New hymn text

During Lent we will be exploring Jesus' relationship with several characters from the Bible. One of my goals has been to pair a hymn with each individual. One of the individuals to be considered is the slave whose ear was cut off in the garden of Gethsemane. Perhaps not surprisingly, there are no hymn texts on that particular Bible story of which I am aware. Therefore I commissioned Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, a Presbyterian pastor and hymn-writer of some renown to write a new text for us at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church.

The text is obviously protected by copyright, so while it may be possible to steal it from this post, please just do the right thing and don't. Contact Mike Barker for more information.

Gillette wrote the text with the hymn tune BEACH SPRING in mind. We hope, however, to create a new tune for the text and premiere the text and tune together. The first performance will be Sunday March 4. Gillette tells me that reference is made to this new text in Presbyterian Outlook as part of a promotion of the publication of a collection of new hymn texts she has written. Keep en eye out for that.

Jesus went out to a garden To a quiet place to pray.
In the night, a crowd came round him, Led by Judas on their way.
They seized Jesus to arrest him; Someone near then drew a sword.
Soon a slave was injured, suffering There beside our suffering Lord.

Jesus spoke to stop the violence: “Put your sword back in its place.”
Then he touched the slave and healed him In a moment filled with grace.
For as violence leads to violence Causing more distress and pain—
So compassion in abundance Is a witness to God’s reign.

God of love, we pause and wonder: Did that slave give quiet praise?
Yet the story marches onward With the pain that it portrays.
For the One who brought such healing Soon was broken, on a cross,
To our sinful world revealing Violence has an awful cost.

God, the gospels bear a witness: Your Son’s death was not the end.
By your grace, you raised up Jesus; Sin and violence did not win.
May we work to end all suffering; Lead us in Christ’s peaceful way.
May his peace become an offering That we share throughout each day