A Long-Lost Lamb

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A long-lost lamb is in the fold

Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn (1996)
Published in 2 hymnals

Representative Text

A long-lost lamb is in the fold,
a woman's coin retrieved,
a wayward son is home again,
most lovingly received.
Good news! It's time to celebrate
with friends who gather round.
So God rejoices, Jesus said,
whene'er the lost is found!

The little man who climbed a tree
has found a friend at last.
A woman with her cup of tears
has put behind her past.
Good news! It's time to celebrate
with friends who gather round.
So God rejoices, Jesus said,
whene'er the lost is found!

The fisherman who turned away
receives another chance.
A Pharisee has seen the light
and mourns his arrogance.
Good news! It's time to celebrate
with friends who gather round.
So God rejoices, Jesus said,
whene'er the lost is found!

Let everyone who suffers now
from guilt and deep despair,
return unto the house of God,
for love awaits you there.
Good news! It's time to celebrate
with friends who gather round.
So God rejoices, Jesus said,
whene'er the lost is found!

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Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn

Mary Nelson Keithahn, a retired United Church of Christ ordained pastor and church educator, has been a curriculum writer-editor, journalist, and lyricist for musical dramas and anthems. She still works out of her home in Rapid City, South Dakota, as a free-lance writer. In 2016 she published Elfie: Adventures on the Midwest Frontier, a chapter book for children, and Embracing the Light: Reflectioins on God’s Holy Word, a collection of meditations for individual or small group use. Augsburg Fortress also published Sing the Stories of God’s NEW People, the third in a trilogy of Bible story-based collections of songs for young children, written with her longtime colleague, John D. Horman. The two have written over a hundred hymns togethe… Go to person page >

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First Line:	A long-lost lamb is in the fold
Title:	A Long-Lost Lamb
Author:	Mary Nelson Keithahn (1996)
Meter:	8.6.8.6 with refrain
Source:	Time Now to Gather
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Good news! It's time to celebrate
Notes:	Hymn appears with a different tune in Voices Found (Church Publishing, 2003).