We thank you for music inviting us here,
assuring us, God, that your presence is near
as we come together in this holy place,
in search of your blessing, your peace, and your grace.
We thank you for instruments, played with great care,
and choirs that lead us in songs and in prayer;
for all who make music, and practice their art
with patience and joy, as a gift from the heart.
We thank you for voices that burst into song,
uplifting our spirits when life has gone wrong,
reminding us, God, on the darkest of days,
we still have good reason to offer our praise.
We thank you for hymns that allow us to bring
the needs of our heart to you, God, as we sing;
these words set to music composed with great skill
encourage us, challenge us, strengthen our will.
When worship has ended, and everyone's gone,
the room may be silent, the song lingers on
in words we remember, in tunes we still hum,
in faith that affirms, God, the life yet to come.
Source: The Song Lingers On: new hymns for our journey of faith #21
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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