Of Women, and of Women's Hopes We Sing

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Of women, and of women's hopes we sing

Author: Shirley Erena Murray (1988)
Tune: SURSUM CORDA (Smith)
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

1 Of women, and of women's hopes we sing:
of sharing in creation's nurturing,
of bearing and of birthing new belief,
of passion for the promises of life.

2 We praise God whose image is our own,
the mystery within our flesh and bone,
the woman-spirit moving through all time
in prophecy, Magnificat and dream.

3 We labor for the commonwealth of God,
and equal as disciples, walk the road,
in work and status, asking what is just,
for sisters of the family of Christ.

4 Forgiving what is past, we seek the new:
a finer justice, and a peace more true,
the promise of empowering for our day
when men and women roll the stone away.

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Author: Shirley Erena Murray

Shirley Erena Murray (b. Invercargill, New Zealand, 1931) studied music as an undergraduate but received a master’s degree (with honors) in classics and French from Otago University. Her upbringing was Methodist, but she became a Presbyterian when she married the Reverend John Stewart Murray, who was a moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. Shirley began her career as a teacher of languages, but she became more active in Amnesty International, and for eight years she served the Labor Party Research Unit of Parliament. Her involvement in these organizations has enriched her writing of hymns, which address human rights, women’s concerns, justice, peace, the integrity of creation, and the unity of the church. Many of her hymn… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Of women, and of women's hopes we sing
Title:	Of Women, and of Women's Hopes We Sing
Author:	Shirley Erena Murray (1988)
Meter:	10.10.10.10
Publication Date:	1995
Copyright:	Words © 1992 Hope Publishing Co.