O God of the Eternal Now
A hymn on Abrahamic faith, "...why is your church so slow?"
Music by Ron KlusmeierWords by Fred Kaan
Tune Name: ABRAHAM
Lyrics as Poetry
O God of the eternal now,
why is your Church so slow
and lacks the will to venture out
where you would have us go?Why, O God, why so slow?
Give us grace and faith to grow.If, God, it is our love of ease
by which we thwart your plan,
then stir us up, unsettle us
and lead us by the hand.Why, O God, why so slow?
Give us grace and faith to grow.May we with courage take the risk
and leave the past behind,
to be a people on the move,
throw caution to the wind.Why, O God, why so slow?
Give us grace and faith to grow.Give us the heart of Abraham.
for changes make us bold;
and bless us only so that we
in turn may bless the world.Why, O God, why so slow?
Give us grace and faith to grow.Why, O God, why so slow?
What is it that prevents us all
in faith and love to grow?
Words by
Fred KaanCopyright © 1972, 1996 by Hope Publishing Company
(Carol Stream, Illinois) for USA and CanadaCopyright © 1972, 1996 by Stainer & Bell Limited
(London, England) for all other territories
Scripture Reference
- 2 Timothy 1:7
Season, Theme
or Subject
- Abraham
- Challenge
- Change
- Christian∶ journey
- Courage
- Faith
- Grace
- Lent
- Risk, Risking
- Tradition∶ freedom from tradition
- Trust
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Comments About Song
Author Fred Kaan, from his books
THE HYMN TEXTS OF FRED KAAN
(page 93) and
THE ONLY EARTH WE KNOW (page 34):
(The Hymn Texts of Fred Kaan): “…inspired by Bishop Lesslie Newbigin’s story about the negotiations that eventually led to the
formation of the Church of South India.
He tells somewhere that, irritated by the people who asked for copper-bottomed guarantees at every point of the union conversations, the committee chairman told them that Christians are people who have no right to keep asking where they are going.”
(The Only Earth We Know): “Risk-taking has been called ‘the second most important theme in the bible, following love’. ‘God did not give us a spirit of timidity…’. I should like to see Abraham adopted as a kind of patron saint of adventurous Christians.”
The Hymn Texts of Fred Kaan
and
The Only Earth We Know
(Hymn Texts by Fred Kaan)
are co-published by:Hope Publishing Company
Carol Stream, IL USA
(for USA and Canada)Stainer & Bell, Limited
London, England
(for all other countries)