1 How good and how joyous it is to be
together in this place,
encircled by the love of God,
surrounded by God’s grace.
Refrain (sung):
How good and how joyous it is to be
together in this place,
encircled by the love of God,
surrounded by God’s grace!
Stanza 1 (spoken):
It is like the peace that falls upon pilgrims
when they pause to rest and pray
at the foot of a great high cross;
like the joy of a congregation
that has found its voice
to praise God in perfect harmony. [Refrain]
2 Stanza 2 (spoken):
It is like the welcome that awaits us
when we come from all directions
to gather at the table of our Lord;
there God satisfies our hunger for the Living Word,
and our thirst for God’s forgiving love. [Refrain]
Stanza 3 (spoken):
Creator God, protect us.
Jesus Christ, direct us,
Spirit Holy, connect us
in this circle of your love. Amen
Source: Faith That Lets Us Sing: fifty new hymns and short worship songs #48
Mary Nelson Keithahn, a retired United Church of Christ ordained pastor and church educator, has been a curriculum writer-editor, journalist, and lyricist for musical dramas and anthems. She still works out of her home in Rapid City, South Dakota, as a free-lance writer. In 2016 she published Elfie: Adventures on the Midwest Frontier, a chapter book for children, and Embracing the Light: Reflectioins on God’s Holy Word, a collection of meditations for individual or small group use. Augsburg Fortress also published Sing the Stories of God’s NEW People, the third in a trilogy of Bible story-based collections of songs for young children, written with her longtime colleague, John D. Horman. The two have written over a hundred hymns togethe… Go to person page >
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