Call to worship poem

Terns - Mary Oliver

Don’t think just now of the trudging forward of thought,

But of the wing-drive of unquestioning affirmation.

It’s summer, you never saw such a blue sky,

And here they are, those white birds with quick wings,

Sweeping over the waves, chattering and plunging,

Their thin beaks snapping, their hard eyes

Happy as little nails

The years to come-this is a promise-

Will grant you ample time

To try the difficult steps in the empire of thought

Where you seek for the shining proofs you think you must have.

But nothing you ever understand will be sweeter, or more binding,

Than this deepest affinity between your eyes and the world.

The flock thickens

Over the rolling, salt brightness. Listen,

Maybe such devotion, in which one holds the world

In the clasp of attention, isn’t the perfect prayer,

But it must be close, for the sorrow, whose name is doubt,

Is thus subdued, and not through the weaponry of reason,

But of pure submission. Tell me, what else

Could beauty be for? And now the tide

Is at its very crown,

The white birds =sprinkle down,

Gathering up the loose silver rising

As if weightless. It isn’t instruction, or parable.

It isn’t for any vanity or ambition

Except for the one allowed, to stay alive.

It’s only a nimble frolic

Over the waves. And you find, for hours,

You cannot even remember the questions

That weigh so in your mind.

For The Beauty of the Earth - Sara Groves and Lori Chaffer arrangement

Verse 1

For the beauty of the earth

For the glory of the skies

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies

Chorus 1

Lord of all to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise

Verse 2

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night

Hill and vale and tree and flower

Sun and moon and stars of light

Chorus 1

Verse 3

For the joy of human love

Brother sister parent child

Friends on earth and friends above

For all gentle thoughts and mild

Chorus 2

Lord of all to Thee we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise

Verse 4

For Thy church that evermore

Lifts her holy hands above

Offering up on every shore

Her pure sacrifice of love

Chorus 2

Come Thou Fount - Sufjan Steven’s arrangement

Verse 1

Come Thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount I’m fixed upon it, mount of Thy redeeming love

Verse 2

Here I raise my Ebenezer, here by Thy great help I’ve come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God

He to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood

Verse 3

Oh to grace how great a debtor, daily I’m constrained to be

Let Thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love

Here’s my heart Oh take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above

Verse 4

Come Thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount I’m fixed upon it, mount of Thy redeeming love

Song of Blessing

May God give you eyes to see

All that is good

The courage for anything

May you be strong

May God give you ears to hear

Their loving voice

Speaking all around you

All around

And deep inside

In Everything - Paper Horses

Verse 1

Feet on the grass, I’m listening

I see you now in everything

The fire, the stars, the blazing sun, all say it’s true

When I see the light, I’m seeing you

Verse 2

A still small voice, your frequency

Resonates in the deepest part of me

The wind, the storm, the morning dove all say it’s true

When I hear their song, I am hearing you

Chorus

In everything, in everything, in everything I see you

Verse 3

Your hand in mine I’m not alone

And it’s alright to need someone

A kindred heart a mother’s arms all say it’s true

When I’m holding on, I’m holding onto you

Chorus

In everything, in everything, in everything I see you

Verse 4

A broken jar and a fragrant room

She spends it all to honor you

There is nothing wasted nothing more that I can do

When I give it all, I am loving you

Chorus x2

In everything, in everything, in everything I see you

Tag

I see you, I see you, I see you

How Great Thou Art - The Worship Initiative arrangement

Verse

Oh Lord my God when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made

I see the stars I hear the rolling thunder

Thy pow’r through-out

The universe displayed

Chorus

Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art how great Thou art

Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art how great Thou art

Verse

When through the woods

And forest glades I wander

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And see the brook and feel the gentle breeze

Chorus

Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art how great Thou art

Then sings my soul my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art how great Thou art

Chorus

Verse

When Christ shall come

With shouts of acclamation

And lead me home what joy shall fill my heart

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

And there proclaim

My God how great Thou art

Chorus