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Prayers and Poems
Andrew Rich Days River and Sky What Name Shall I Call You? Peace for this Life Death’s Ford The Ship of Life Grace is all sufficient
Andrew (John1:35-44, John6:8, 9, John12:22)
People say I’m the quiet one, A man of few words, The brother in the background, And it’s true I don’t like a fuss. But I know what’s important, I know truth when I see it,
I see it in him.
Knowing and seeing God’s promise in person, Hearing his call, What could I do But share?
First Simon – Who isn’t quiet or in the background – Simon first, of course, Then the lad with the loaves And later, those Greeks with their questions.
Not much to give, you may think, Just a few words, But words to change worlds,
Come to Jesus. Daphne Kitching
Rich Days
Welcome to you, rich Autumn days, Ere comes the cold, leaf-picking wind; When golden stocks are seen in fields, All standing arm-in-arm entwined; And gallons of sweet cider seen On trees in apples red and green.
With mellow pears that cheat our teeth, Which melt that tongues may suck them in, With blue-black damsons, yellow plums, And woodnuts rich, to make us go Into the loneliest lanes we know. W H Davies
River and Sky
Move our hearts with the calm, smooth flow of your grace. Let the river of your love run through our souls. May my soul be carried by the current of your love, towards the wide, infinite ocean of heaven. Stretch out my heart with your strength, as you stretch out the sky above the earth. Smooth out any wrinkles of hatred or resentment. Enlarge my soul that it may know more fully your truth. Gilbert of Hoyland d 1170
What Name Shall I Call You?
O transcendent, almighty God, What words can sing your praises? No tongue can describe you. No mind can probe your mystery. Yet all speech springs from you, And all thought stems from you. All creation proclaims you, All creatures revere you. Every gust of wind breathes a prayer to you, Every rustling tree sings a hymn to you. All things are upheld by you… The whole world longs for you, And all people desire you. Yet you have set yourself apart, You are far beyond our grasp. You are the purpose of all that exists, But you do not let us understand you. Lord, I want to speak to you. By what name shall I call you? Gregory of Nazianzus, 329 – 389
Peace for this Life
The peace of God be unto you, The peace of Jesus unto you, The peace of Spirit unto you, Be peace unto your children too, Peace unto you, your children too, Each day and night let there be peace Till of this world your portion cease. From Poems of the Western Highlanders
Death’s Ford
O may the Father clasp you in his hand, His fragrant loving clasp bring you to land, Across the flooding torrent when you go And when the stream of death doth blackly flow.
The Ship of Life
Steer the ship of my life, good Lord, to your quiet harbour, where I can be safe from the storms of sin and conflict. Show me the course I should take. Renew in me the gift of discernment, so that I can always see the right direction in which I should go. And give me the strength and the courage to choose the right course, even when the sea is rough and the waves are high, knowing that through enduring hardship and danger in your name we shall find comfort and peace. Basil of Caesarea c. 330 to 379
Grace is all sufficient
No one sees the tears of the heart For hearts weep silently, And sometimes when things get too much Our hearts break inwardly. At times we feel so weary And bowed down with our care, We feel the load we’re carrying Is more than we can bear…
Surely it is in these times That God pours out his grace, Enabling us to carry on And every problem face To persevere and to endure We learn when sorely tried For flowers of strength and patience Will spring up side by side.
Unmerited and undeserved There’s nothing we can do, To earn God’s grace – it is a gift Which always sees us through. For character is strengthened Through our adversity, Without a doubt, his strength poured out Is our sufficiency. Kathleen Gillum
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