O God of Light, May Our Light Shine
The
World Day of Prayer
2005’s
theme is “Let
our Light Shine.”
The new hymn, “O
God of Light, May Our Light Shine,”
was written by Carolyn Gillette for the ecumenical celebration of the World
Day of Prayer hosted by the Hockessin United Methodist Church in Delaware.
We thought you might like to see it and maybe share it with others.
O God
of Light, May Our Light Shine
CANONBURY LM ("Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak")
O God of light, may our light shine
In ways that serve and honor you.
May we be loving, just and kind,
Proclaiming Christ in all we do.
God, where your people are oppressed
And where they cry out in despair,
Make us your light-- to heal, to bless--
A witness, Lord, that you are there.
Christ, when your way is pushed aside
By those who trust in wealth and might,
Make us your lamps that we may guide
A searching world to your love’s
light.
O Spirit, in this world of doubt,
We often sin and drift away;
When our own faith is flickering out,
Shine on our path and light our way.
Biblical Text: Matthew 5:13-16
Tune: Robert Schumann, 1839.
Alternate Tune: O WALY WALY LM ("Though I May Speak")
Text: Copyright
©
2005 by
Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Email:
bcgillette@comcast.net
Background on Carolyn's Hymns:
Many churches have used the hymns of Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. Her "In
Times of Great Decision” hymn for the November 2004 election was sung by
thousands of congregations and featured in a National Council of Churches
news story that was carried by Presbyterian News Service, United Methodist
News Service, Episcopal News Service as well as Religion News Service
story that was in
The
Christian Century
magazine. “O God, Our Words Cannot Express,”
a hymn she wrote on September 11, 2001, was used by thousands of churches,
featured on national PBS-TV in the
United States and the BBC-TV in the United Kingdom, and made into a music
video by Noel Paul Stookey of
“Peter, Paul
and Mary” and Emmy-winner Pete Staman. Church World Service, the
ecumenical humanitarian agency, has
web page
with links to postings of 15 of her hymns. She was commissioned to write a
hymn for the inauguration service for Churches Uniting in Christ. The
United Methodist Church promoted her hymn for peace (“God, Whose Love is
Always Stronger”) before the war with Iraq. The Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America has sent two of Gillette’s hymns to all of their
congregations. The American Baptists sang her jubilee hymn at their
national meeting. The new Episcopal hymnal supplement has four of her
hymns in it. The Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Geneva Press has published a
book of her hymns titled “Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today’s Worship.” A
complete list of hymns by Carolyn, with links to 45 hymn texts available
online, can be found at
www.firstpresby.org/hymnlist.htm
She and her
husband Bruce serve as the co-pastors of the Limestone Presbyterian Church
in Wilmington, Delaware.
Blessings on you and your ministry.
Grace and Peace,
Bruce
Bruce & Carolyn Gillette, Pastors
Limestone Presbyterian Church, 3201 Limestone Road, Wilmington, Delaware
19808-2198
Office Phone: (302) 994-5646 Home Phone: (302)-994-0220
Email:
bcgillette@comcast.net
Church website:
www.limestonepresbyterian.org
