Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, a Presbyterian pastor and author of more than 300 hymns, has written a new hymn in response to the refugee crisis in the Middle East.
Gillette is offering it for churches to use, saying that “the new hymn would be very appropriate for Christmas Eve, Christmas Sunday and New Year’s Day (the First Sunday after Christmas’ lectionary gospel reading is Jesus and his family being refugees fleeing Herod).”
Tune: MUELLER 11.11.11.11 (“Away in a Manger”)
Biblical references: Luke 2:1-20; 22-24; Leviticus 12:6; Matthew 2:13-18; Luke 1:46-55; Matthew 25:31-46 and Micah 6:8.
Text: Copyright © 2016 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Gillette also has written this hymn note:
Hymn Note: This hymn begins with a traditional image of a manger scene, and becomes a prayer that we may look deeper— at our loving God who chose to come into this world as someone who was poor, powerless, in danger, and a refugee. It is a prayer for the church to work for justice as our gift to Jesus. Permission is given for free use of this hymn by churches that support refugee relief efforts.
*Praying for the day when the fighting in Aleppo will be history and not a tragic current event, here is a substitute second line for the fourth verse:
“We see in your world, God, the terror of war.”
Download a PDF of the hymn with music and lyrics: A New Father, Awestruck
Download a document of the words only: A New Father, Awestruck
