spirituality

Making Holy Dreams Come True

Making Holy dreams come true
What have they done to the little town of Bethlehem?
Some thoughts on Bethlehem for Christmas Eve

Making Holy Dreams Come True (A Christmas prayer for Bethlehem)

What have they done to the “Little Town”?

Imprisoned it in a concrete wall

Bethlehem – once a holy city

Trapped inside a ghetto wall.

Here where angels sang of peace

Where love and hope were born anew

Once surrounded by a heavenly host

Now surrounded by a concrete view.

Yet people crushed and hidden away

Still celebrate on Christmas Eve

Lighting candles for the child –

They still remember – still believe.

So light a candle this Holy Night

For Bethlehem and Beit Sahour

And for all the people caught inside

That cold and grey prison wall

Longing for a world of peace

Where all are treated equally

Where all can recognise their worth

Where all can live with dignity –

Where all can join hands with neighbours

Whether Muslim, Christian, Jew

And find a way to live together

Making holy dreams come true.

Garth Hewitt from his book ‘Making Holy Dreams Come True’ (SPCK) with thanks to Chris Rogers for his violin accompaniment from the album ‘Peace at Christmas’ available here

Oscar Romero – Canonised by Pope Francis on 14th October 2018

Garth has released his song Oscar Romero on youtube as a tribute to Monsignor Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, who is being made a saint by Pope Francis on Sunday 14th October 2018.

Oscar Romero was assassinated (while leading Mass) on 24th March 1980 for his outspoken support of the poor and unjustly treated, and his stand against violence.

Garth wrote this song shortly afterwards and it was released on the album Alien Brain in 1985. It has been included on the newly released double album Against the Grain available here on this website.

Alien Brain is also available as download or CD on the GingerDog Records website here

Easter Prayer

O God we have been on a journey through Lent

And now we are walking with you through Holy Week —

May we pause and pray and meet with you.

Your teaching has been about the kingdom or community of God,

A way of life and a community that goes up against the empires of domination —

As relevant now as it ever has been.

The empires of greed favouring the rich and powerful,

Instead of your way reflecting justice for all.

As you head to Jerusalem you are witness to this on Palm Sunday

As you ride in with non-violence,

From one side of Jerusalem gentle and riding on a donkey —

From the other side the army of empire, injustice, greed and oppression.

As you turn the tables of oppression, so the empire wants you killed

The powers who rule, crucify you: the sin of the world kills you.

But on Easter Sunday God affirms you and all you have done —

There is the rising again —

God’s community of love continues forever.

May we be in the community of love —

The community that is never silent

And so a community of the Gospel bringing justice and hope to all.

Amen

A song for International Women’s Day

A song for international women’s day – this song is about a true story of a Dalit woman in India and reminds us to pray and campaign for the Dalits in India, particularly in these difficult times for the Dalit community

RAISE THE FLAG

They chose her to raise the flag

On National Independence Day

They chose her to raise the flag

But it nearly cost her life.

After 50 years of independence

She should have raised it high

But instead he knocked her down and laid her low

He beat her up and told her that she was not worthy

He beat her up and told her because she is a Dalit

He knocked her down to teach her a lesson she won’t forget

She is not worthy to raise the National flag.

But they chose her …

And when the time of the dark moon comes you can hear her calling

And when the time of the dark moon comes, you can hear her voice

She’s sitting all alone and her mind is confused

She’s paid the price for the lesson that she’s learnt

But they chose her …

from the album Stealing Jesus Back

Words & music by Garth Hewitt

GingerDog Records Limited

3 The Chase, Brandon, Suffolk IP27 0RT

www.gingerdog-records.com

A Lenten Prayer

O God as we enter Lent

May we remember we are walking with you on a journey towards Holy Week –

May we pause and pray and meet with you.
Your teaching has been about the kingdom or community of God,
A way of life and a community that goes up against the empires of domination –

As relevant now as it ever has been.
The empires of greed favouring the rich and powerful,
Instead of your way reflecting justice for all.
As you head to Jerusalem you are witness to this on Palm Sunday
As you ride in with non-violence,
From one side of Jerusalem gentle and riding on a donkey –
From the other side the army of empire, injustice, greed and oppression.

As you turn the tables of oppression, so the empire wants you killed

The powers who rule, crucify you: the sin of the world kills you
But on Easter Sunday God affirms you and all you have done –

There is the rising again –
God’s community of love continues forever.

May we be in the community of love –
The community that is never silent
And so a community of the Gospel bringing justice and hope to all.

God of the just heart

In the challenging words of the Sermon on the Mount

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice

They shall be satisfied’

You remind us that satisfaction does not lie

Where we might expect it
In the security of wealth and privilege

But in the joy of doing what is right

And in working to assert the value and dignity of other people

Because this is the calling of your community

This builds relationships and just societies

This brings deep satisfaction

As all are made welcome.

So keep us hungering and thirsting

For the values that make us all whole

And then we know the healing fountains will start.

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Holy Dreams to Feed the Soul

SPCK

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