When Cain Killed Abel

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When Cain killed Abel in a fight

Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn (1997)
Tune: AFTER THE FALL
Published in 3 hymnals

Representative Text

When Cain killed Abel in a fight
and Jacob stole another's right,
when Joseph's brothers gave him chase,
God wept, and mourned their fall from grace.

In every family, small or great,
when jealousy twists love to hate
and rivals turn to enemies,
God weeps at our hostilities.

And when in church and world today
such feelings still come into play,
when brothers, sisters stand apart,
God weeps for every broken heart.

Good Christians, join in God's lament,
weep now and mourn, be penitent,
and pray to God: Forgive us all.
Restore us as before our fall.

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Author: Mary Nelson Keithahn

Mary Nelson Keithahn, a retired United Church of Christ ordained pastor and church educator, has been a curriculum writer-editor, journalist, and lyricist for musical dramas and anthems. She still works out of her home in Rapid City, South Dakota, as a free-lance writer. In 2016 she published Elfie: Adventures on the Midwest Frontier, a chapter book for children, and Embracing the Light: Reflectioins on God’s Holy Word, a collection of meditations for individual or small group use. Augsburg Fortress also published Sing the Stories of God’s NEW People, the third in a trilogy of Bible story-based collections of songs for young children, written with her longtime colleague, John D. Horman. The two have written over a hundred hymns togethe… Go to person page >

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First Line:	When Cain killed Abel in a fight
Title:	When Cain Killed Abel
Author:	Mary Nelson Keithahn (1997)
Meter:	8.8.8.8
Source:	Time Now to Gather
Language:	English