Black Country Churches Engaged

the sub-region’s ecumenical intermediate body

Hymn Texts

The Challenge to Jerusalem (Mark 11.7ff)

The citizens bedeck the street,
Their blessings shout, hosanna sing;
Palm branches wafting, thousands greet
Their donkey-riding peaceful king.
   Such adulation! And for whom?
   Him who again is found no room!
   How soon crowds turn, and court their doom

Impressive, green against the sand,
The fig-tree calls the passer-by.
Its leaves give wayside shadow, and
Its fruit refreshment should supply.
   But reach the tree and stand below –
   The foliage is all for show!
   A fruitless fruit-tree has to go!

The Temple, Herod’s proud design,
Reflects its masonry’s white glare:
The Jewish nation’s sacred shrine
Is also Gentiles’ place of prayer.
   God’s house looks stunning from afar;
   Close to, reveals its shocking scar;
   The stink, the racket, the bazaar!

Today, what does "The Church" suggest?
Do meetings proffer more than speech?
And, worshipping in "Sunday best",
Do Christians practise what they preach?
   O Lord who cursed the barren tree,
   Forgive our posturing, that we
   May bear your fruit: integrity.

The (only!) appropriate tujne for this hymn is Dura, Hymns & Psalms no.462, altered by repeating for the sixth line the chords played for the fifth.

It was of course written specifically for Palm Sunday but may have uses on other occasions.

Since Ancient Times

Since ancient times, God’s chosen, holy nation
Sought to obey the prophets’ calls and Law:-
Love for their neighbour, and consideration
In trade, and help for alien and poor.

Then Jesus came - his life claims imitation -
He healed and fed, taught humankind to share.
Still, as he saves from self pre-occupation,
Christians respond with deep, extensive care.

Nw as we mandate expert and researcher
Guiding keen work in famine, flood and war,
Striving to build, to reconstruct, to nurture,
We give, raise funds and plead from door to door.

On our behalf, to need responses fitting,
Backing communes, crusading for fair trade,
The churches’ agents have been unremitting.
Praise be for CAFOD, Tear Fund, Christian Aid.

And yet we know, “the poor are always with us.”
Yes, Jesus knew the world would have it so!
Lord, Saviour, Brother, Certain Man, forgive us
Our wonted crossing over as we go.

But here we stand, priorities arranging.
Who runs the world, with debt so highly-priced?
We’ll work tenaciously to see earth changing
So shall all share the feast of life with Christ!

© J Michael Topliss

(Recommended tune: Michael Baughen’s “Lord of the Years”)

Office Address:

18 Selman’s Hill

Bloxwich

Walsall

West Midlands

WS3 3RJ