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Showing posts from August, 2023

The Body of Christ

I wrote these lyrics for a hymn for a service celebrating the Feast of the Transfiguration. It's in 7,7,7,7 meter, and would fit to the tune used for "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy". In the end, we didn't use it as a hymn for the service, but instead as prayers (changing the language to communal instead of personal). Both versions are below. It's based on a  quotation  from  Teresa of Avila . Feel free to use as a hymn or prayers if you wish! I'd love to hear about it, if you do! Hymn : The Body of Christ Where now are your hands, O my God? They are those with which I touch. They are all you have to use to heal the world you love so much. Where now are your feet, Lord Jesus? They are those with which I tread. Walk with them to take your gospel   All across the world to spread. Where now are your eyes, O my King? They are those with which I see. Open them to view your world as you yourself know it to be. Where now is your mouth, O my Lord? It is tha

After the Storm

This poem was written for our monthly poetry group. The theme for this month was ‘After the Storm’. I hope you enjoy reading it! After the Storm  After the storm, we tried to clear everything up. The branch I thought so sturdy had snapped clean off. Turns out, it had died long ago.  I did not know. It smashed straight through the boundary fence;  Left it splintered and gaping. I will try to patch it up; nail on some MDF. Cover the tear. The beautiful coloured flowers in their beds are now ripped up. Uprooted, leaving only the dirt they once covered behind. And in their place, lie the contents of upturned bins; Rubbish thrown away days and weeks ago, now needing to be dealt with again. This time, more rotten, more filthy. Festering. The air is supposed to be clearer now, isn't it? The sky should be lighter. It all feels heavier than ever before. The pressure is too much to bear. Despite it all, I'll stay on my hands and knees. Mopping up the dirty rain water with yesterday's