Bonus Poem: A French Sense of Purpose

This morning the pastor* prayed, 

 

“Give us a French

[and then corrected herself]

sense of purpose,”

but in my mind, I began to wonder

just what a French sense of purpose might be.

 

“Give us a joie de vivre,

a savoring of every moment of our being,

 

“Let us cry out when we awake, ‘Bon appetite’ 

each morning at the table you set before us,

 

“Keep us bug-eyed in wonder, always with

a je ne sais quoi at the world’s indescribable beauty,

 

“May we try not to see each day

as a déjà vu experience, but delight in all things new,

 

“When things go wrong, may we be less apt to blame 

than to say simply, ‘c’est la vie,’ and move on,

 

“Finally, keep us from the faux pas of forgetting

our Savior’s etiquette of seeing you in all people, 

 

“That we might be your avant-garde in the world around us,

 

“En route to a better life for all, 

 

“With you, who are our rock, and our raison d'être.  Amen.”

 

 

Scott L. Barton 

 

 

*The Rev. Susan Cartmell at Amherst, MA’s South Congregational Church

 

Bonus Poem: Gratefulness

Gratefulness

There are two usual ways to deal with the things that could happen.

I mean, the things that you never expect,

Like that chest pain turning into an aortic stent,

Or those radiating twinges turning into disc surgery,

Or your growing fatigue finally being diagnosed as leukemia,

Or your knees giving out, even though you can never imagine that, 

since you can still bound up the stairs if you want, 

but they don’t last forever, you know. Don’t you?

These things, or any number of 101 damnations, could all happen. 

At least one of them surely will.

I mean, you’ll probably die,

Even though you can’t imagine that, either.

Aging comes with its perks, but also its downsides.

And you could dread the prospects of all these things,

Like first-year medical students, who,

I hear, often think that everything they read about is an affliction that they have. 

You can worry yourself to death, which is a little ironic, isn’t it?

Or, on the other hand, you can deny all this,

And go on living as if everything revolves around you,

As if you can take whatever you want from life,

Because, after all, you are special, aren’t you?

Bad things happen to other people. 

But you, above all others, deserve all the good things in life that you can grab.

And yet for some reason, I think neither of these alternatives is the best one.

For some reason, and I’m not sure how we get to it,

(Except maybe by being called to it? 

And is this what it means to have a mature concept of God?)

It turns out that the best alternative is living with an everyday gratefulness:

A cheerful humility about the world around you,

Letting go of the hurt and letting in the forgiveness,

Allowing tears to come with someone’s warm hug because you’ve been missed,

Being astonished by the life all around you, 

in the smallest square inch of dirt beneath your feet up to the giant hemlocks you walk under, 

And being amazed at the gifts of everyone from the kid in the school play 

to the cleaning lady who mops the floor 

to the doctors and P.A.s and N.P.s who are trying to figure out the next best step. 

Gratefulness. What better way to celebrate this season, or any other, for that matter? 

What better way to recognize love incarnate? 

What better way to live?

Scott L. Barton

Bonus Poem: Hymn, "All Our Days"

 

This hymn came about after an organ recital at First Churches, Northampton, Mass. Kiel Krommer played a captivating piece called "Reflection," the first sixteen measures of which called out to me as the music for a touching hymn. I wrote the hymn words based on the music Kiel loaned me, tracked down the composer, Daniel Bishop, in Liverpool, U.K., and sent a request to use part of his piece for a hymn. He was apologetic that the publisher might not allow it, and he was right. Well, the publisher would have charged a big fee. After telling Daniel Bishop that I understood that everyone needs to be compensated for their work, but I just couldn't swing the publisher's requirements, Daniel offered to write new music for this hymn. It's heavily based on the original piece but different enough that it stands on its own. Mr. Bishop even engraved the words and music just as you have here. We owe a lot to him if this becomes a hymn you decide to use.  

I think the best hymns are prayers, which this one is.

Verse 1 expresses a feeling of gratitude for everything that we are, and our faith that it is by love that we live—love from God, family, and those around us.

Verse 2 refers to all the vicissitudes of life, including our inevitable deaths, and God's accompanying us in it all. The last four words are the title of my favorite poem by Thomas John Carlisle.

Coming off the reference to our deaths in verse 2, verse 3 begins with our hope that there are things we have accomplished, and love we have given, that will endure after we are gone. But in the meantime, we still decide to follow the program of our God, believing that God in Christ makes all things new.

If you want to pair the hymn with a lectionary text, one possibility would be 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

I appreciate the comments that a few colleagues made after my first draft of the words. This whole project goes to show that something like this doesn't come out of a vacuum but in collaboration with good-hearted people. 

 

 

Bonus Poem: Hymn: God Is Our Only King

 

God Is Our Only King

DIADEMATA  SMD

 

Scott L. Barton, 2025                                                                                 George Job Elvey, 1868                                                          

 

1. God is our only king in this beloved land,

If any claim to take that name, against them we will stand;

Our forebears fought and died, so all of us would reign,

The Constitution makes it clear, and we will make it plain!

 

2. “Give me your tired, your poor, those yearning to breathe free,

Those hated victims of all wars, send homeless souls to me!”

We welcome in this land, all strangers needing care,

We follow Jesus here because humanity we share.

 

3. Giant displays of strength reveal the inward fear

Of those who think that might makes right, and only self revere;

We trust that love prevails, for Christ the crucified 

From death rose up to give us hope, and with us still abides.

 

4. Making a nation great means kindness is restored,

And diff’rences can make us strong, while hatred we deplore;

Our God calls us to serve all people far and wide,

And how we serve the least of these, is how we’re glorified. 

 

 

We Have No Bloody King

 

Scott Barton (2025)                            DIADEMATA SMD              George Elvey (1868)

 

1.    We have no bloody king in this beloved land,

If any claim to take that name, against them we will stand;

Our forebears fought and died, so no one person reigns,

The Constitution makes it clear, and we will make it plain!

 

2.    “Give me your tired, your poor, those yearning to breathe free,”

Those hated victims of all wars, send homeless souls to me!

We welcome in this land, all strangers needing care,

We open wide our arms because humanity we share.

 

3.    Giant displays of strength reveal the inward fear

Of those who think that might makes right, and only self revere;

We trust that love prevails, for what there is inside

Each member of humanity says goodness still abides.

 

4.    Making a nation great means kindness is restored,

And diff’rences can make us strong, while hatred we deplore;

Our nation needs no king, across this land so wide,

Since how we serve the most in need is how we’re glorified.

 

Year C Poems

For lectionary poems for Year C, please click on 2022 to the right. 

Then, click on the appropriate month, which tells the month any poem was posted. For example, December starts with the Third Sunday of Advent at the bottom.

Christ the King/Reign of Christ (B)—Revelation 1:4b-8 and John 18:33-37

 

Revelation 1:4b-8

 Catacombe di Commodilla, Rome, 4th c.

When All Is Said and Done

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” he says,

a phrase not in common usage anymore,

so let’s imagine what he might say these days:

“I’m A to Z.”

Or, he might try this:

“I am the start of it all, and the living end.”

     “the be all and end all,

          “the real McCoy,

               “the genuine article,

                    “the real deal.”

Or how about this?

“I am the whole nine yards,

     “the whole enchilada,

          “the whole shebang,

               “the whole bailiwick.

                    “the whole ball of wax,

                         “the whole shootin’ match,” and,

                              “the whole kit and caboodle.”

“I am the unvarnished truth,

     “the honest truth,

          “the naked truth,

               “the full monty,

                    “the inside track,

                         “the whole story,” and of course,

                               “the gospel truth.”

There must be no end to the ways he might put it.

Get it?

Personally, today I like, “I am the cat’s meow.”

Scott L. Barton

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

+ + +

John 18:33-37

 

Christ the King statue, Świebodzin, Poland

"Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 

or

And in the End (reflection on the last Sunday of the church year)

I think it's funny that

it's not the other way around:

Like, “All who hear my voice

belong to truth;” I think that sounds . . .

 

Religious! Yet, he still confounds

what we expect to hear.

The truth is that it's all a gift,

and everyone is dear;

 

Those living thus, will love as much—

he could not be more clear!

Still, list'ning to this king

is never easy—any year!

Scott L. Barton

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)—1 Samuel 1:4–20 and 1 Samuel 2:1–10 (see also Luke 1:46–55); Mark 13:1–8

 1 Samuel 1:4-20 and 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (see also Luke 1:46–55)

Marc Chagall: Hannah Praying to God (ca. 1956)

Hannah's Hymn

 

Tune: St. Catherine (Faith of Our Fathers; Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me)

 

Hannah knew how her Elkanah

Forsook her not, nor cast aside,

He as a spendthrift, even more,

On Hannah, lavished love with pride.

Faith of our mothers, fathers, too,

Teach us God's love makes all things new!

 

Letting loose doubt the Lord provides,

Pouring out faith set Hannah free,

Her wish bore fruit by love and prayer,

And what she asked for, came to be.

Faith of our mothers, fathers, too,

Teach us God's love makes all things new!

 

"There is no Holy One like the LORD,"

Thus Hannah prayed, exulting that day;

Girding the feeble, thwarting the proud,

Love for the world will find a way!

Faith of our mothers, fathers, too,

Teach us God's love makes all things new!

 

Hannah could never know some day

Her prayer would be the model for

Another pray-er who magnified

The Lord, who in her joy she bore!

Faith of our mothers, fathers, too,

Teach us God's love makes all things new!

 

Scott L. Barton

On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb. Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?”

After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. She made this vow: “O Lord of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.” As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, “How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.” Then Eli answered, “Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your sight.” Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer.

They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I have asked him of the Lord.”

+ + +

Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory. “There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail. The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.”

+ + +

Mark 13:1–8  

 

New Birth

 

These days,

The cult of personality,

—Like those days—

Purports to be reality,

With many taken in

By blasting hype and rumored spin.

 

But Jesus knew,

That those with his mentality,

Would rage eschew,

Since every nationality

Someday will grin

To see in neighbor, kith and kin.

 

Scott L. Barton

As [Jesus] came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.