The choir is working on a special piece for this Sunday: a modern arrangement of an old hymn, “Now The Green Blade Rises.” With any luck we’ll have some special accompaniment, too. It’s a wonderful piece to sing and the words are worth a closer look:

Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.

In the grave they laid him, love whom men had slain,
Thinking that never he would wake again.
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green,

Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain.
Quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.

When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
Thy touch can call us back to life again;
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.

One of the special pieces the choir will be singing tonight is called “O My People (The Reproaches)” by Damian Lundy. The music is modern, but the text is very old.

The chocolates, by the way, were beyond reproach.

Holy God You Raise Up Prophets

Music by Carl Haywood
Words by Harold T. Lewis
This hymn available on a CD from The Office of Black Ministries

1. Holy God, you raise up prophets,
Praise and honor do we sing.
For your faithful, humble servant,
Doctor Martin Luther King.

Refrain: Blessed Martin, pastor, prophet,
You the mountaintop did see;
Blessed Martin, holy martyr:
Pray that we may all be free.

2. Moral conscience of his nation,
Reconciling black and white,
Dreamed he of a just society,
We must carry on his fight.

3. Teacher of Christ-like non-violence
To the outcast, poor and meek;
Greater weapon ?gainst oppression
Is to turn the other cheek.

4. Preacher of Christ?s love for neighbor,
He won Nobel?s prize for peace;
Peoples, beat your swords to plough shares,
Wars ?twixt nations all shall cease.

5. Champion of oppressed humanity
Suff?ring throughout all the world;
He offered pride and dignity
Let Christ?s banner be unfurled!

6. So, when felled by sniper?s bullet,
Under heavens overcast,
He could cry, ?Thank God Almighty,
I am free, I?m free at last.?

The choir will sing this hymn Sunday to commemorate the martyrdom of Dr. King. The photo was taken by the webmistress on a trip to England in 2003; it depicts 10 modern martyrs who died for faith and freedom. Dr. King is depicted to the left of center, wearing the gown of a Baptist preacher. A larger version is on this gallery page.

Choir practice time and day will be changing at the end of the month, so check the calendar for an update.