A Retreat inspired Hymn ...

"Create a Time Away"

We live tremendously busy lives with hectic schedules that often result in our not taking much time to be renewed and restored. However, those very lives and schedules drain us and sometimes leave us with little reserves. And yet the demands of home, work and life in general keep making requests upon us.

It is a good thing to deliberately stop; to intentionally take time to think, reflect and yes, pray too. Our spirituality can easily be taxed when we don't pay it the attention that it needs and deserves. That very center of our faith which comes as a gift from God can be and is so inspiring when things are stressful and feeling out of control. However, if we don't nurture it through the gift of sabbath time apart, whatever that time may look like, and however long it may last, then we will find ourselves stretched spiritually as well as emotionally and physically by the demands and expectations placed upon us, and that we place upon ourselves.

I want to dedicate this hymn to the brothers of the Order of the Holy Cross in West Park, New York. I have spent this week here and have received hospitality and generosity that has been overwhelming and very inspiring for me. This was the place I needed to be right now! And I am grateful for what God has given me through your ministry in this place. These words written here come out of my experience and will always remind me of the holiness I experienced during this time with you.

The tune is a familiar tune, "This is My Father's World". It's very movement from one note to another speaks to me of a spirit that is alive and engaging, especially when we take the time to be present through a sacred encounter with God through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Create a Time Away

Tune: St. Catherine
Metre: 8.8.8.8.8.8.

Create a time to pray,
Prepare a new way;
God’s hope for us, God’s greatest joy
Our senses each employ.
Simplicity is grace
To give ourselves the space;
To grow in God’s abundant hope
Expand our breadth of scope.

God wants us to be one
A mystery begun;
With opened eyes and ears and hearts,
Find joy in time apart.
The birds, they sing and praise
The sun’s bright, beaming rays.
God’s sacrament of light and peace
Are sure to bring release.

God’s wholeness and embrace
Come with a healthy pace.
The Spirit’s breath always guides us
to risks adventurous.
Cool breezes blow our way
And call us out to play
With childlike laughter we embrace
The beauty of this place.

Enlightened, souls aflame,
Sun rays call us to claim;
Accept the joy of ev’ry day,
escape our busy fray.
God grants us energy
Our life a liturgy.
Be blessed by God who is always near
the holy will appear.

Text: copyright, The Rev. Canon Mark Kinghan, 2016. Not to be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the express written permission of the author.

Hymn for General Synod 2016

"We Listen for God's Truth"

Often as part of my own personal spiritual rhythm, God speaks to me through music and hymns. A piece of that for me is the opportunity to be creative in writing words that are set to traditional hymn tunes.

Last night, I was pondering the conversation within our Anglican Church of Canada around changing the marriage canon to allow for same gender couples to be included. This is a complex conversation influenced by different perspectives, beliefs and interpretations. However, if we are to be faithful to God, we must keep ourselves spiritually attuned and engaged with what the Holy Spirit is doing among us and through us.

The words to this hymn reflect my prayer that we as faithful followers of Christ and as children of God will walk the pilgrim road before us attentive and aware that God is walking it with us. God's truth inspires us; God's Spirit speaks to us; and we are called to join in building and promoting the reign of God that is both here now and yet to come.

I pray that this hymn may invite us to be intentional about making sure that our spirituality and following the leading of the Holy Spirit is at the center of all we do; the conversations we have; and the decisions we make.

It is set to a tune which is a personal favorite of mine, best known for it's use in Holy Week and on Good Friday.

Please pray it with me ... and may God's Spirit be what guides us as we faithfully discern and live out our call to "seek and serve Christ in all people loving our neighbors as ourselves" and to " work for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being."

We Listen for God’s Truth

Tune: Locw Unknown

Meter: 66 66 44 44

We listen for God’s truth

O Spirit speak your Word;

The gospel calls each one,

our open hearts to stir.

We long to see the way ahead

A people God has called and led.

We need your guidance God

To live our faith each day

Our human lives are flawed,

we come to you to pray.

Grant us discernment by your grace

And see you in this holy space.  

We walk a pilgrim road

Attentive and aware

Your blessings are bestowed

We’re called to thank you and share.

A way of life we walk each day

Assist us not to go astray.

Speak through each thought and prayer

Your will be our desire

To love and always care

A faithful life inspire.

We’re called to follow Jesus’ way

God’s reign rejoicing to display. 

Text: copyright, The Rev. Canon Mark Kinghan, 2016. Not to be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the express written permission of the author.

2016 Good Friday Hymn

"A Holy Day!"

Good Friday is such a holy and sacred day in our church year. There are so many themes we are invited to enter into as we become part of the story and recount all that God accomplished.

For me, the image of anyone taking their last breath is such a poignant moment. Imagine Jesus taking his final breath; did anyone notice? I wonder. I suspect that his mother and some of the other women at the tomb did. What does Jesus last breath mean for us today? 

Through the brokenness of Jesus on the cross, we are made 100% whole. What a healing gift through such a selfless act of sacrifice. Unjust to be sure; but necessary none the less. This was part of God's story of redemption for all God's people and all of creation.

At the heart of the Good Friday message is the promise of forgiveness, even and especially when it is not deserved. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they have done!" What a profound witness to God's love and mercy, that even those who executed Jesus would be forgiven through the unconditional gift of grace. 

Through all that happened on that first Good Friday, and through all the subsequent Good Friday's that have happened and still happen today, we know God's faithfulness. Let us pray that we may always claim for ourselves, with boldness and conviction, with excitement and passion, the awesomeness of God who always loves us and redeems, even when it meant the death of his Son on a cross.

A Good Friday Hymn: "A Holy Day!"

Tune: O Waly Waly

Meter: 8.8.8.8

A holy day through pain and death;

the sacrifice in your last breath;

You gave your all and in your loss

We are made whole upon your cross

They nailed you to the cross of shame

They cried insults and placed the blame.

A crown of thorns upon your brow

Unjust the crime they would allow!

Lord you forgave the wrongs they’d done

You understood the victry won;

This had to be in God’s great scheme

Your hands and feet nailed to the beam.

A sacred story so divine

God’s glory now will always shine

For us to know God’s faithfulness

And claim with faith God’s awesomeness!

Text: copyright, The Rev. Canon Mark Kinghan, 2016. Not to be reproduced or redistributed in any form without the express written permission of the author.