9:8:9:8 Possible tune- St Clement (R&S 584, H&P 648)
Deuteronomy 18.15-20
1 Corinthians 8.1-13
Mark 1.21-28
The word of God that spoke creation
Now comes to us in many ways,
But Christ speaks with the greatest power,
For he God’s final truth displays.
And we, who take the name of Jesus,
Are called to speak this word afresh
To help our neighbours see God’s glory
Expressed in human blood and flesh.
The church’s task is hard and risky
For others judge God by our word;
The prophet’s voice speaks through each action,
We bear the weight of what is heard.
If in our need to build our status
We put at hazard other souls,
Or in our freedom enslave others
It isn’t God our deed extols.
Our eyes need to be fixed on Jesus,
Who casts out all that tears life down,
The servant Lord who seeks the outcast
And shows in meekness true renown.
Christ is the meat and drink of prophets,
He flavours all we come to know
And bids us share our strength and weakness
As we the friend of sinners show.
© Alan Hinton 2008,
Permission given for use and private distribution, but not for commercial publication in any form.
