re hurting by the roadside, and by the river, too.
You call us to show mercy to neighbors loved by you.
O God, you give us neighbors and call us all to see
our common fears and longings, our shared humanity.
You call us all to listen to burdens they have known,
to hear the truth they tell us, to see the love they’ve shown.
O God, you give us neighbors; and now, what must we do?
This question asked of Jesus is one we ask anew.
May we not make excuses and choose to walk on by
these neighbors fleeing violence— some sent back now to die.
God, may we work for justice for those who live in fear;
may we show Christ’s compassion, and pray and persevere—
and by your Holy Spirit, in all we do and say,
may we stand up for neighbors now being sent away.
Biblical References: Luke 10:25-46; Leviticus 19:33-34; 24:22; Matthew 25:31-46
Tune: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864 (“The Church’s One Foundation”)
Text: Copyright © 2019 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Permission is given for free use of this hymn for congregations





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