The Peaceable Kingdom

Or cold, drafty house.


This is a bitter-sweet time for me. Two weeks ago I announced that I'll be leaving the church I've served for the past ten years for a new parish. I'm excited about the move. I'm ready for my own church and feel like it is time to spread my wings. But I've been with the same church for a decade now, and it's hard to imagine anything else. Yesterday, after our main service, there was a reception to honor my ten year anniversary. I had just preached a sermon on the Magnificat, Mary's prophetic speach in Luke 1. There was lots of music in the service, including one anthem some of the our youth, just the girls, sang. Little did I know at the time, but the anthem had been commissioned in my honor. Here are the words:

She was so young, not yet mature

an undistinguished youth;

yet from her mouth came poetry

with life-affirming truth.

"My soul is bursting!" she exclaimed.

"The Lord of heaven and earth

has looked with favor on a girl

of common, humble birth,"

She said, "The proud have had their day!

The mighty are undone.

The poor and hungry eat like kings.

The rich are on the run."

They might have scoffed in her own day

"Who cares what you believe?

You're no one, just a troubled teen

as mutable as Eve."

Will we allow this youthful voice

to penetrate our core?

May Mary's briliant freedom song

inspire our faith to soar.

The lyrics were written John Thornburg, and Jane Marshall wrote a tune to accompany it. Needless to say, I was moved to tears. I'm just glad they waited until after the service to tell me about the anthem, or would have NEVER made it through the service. It's a good but emotional time, and I feel nothing but gratitude for the past ten years.