Skip to main content
Sojourners
faith in action for social justice
Sojourners
About
About SojournersEventsOur TeamWork With UsMediaWays to GiveInvite a SpeakerContact Us
SojoAction
OverviewTake ActionIssue AreasResourcesFaith-Rooted AdvocatesChurch Engagement
Magazine
Current IssueArchivesManage My SubscriptionWrite for Sojourners
Sections
LatestPoliticsColumnsLiving FaithArts & CultureGlobalPodcastsVideoPreaching The Word
Subscribe
MagazineRenewPreaching the WordCustomer ServiceNewsletters
Donate
Login / Register

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

By Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
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.
Nov 11, 2011
Share

The Sunday, Nov. 13 lectionary gospel is Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). 

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  

 

Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!

Tell Us What You Think!

We value your feedback on the articles we post. Please fill out the form below, and a member of our online publication team will receive your message. By submitting this form, you consent to your comment being featured in our Letters section. 

Please do not include any non-text characters, such as emojis or other non-standard content, into your submission.  It may cause errors in submitting the form.  Thanks!

Don't Miss a Story!

Sojourners is committed to faith and justice even in polarized times. Will you join us on the journey?
Confirm Your Email Address.
By entering your email we'll send you our newsletter each Thursday. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Stained glass church window depicting the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25.
Search Sojourners

Subscribe

Magazine Newsletters Preaching The Word
Follow on Facebook Follow on Bluesky Follow on Instagram Subscribe to our RSS Feed
Sojourners
Donate Products Editorial Policies Privacy Policy

Media

Advertising Press

Opportunities

Careers Fellowship Program

Contact

Office
408 C St. NE
Washington DC, 20002
Phone 202-328-8842
Fax 202-328-8757
Email sojourners@sojo.net
Unless otherwise noted, all material © Sojourners 2025