Use freely, with attribution! All words by Jim Burklo:
Awe Fills Us
Words: Jim Burklo – 2014 (use freely with attribution)
Tune: Madrid 6.6.6.6 – “Come Christians, Join to Sing”
Watch mountain shadows run
Allelujia! Amen!
Clouds gilded by the sun
Allelujia! Amen!
Hear tumbling water sing
Birds calling on the wing
In canyons echoing
Allelujia! Amen!
Breathe in the desert air
Allelujia! Amen!
Let footsteps call to prayer
Allelujia! Amen!
Layers of colored stone
Each one a holy throne
This world is not our own
Allelujia! Amen!
Hushed in a forest deep
Allelujia! Amen!
Secrets its branches keep
Allelujia! Amen!
Trees reaching for the sky
Leaves whisper with a sigh
Wind lifts them when they die
Allelujia! Amen!
Awe fills us at the shore
Allelujia! Amen!
Hearing the ocean’s roar
Allelujia! Amen!
Our souls with seabirds soar
Our hearts with love outpour
For One who came before
Allelujia! Amen!
Deeper Love: A Song for Communion
Tune: O Waly Waly (Welsh folk tune) (#362 New Century Hymnal)
-- also known as The Water Is Wide (listen toJames Taylor's performance of it)
Alternative tune: "Jerusalem" - an unofficial anthem of England
For deeper love we spread the bread
I won’t be full till all are fed
Till every soul has home and bed
The rest of us can’t move ahead
For deeper love we share the wine
I cannot taste the love divine
Till every soul has walked the line
And you’ve had yours like I’ve had mine
Now Mary sings her birthing song
Till every voice can sing along
And voices weak will rise up strong
Her choir is one where all belong
No one’s saved till all are healed
As Jesus on the Mount revealed
Your life and mine forever sealed
Just like the lilies of the field
We follow where the Christ has led
To table that for all is spread
And no one’s sitting at the head
But deeper love in wine and bread
Seeker, Teacher, Friend
words: Jim Burklo
tune: “Fairest Lord Jesus”
(Crusaders’ Hymn: 5.6.8.5.5.8)
One who made sure that the poor were fed
Land for the landless, home for the homeless
And baskets filled with fish and bread.
Love that conventions cannot contain,
Boundless compassion, put into action
For peace beyond all selfish aims.
Faithful beyond any rites or creeds
One with creation, in adoration
Revealed in humble prayers and deeds.
With you in courage we seek to stand
Stilling the waves of fear, through chilling winds we steer
Till on that peaceful shore we land.
Finder of truth in what some despise
Touch the untouchable, love the unlovable
Till finally we see through your eyes.
Ours are the hands that will serve your feast,
This bread is food indeed, this wine is what we need
To let the Spirit be released.
Tune: "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name", Coronation C.M.; words by Jim Burklo
(Tune in New Century Hymnal: #304)
We praise you, God, with rousing song, we answer at your call
Your Word creates the universe, We praise you, God of all
Your Word creates the universe, We praise you, God of all
Your Christ appears among us now and gathers one and all
In one community of love, We praise you, God of all
In one community of love, We praise you, God of all
In birth and death, in joy and grief, you hear us as we call
In every language, every faith, We praise you, God of all
In every language, every faith, We praise you, God of all
With all our breath and strength we sing around this earthen ball
To be at one with you again, We praise you, God of all
To be at one with you again, We praise you, God of all
For All the Ways
Tune: "For All the Saints" Sine Nomine 10.10.10.A; words by Jim Burklo
For all the ways we help each other grow
As we share stories, moments high and low
The face of Christ among us now will show
We sing allelujia, allelujia.
For all the people that our church holds dear
For every precious memory made here
For those we serve in love, both far and near
We sing allelujia, allelujia.
For times when silence is the truest word
Or when the prophet's thund'ring voice is heard
For tears and laughter that our church has stirred
We sing allelujia, allelujia.
In all our struggles, God will lead us through
And give us strength to do what we must do
To gain the peace and justice we pursue
We sing allelujia, allelujia.
Love Now Ascending
(“Holy, Holy, Holy” – tune: Nicaea)
(Tune: #277 New Century Hymnal)
(Words: Jim Burklo)
Holy, holy, holy, love now ascending
Early in the morning our song shall rise to you
Holy, holy, holy, joy that has no ending
Giving, forgiving, breathing life anew.
Holy, holy, holy, love without a limit
Care that binds creation in sacred unity
Holy, holy, holy, birthing every minute,
Christ, Love’s revealer, sets our spirits free.
Holy, holy, holy, infinite compassion,
Makes a place for every soul in God’s eternal reign
Holy, holy, holy, truth beyond religion,
Love that endures should nothing else remain.
Holy, holy, holy, raise your voice in singing,
Join the cosmic chorus in praise of Love divine,
Holy, holy, holy, God beyond all naming,
Echoes our song in harmony sublime.
Las Posadas
"Las Posadas" is an old Mexican tradition enacting the effort by Mary and Joseph to find a place to stay on Christmas Eve. Actors depicting Mary and Joseph wander from "inn" to "inn" asking for a room, with a singing candlelight procession following them through the town. A link to the tune of the song: Pidiendo Posada. Here I offer my own words for the tune:
At each stop (4 inns plus the final destination), everyone sings:
Help us, dear innkeeper, we’re seeking shelter
Mary is pregnant, about to deliver
Help us, dear innkeeper, find a place to stay;
Mary must rest, for the baby is now on its way!
At each of the four stops the innkeepers answer:
We have no rooms and the hour is too late
You are too poor for our high nightly rate
Go down the highway and seek a cheaper place
Maybe you’ll find one that still has some space.
At the final destination, the innkeeper sings:
Welcome, dear travelers, wand’ring so far
Stumbling along by the light of a star
We have no rooms but we’ve got a place to stay
Back in our manger we’ll make you a bed in the hay.
All sing in response:
Jesus was born in a humble little manger
Honor him now as you welcome the stranger
Offer him room in your heart and soul tonight
Join in the spirit of giving and sharing his light.
Old Time Religion
a new version by Jim Burklo
Give me that old time religion
Give me that old time religion
Give me that old time religion
It's good enough for me
It was good enough for Noah
It was good enough for Moses
It was good enough for Miriam
And itÍs good enough for me (chorus)
It was good enough for Buddha
It was good enough for Jesus
It was good enough for Mohammed
And it's good enough for me (chorus)
It was good enough for Julian
It was good enough for St. Claire
It was good enough for Hildegard
And it's good enough for me (chorus)
It was good enough for Gandhi
It was good enough for Martin
It was good enough for Mother Teresa
And it's good enough for me (chorus)
SOFTLY AND TENDERLY
Original tune and lyrics: Will L. Thompson, 1880; New lyrics: Jim Burklo, 2019
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling
Calling for you and for me
Walking his pathway toward joy and compassion
Calling for you and for me
Come home, come home
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling, "Dear searcher, come home"
Leave behind selfishness, fear, isolation
Leave behind hatred and greed -
Hear now the words of his kind invitation
Calling for you and for me:
Come home, come home
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling, "Dear searcher, come home"
Up on the mount you can hear him announcing
Mercy for you and for me
Love without limits, forgiveness abounding
Justice for you and for me
Come home, come home
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling, "Dear searcher, come home"
Answer his call with your feet on his pathway
Heading for love and for peace
Heading for home in the kingdom we’re building
Home that’s for you and for me
Come home, come home
You who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling, "Dear searcher, come home"
Song on the Mount
Jim Burklo, tune and lyrics 9/14/00
chorus:
Every hair on your head is counted
Every bird on the wing
Is fed by the hand of the one who loves us
And gives us voice to sing
Grass in the field
Lilies will yield
Birds needn't store any seed
Trust in the one whose word moves mountains
And answers every need -- ch
Love enemies
Answer their pleas
Justice will only be done
When judgment is left to the one who made us
And wants us to be one -- ch
Fortunes on earth
What are they worth?
When thieves can break in and steal?
Put your stock in the one with treasure
That every heart can feel -- ch
Prayer for the Road
Tune: Slane (Be Thou My Vision)
Words: Jim Burklo
I drove through the desert in the cool of the night
Made the big city by morning’s first light
Riding till I get what they say I can’t find
Answers to questions that trouble my mind
Why the injustice of rich and of poor?
Wars and brutality, what is the cure?
Addiction and pollution, will they ever cease?
When will the people and nations make peace?
On lonely street corners, in laundromat chairs
Some folks gave smiles and others gave stares
Asking the purpose and meaning of life
When will we ever put an end to the strife?
The way to the answers is one without end
But I found a Companion to go ‘round the bend
A presence and a comfort wherever I go
Close as a prayer as I drive down the road….