What will I be doing this Lent? I wondered.
Gradually the idea formed...
Last month, in response to a challenge to write a song or hymn each month for a twelve month period, I wrote ‘Forgive Us Lord, When We Believe’ which will sound odd until seeing the second line. It does, itself make a challenge every time we say The Lord’s Prayer: the challenge being ‘Do we really believe ‘Your Kingdom come on earth, as in heaven?’
The tune for the song is Tallis’ Canon with its lovely flowing melody. It then has a simple refrain which was developed by Lois Putt, a fellow song writer pursuing the same monthly challenge and generously producing scores and recordings of my songs
From this song which you will find below, came the idea that I will, through this Lent try to write a new verse each day that focuses on 'The ways I might hurt the world, the ways I might hurt my neighbours and the ways I might hurt myself, in the heart and mind of our Creator God. As far as possible, I will try to post these daily, so for those who are kind enough to follow this blog, they will offer a penitential sequence through this Lent which may be helpful.
So here, to start the sequence is ‘Forgive Us Lord’, with a score and a recording by Lois.
Forgive us Lord when we believe
Your Kingdom plans won’t be achieved,
Despite our oft repeated prayer
Of ‘Kingdom come’, both soon and here.
Refrain
Father, forgive, forgive;
Father, forgive,
Father, forgive, forgive.
Father; forgive ,
Forgive us Lord when we align
With actions greedy or malign
That offer us some selfish gain
Which we accept, and cause you pain
Refrain
And lose compassion for the lost
Refrain
Forgive us Lord when we neglect
To take the actions you’d expect,
And help us ever to be true;
When justice calls, to act like you.
Refrain
You can listen to Lois singing HERE