Gather Us In
Here in this place, new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away,
See in this space our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in – the lost and forsaken, gather us in – the blind and the lame;
Call to us now, and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty, gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart, so meek and so lowly, give us the courage to enter the song.
Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven, light years away:
Here in this place the new light is shining, now is the kingdom and now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever, gather us in and make us your own.
Gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
Rise Up
You’re broken down and tired of living life on a merry go round
And you can’t find the fighter but I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains we gonna walk it out
And move mountains and I’ll rise upI’ll rise like the day, I’ll rise unafraid
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
High like the waves, In spite of the ache
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
For you
When the silence isn’t quiet and it feels like it’s getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying but I promise we’ll take the world to its feet
And move mountains bring it to its feet
And move mountains and I’ll rise up
All we need, all we need is hope And for that we have each other
And we will rise
I’ll rise up
Rise like the day in spite of the ache
I will rise a thousand times again
High like the waves, in spite of the ache
And we’ll do it a thousand times again
For you
Just As I Am
Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bid’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Just as I am, though tossed about with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Just as I am, thou wilt receive, wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Just as I am, thy love unknown, hast broken ev’ry barrier down;
now, to be thine, yea, thine alone, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Feelin’ Good
Birds flying high, you know how I feel
Sun in the sky, you know how I feel
Breeze driftin’ on by, you know how I feel
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me.
And I’m feeling good, I’m feeling good
Fish in the sea, you know how I feel
River running free, you know how I feel
Blossom on a tree, you know how I feel
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for me
And I’m feeling good
Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean, don’t you know
Butterflies all havin’ fun, you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done, that’s what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world for me
Stars when you shine, you know how I feel
Scent of the pine, you know how I feel
Oh, freedom is mine and I know how I feel
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good
Happiness – a poem by Anna Crews Camphouse
From an eternal source
The spring fed waters of joy
Flow into the spaces of our hearts
Filling every corner of our being.
We cannot see the source from whence they come.
Some of us have tried to dam up the spring.
The pain of the drying of the lake
Forces us to wonder
And cry
Ache
And then
Just as we think
The water of joy has gone
We move the rock of sorrow
We have placed on the top of the source.
The water is not gone.
It never leaves.
It only ebbs.
And flows.
The pool can be filled
The depth we open ourselves
The work of opening up the pool
We choose every day
Every moment
Every hour
Happiness
Is the shimmering
Life giving flow of joy
Seen as the top of the pool
As the pool grows
Other souls needing its water
Are drawn to its life-giving beauty
But they cannot steal the joy
Delving their cups into our pond
They seek to take what is not theirs to own.
The water in their cup becomes stale
And they grow bitter from thirst
Their own soul is withering
They do not understand
There is no other way
No other source of happiness
But to open ourselves and let joy flow
Our happiness can spill over into the desert
Creating life giving flows for all those around
If only they will open themselves to the Divine
Not through stolen moments held in cups
That turn stale with the passing days
Others swimming in our pond
Enjoying our happiness
Is only for a moment
Opening their own hearts
They can move the stones of sorrow
In their own ponds
This is the secret
So long ignored by those
Who have made a practice
Of seeking out the joy
In places outside
Themselves
Open your heart
Feel the flow of joy unending
Experience life in its abundance
Tend your beautiful pond of radiant happiness
Until it becomes an ocean of life unified with all creation