God, How Can We Comprehend?

Representative Text

God, how can we comprehend—
Though we've seen them times before—
Lines of people without end
Fleeing danger, want, and war?
They seek safety anywhere,
Hoping for a welcome hand!
Can we know the pain they bear?
Help us, Lord, to understand!

You put music in their souls;
Now they struggle to survive.
You gave each one gifts and goals;
Now they flee to stay alive.
God of outcasts, may we see
How you value everyone,
For each homeless refugee
Is your daughter or your son.

Lord, your loving knows no bounds;
You have conquered death for all.
May we hear beyond our towns
To our distant neighbors' call.
Spirit, may our love increase;
May we reach to all your earth,
Till your whole world lives in peace;
Till we see each person's worth.

Source: Songs of Grace: new hymns for God and neighbor #70

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Author: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

Carolyn Winfrey Gillette has been a pastor in rural, small town, suburban, and city churches; she has also served as a hospice chaplain, a hospital chaplain, and a school bus aide helping children with special needs. She and her husband Bruce are pastors of the First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego, NY. Carolyn is a gifted hymn writer who has written over 400 hymns. These hymns have been sung by congregations throughout the United States and around the world — from the Washington National Cathedral to St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland to St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa to small town churches and small household congregations; they have also been sung at national church and international ecumenical meetin… Go to person page >

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Text Information

First Line: God, how can we comprehend --
Title: God, How Can We Comprehend?
Author: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
Meter: 7.7.7.7 D
Language: English
Publication Date: 1999
Copyright: Copyright © 1999 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved
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Tune

ABERYSTWYTH (Parry)

Joseph Parry (b. Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales, 1841; d. Penarth, Glamorganshire, 1903) was born into a poor but musical family. Although he showed musical gifts at an early age, he was sent to work in the puddling furnaces of a steel mill at the age of nine. His family immigrated to a Welsh…

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Media

The Cyber Hymnal #1762
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  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
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Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)

Gifts of Love #44

Gifts of Love #44
Text

Songs of Grace #70

Songs of Grace #70
ScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #1762

The Cyber Hymnal #1762
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