Welcome the Wild One

Music by Ron Klusmeier
Words by Brian Wren
Tune Name: BEAVERLODGE

Lyrics as Poetry

Welcome the wild one,
the desert declaimer,
urgently, awesomely,
crying his news:
“Now, listen now!
There is One who comes after!
I am unfitted
to fasten his shoes.”

Camel hair coated,
unkempt and unbending,
living off grasshoppers,
honey and briars.
knee-deep in water,
he heals the Impending
flame giving Spirit’s
enveloping fires.

Hear from the herald
the king who’s expected:
world ending wrath is the
power he describes,
God’s own anointed,
outspoken, uncensored,
judging the palace,
the priests and the scribes.

See now the young one
who lingers and listens,
standing intent in the
buzz of the throng,
waiting in line,
on the brink of decisions,
seeking the Spirit
that beckons through John.

Gaspingly drenched by
the people’s baptiser,
drowned in the grief of our
groanings and cries,
bowing beneath God’s
unfettered outsider;
rising envisioned,
he opens his eyes.

Welcome God’s Love-Child,
anointed, invested,
desert impelled by the
Spirit within.
World-making love,
shining, tempered and tested,
now is at hand –
let salvation begin!

Words by
Brian WrenCopyright © 1989 by Hope Publishing Company
(Carol Stream, Illinois) for USA,
Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Copyright © 1989 by Stainer & Bell Limited
(London, England) for all other territories

                                Audio Sample for "Welcome the Wild One"

In 2005, massed choirs were organized to present “Song Circling All the Earth”, a 2-hour musical journey through the seasons of the church year. Events were offered in Nanaimo BC, Victoria BC, Parksville BC and Halifax NS. Text authors who participated in person were Walter Farquharson, Fred Kaan, Sheelah Megill, John Oldham and Brian Wren. The sample above is a live recording from the Parksville presentation.

Scripture References

  • Matthew 3:1-17
  • Mark 1:1-14
  • Luke 3:1-22

Season, Theme
or Subject

  • Advent∶ Year 'A'∶ Advent 2
  • Advent∶ Year 'B'∶ Advent 2
  • Baptism
  • John the Baptist

Presentation Suggestions

Not yet available for this title. Contact us if you are a subscriber (or purchaser of this title) and need this item.

Projection Images

This feature is only accessible to Subscribers or those who have purchased this Single Title.

Use the link below for instructions on how to use the Projection Images in Powerpoint and Keynote.

Learn more

Projection Images
Available for This Title

16:9 Words Only
  • Apple Keynote
  • MS PowerPoint
  • ZIP File (JPEGs)
16:9 Words With Music
16:9 Words With Images
4:3 Words Only
  • Apple Keynote
  • MS PowerPoint
  • ZIP File (JPEGs)
4:3 Words With Music
4:3 Words With Images

Accompaniment Recordings

Not yet available for this title. Contact us if you are a subscriber (or purchaser of this title) and need this item.

  • Subscribe To All Titles

    unlimited annual access to everything on this site

  • Purchase This Title

    unlimited access to all versions of this title

  • unlimited access to an individual version of this title

Purchasers and Subscribers
Click links below to download your versions.

Versions Available for This Title

Contact us if you need a version you don’t see here.

Melody Line Versions (includes transposing instruments)

  • Melody Line: 'C' Instrument or Vocal
  • Melody Line: 'C' Instrument 8va
  • Melody Line: Bass Clef 'C' Instrument
  • Melody Line: Alto Clef Instrument
  • Melody Line: ‘Bb’ Instrument
  • Melody Line: ‘Eb’ Instrument
  • Melody Line: ‘F’ Instrument (high)
  • Melody Line: ‘F’ Instrument (low)

Hymn-style Vocal Harmonizations (accompany with any piano versions)

  • Hymn-style: SATB voices
  • Hymn-style: SAB voices
  • Hymn-style: 2-part mixed (m/f) voices
  • Hymn-style: 2-part treble voices

Piano Versions

  • Piano: Hymn-style
  • Piano: Hymn-style, without lyrics
  • Piano: Melody Line and Chords
  • Easy Piano: Hymn-style
  • Easy Piano: Hymn-style, without lyrics

Organ Versions

  • Organ: Manuals-only
  • Organ: Manuals-only without lyrics
  • Organ: Manuals and Pedals
  • Organ: Manuals and Pedals without lyrics

Guitar Chords & Bass Progressions

  • Guitar & Bass: Full chords in keyboard key
  • Guitar: Transposed capo chords
  • Easy Guitar: Basic chords

Bulletin Masters

  • Bulletin Master: Letter-size 1-up
  • Bulletin Master: Letter-size 2-up
  • Bulletin Master: Legal-size 1-up
  • Bulletin Master: Legal-size 2-up