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I am glad to say that, sometimes, a person or congregation wants to sing a hymn with a prophetic edge to it. In 1999, the First United Church of Christ in Madison, Wisconsin, was commemorating the ministry of its senior Minister, Dr. Paul Kittlaus, on the occasion of his retirement. Because of Dr. Kittlaus' own prophetic ministry, I was able to meet the request for a hymn with the following, cast in Long Meter (8.8.8.8.):
In Christ we live, whose life was more
than teaching love and doing good.
In Christ we meet, whose trust in God
derision, fear, and hate withstood.
In Christ we hope, whose death exposed
the evil bent, the tragic flaw
in leaders, followers, and friends,
religion, government, and law.
In Christ we grieve the trampled lives
of people shunned, abused, oppressed.
In Christ we vow to serve the weak
and lobby for the dispossessed.
And if we find out how and when
to show them they are not alone,
we will not proudly be their voice,
but humbly help them find their own.
Their kindness, anger, or distrust
are angels, calling us to see
the fear, the need to have and hold,
that frame our own captivity.
In Christ we live, and life is more
than learning love and doing good,
so praise, and pray, and trust in God
who makes the earth our neighborhood.
Brian
Wren, Christ our Hope
[Copyright © 1999 by Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission]
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