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A New Matthew 25 Hymn: "O God, We Yearn For Safety"

by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette 11-11-2011 | 8:14am
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The Sunday, Nov. 13 lectionary gospel is Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). 

Stained glass church window depicting the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25
Stained glass church window depicting the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25.

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Kari Jo Verhulst, in Sojourners, reflected on Jesus’ challenging teaching: “The point is not to perfect our particular gifts, or ourselves, but to quit hoarding ourselves from others, and instead step out in faith that we have been given all we need.” 

The following new hymn affirms that Jesus’ parable calls us to faithfulness even when it involves risk and challenge today.

 

         O God, We Yearn for Safety

ANGEL’S STORY 7.6.7.6 D ("O Jesus, I Have Promised")

O God, we yearn for safety; We long to be secure.

Yet faithful, loving service Is what you value more.

You give us what is needed; You love, forgive and save.

Then, sending us to serve you, You call us to be brave.

You give to some ten talents—to others, two or three;

To some you give one blessing To manage faithfully.

For you, O Lord, are loving And don’t demand success;

You daily call your people To lives of faithfulness.

You give your church the gospel-- Good news for us to share.

You give us great compassion For neighbors everywhere.

You give us skills to serve you And loving work to do.

We’re blest to be a blessing, And called to risk for you.

O God, it seems much safer To live from day to day,

Protecting what you lend us And hiding it away.

Yet all these gifts can’t flourish When hidden in the ground;

When we are brave to share them Your blessings will abound.

 

Biblical Texts:  Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:12-27
Tune:   Arthur Henry Mann, 1881
Alternative Tune:  AURELIA 7.6.7.6 D  (“The Church’s One Foundation”)
Text:   Copyright © 2011 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.  All rights reserved.
Email:  bcgillette@comcast.net    Web site:  www.carolynshymns.com

Hymn Use Permission: Churches that support Sojourners have permission to use these hymns. This hymn is available formatted with the music as a free PDF from the United Methodist Worship Office.

 

Carolyn Winfrey Gillette is the author of Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor and Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today’s Worship and serves with her husband, Bruce, as co-pastor of Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware. Some of Carolyn's hymns previously published in Sojourners include hymns for Blessing the Animals, relief efforts in the Horn of Africa,  September 11th anniversary,  creation care, economic justice, Matthew 25/disaster relief, immigration, the Gulf oil spill and war in Iraq. A complete list of the 190+ hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, many with peace and justice themes, can be found at www.carolynshymns.com  

 

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