Lord, we need always
to find ourselves within arms’ reach,
within touching distance of you
for you are always
within touching distance of us…
Your Spirit is always moving
within us and around us,
guiding us to the touching place
you make for all your friends…
And in the circle of your touch,
teach us, Lord,
to reach out in healing,
to touch and lift up one another,
to make of our lives, our prayer, our church
a touching place…
Let our touch be always gentle, Lord,
always light upon another’s hurt and pain, yet
strong enough to mend, to heal,
to lift up those bowed down who might, in turn,
bow down to raise up others
in the touching place
your presence is…
Protect us while we’re awake, Lord,
and watch over us while we sleep,
that awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace…
I know few songs whose lyrics touch me as deeply as tonight’s piece by John Bell…
1) Christ’s is the world in which we move
Christ’s are the folk we’re summoned to love,
Christ’s is the voice which calls us to care,
And Christ is the one who meets us here.
To the lost Christ shows his face,
To the unloved he gives his embrace,
To those who cry in pain or disgrace,
Christ makes, with his friends, a touching place.
2) Feel for the people we most avoid,
Strange or bereaved or never employed,
Feel for the women, feel for the men
Who fear that their living is all in vain.
3) Feel for the parents who’ve lost their child,
Feel for the women whom men have defiled,
Feel for the baby for whom there’s no breast,
And feel for the weary who find no rest.
4) Feel for the lives by life confused,
Riddled with doubt, in loving abused,
Feel for the lonely heart, conscious of sin,
Which longs to be pure but fears to begin.
