The Ruler entered
humble on a donkey
– an untrained donkey
that he could calm.
The crowd praised now
but soon abused, rejected
this mighty, righteous,
soon shown to be victorious
Ruler of the universe,
remover of earth’s curse,
before whom all will
bend the knee –
so bow, adore
before
he comes again.
‘Good’ Friday?
Ugly, unjust
excruciating execution
– ‘Good’ Friday?
Bad Friday?
Sad Friday?
Day of gloom?
Confused and sad
disciples fled
forgetting he had said
these things must happen
– he had allowed them to occur!
Thus was the ransom paid!
and so, it is Good Friday
for it begat the Resurrection Sunday!
Alive Now!
Jesus died upon a cross
so he could be friends with us,
and forgive our naughtiness,
help us live like him of course.
Babe in a manger
Teacher and Healer
died as a Saviour
but Jesus lives
right now.
Jesus came alive again,
talked and walked, ate food, and then
went to heaven but hears us pray,
said he’ll come again one day.
Tune: Jesus Loves Me! (77 77+)
Do what you like?
Land trespassers are given fines,
but also might get harmed or hurt
– for dangers lurk beyond the signs
– pollution, pits, fierce creatures, dirt.
Encouraged morally to roam,
experimentally tasting all
like Eve – forbidden pleasures known,
soon poisoning like bitter gall.
If boundaries are scorned, transgressed
such trespassing will sadness bring;
new life delights in (and is blessed)
in keeping from the fields of sin.
Tune: LM
The sailors in Jonah’s boat
(Jonah chapter 1)
The sailors, frightened in the storm,
found idol-gods dead, deaf to cries.
The real, true God they had not known,
and guilty Jonah sleeping lies.
What God d’you worship? – Jonah speak!
– his God, he told them was not weak.
His God, he said, had made the sea,
the land, the sky, and taught his Word,
but disobedient Jonah, he
his God’s chastisement had incurred.
They from the storm would be set free
by throwing Jonah in the sea.
A God who speaks? A powerful God?
who teaches, judges, rules the waves?
Must they throw Jonah overboard?
– surprising will of One who saves.
They had to trust he would not blame,
and great their reverence for his name.
Their boat to land they’d tried to bring,
but could not, for the storm increased.
So now they called, and sought this King
to be from any guilt released.
At once the raging sea was calm,
and God saved Jonah too from harm.
Tune: 88 88 88 eg Melita by J B Dykes (tune of ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’)
of Savina by (tune of ‘And can it be that I should gain’)
Refugees
Placed in a manger
come to be Saviour.
soon in great danger:
Herod would kill.
God sent a warning
– take them to Egypt,
don’t wait ’til morning,
stay there until …
of Herod’s death told,
‘you can return now’,
(frankincense, myrrh, gold
journeys sustain).
Watched Jesus growing
safe now in Nazareth,
Mary was knowing
one day he’d reign.
Tune: 554D eg Bunessan (Gaeilic melody) tune of ‘Child in the Manger’
A Fountain in the Desert
“Come , all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; you who have no money, come buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy?”
Pleasures and philosophies,
cannot last or deeply please.
Life is dark, a desert drought
– Christ brings hope – the light shines out.
Come for water, come for life,
easing conscience, help in strife,
adequate for all your need,
for God’s friendship cleansed and freed.
Come, your poverty admit,
don’t pretend that you are fit
to receive this grace immense,
all his free beneficence.
Come– available milk, wine
– full abundance can be mine –
children coming to his throne,
every day his grace is known.
If you’re thirsty, come and drink
from the Source no longer shrink.
Come and ask and trust his Word
– offer free of Christ, the Lord.
Tune: 77 77
Present Presence
No babe in Bethlem,
the manger’s bare,
the cross is empty –
he is not there:
he’s gone to heaven
from where he sees
and hears and guides us,
and holds death’s keys.
So call out to him
that he prepare
a home there for you,
but meet you here,
send down his Spirit
to grace impart,
and be your Guest now
within your heart.
Tune: 54 54D eg ‘Have thine own way, Lord’
The Best
God made a special star one day,
and wise men came from far away.
They understood a wonderful thing –
a baby had been born our King,
Sing, sing of him the wonderful King,
our love and honour to him bring.
An angel told the shepherds, ‘Go!,
God’s love and joy and peace to know;
In Bethlehem the baby boy
is King to bring you peace and joy.’
At Christmas time we have a lot
of presents, fun, but we must not
forget that Jesus is the best –
by him we can be loved and blessed.
Tune:
‘On Christmas night all Christians sing’
Father Precious
Not just a jolly image
who’s bringing gifts galore
(guffaws that shake his rib-cage
ring out around the store),
but one who is a Father
all year to give what‘s good
– not toys but help to better
live now the way we should:
A Father for all seasons,
knows all we’ve ever done,
does not excuse our treasons,
but beckons us to come
confess, receive forgiveness
for Jesus forged the Way,
his Father’s grace be given us
for deeds and words each day.
Tune: 76 76 D eg Nettleton (American Folk Tune) (also used for 87 87 D eg ‘Come Thou Fount of every Blessing’)
