Spirit Hymn

I've mentioned before that I'm interested in hymn writing. I've also blogged about the course I took this past semester on the Holy Spirit. Well, here those topics converge. While working on a paper about Eugene Rogers' book After the Spirit (which, you guessed it, I blogged about too), I got sidetracked and ended up writing a hymn to the Holy Spirit, using language we'd learned throughout the class and imagery drawing on Rogers' writing. Today, with my boyfriend's help, I recorded what is unimaginatively entitled "Spirit Hymn." (Hey, until about 10 minutes ago it was just called "Spirit.") Take a listen and check out the lyrics.

Spirit Hymn by sarahhowellmusic

Spirit, unify us by your love
Spirit, draw us in your life above
Pour yourself upon our hearts
Through your grace which abounds
You are gift and you are giver, you surround
Spirit

Spirit, open out our hearts to you
Spirit, make our sweet communion true
Give us strength to overcome
All the bound’ries in place
Open us to see God’s image on each face
Spirit

Spirit, comfort us in suffering
Spirit, to the body help us cling
Make us see upon the cross
Christ whose wounds are the balm
Hold us safe within the Savior’s nail-scarred palm
Spirit

Spirit, prophet and redeeming one
Spirit, with the Father and the Son
Let us live into your love
As partakers of God
Help us witness to your glory shed abroad
Spirit