When the Bay mists with grey

When the Bay mists with grey
and your voice calls in squalls,
I praise your Name in awe.
When the loud swirling cloud
of the storm is your form,
I praise your Name in awe.

When our Star from afar
warms the day with its ray,
I praise your Name in joy.
When white and gold flash bold,
a wildflower shows your power,
I praise your Name in joy.

When the song sweet and strong
of a bird speaks your Word,
I praise your Name in awe.
When our friends kind acts send
and their care is a prayer,
I praise your Name in joy.

• Ted Witham 2014
• 666D ‘Laudes Domini’ (TIS 227)

Grace [Jingle Bells Version]

Grace (“Jingle Bells” Version)

God, yòu give living things
to eàt, and give us life,
give wìsdom as we sing
fìtting respect to bring.

On lìving things we feed,
they gìve themselves for all.
As they fulfil our needs
make gìving back our call.

Thank you, God! Thank you, God!
Food brings us new life!
Taste and eat! Appreciate
the life shared with us now. Hey! (Repeat):

In lìfe we feed on you
your Brèad and Wine our stay;
as yòu reveal your Way,
you màke us always new.

‘Eat whàt’s set before you,’
Sàint Francis did advise;
Nurturing God, for you
our thanks and praise arise.

Chorus

–          Ted Witham tssf, September 2013

Grace [Laude Domini version]

Grace (“Laudes Domini” version – AHB 217)
God, you give living things
to eat, and give us life,
to eat, and give us life,
give wisdom as we sing
fitting respect to bring.
fitting respect to bring.

On living things we feed,
they give themselves for all.
they give themselves for all.
As they fulfil our needs
make giving back our call.
make giving back our call.

In life we feed on you
your Bread and Wine our stay;
your Bread and Wine our stay;
as you reveal your Way,
you make us always new.
you make us always new.

‘Eat what’s set before you,’
Saint Francis did advise;
Saint Francis did advise;
Nurturing God for you
our thanks and praise arise.
our thanks and praise arise.

–    Ted Witham tssf, September 2013

Grace [Quam Dilecta version]

Grace (“Quam Dilecta” version
English Hymnal 508) )

God, you give living things
to eat, and give us life,
give wisdom as we sing
fitting respect to bring.

On living things we feed,
they give themselves for all.
As they fulfil our needs
make giving back our call.

In life we feed on you
your Bread and Wine our stay;
as you reveal your Way,
you make us always new.

‘Eat what’s set before you,’
Saint Francis did advise;
Nurturing God for you
our thanks and praise arise.

– Ted Witham tssf, September 2013

For This Amazing Day

For this amazing day,
we give you thanks, Most High,
for leaping green of trees,
and gazing blue of sky.
Love without end,
gift of our Friend,
Creator’s Son,
our Jesus Christ.

The love of dearest friends,
steadfast through every storm.
The stranger’s help in need,
all human care to warm.
Love every where,
gift that you share,
we give you thanks,
friend Jesus Christ.

*My wife’s sweet morning kiss,
her love my life inspires,
the way you join all this
to spiritual desires.
For her embrace,
sheer gift of grace,
I bless your love,
dear Jesus Christ.

Your Scriptures send us out
to serve all folk in need.
They draw us close to you,
and challenge to proceed.
For words of joy,
love to deploy,
peace to unfold,
Word, Jesus Christ.

Exalting power of faith,
its loving kindness shows.
It guides us all to walk
the way God loves and knows.
For faith’s true role’s
to lift the soul
in praise for love
to Jesus Christ.

Metre 6666.4444 “Darwall” TIS 108
©Ted Witham 2008
(thanks to e.e. cummings who inspired the first verse imagery)

Or “My husband’s morning kiss.” or omit this verse as appropriate.

 

Meelup Beach in Western Australia

Hymn of Saint Francis

Praise to Most High for sun so warm,
for moon and stars so bright;
praise to Most High for all that form,
the universe of light!

Praise to Most High for sparkling dawn,
for sunset splashed with gold;
praise to Most High for rich red soils,
and surf majestic rolled.

Praise to Most High for rain and wind,
for making new things grow;
praise to Most High for Mother Earth,
and  safe through death to go.

Praise to Most High for Jesus Christ,
His present power to heal;
praise to Most High that he was raised
and still his love falls real.

Praise to Most High for those we love,
and who are kind to us;
the gift of love we least deserve
is your sure sign to us.

Praise to Most High who shows the way:
love, joy, humility;
praise to Most High himself the gift,
our kindly Trinity.

8686 Tune “Nativity” TIS 204

© Ted Witham tssf 2008

 

Canticle Chasuble