PALM SUNDAY (1978)a
                                   
                                   We lay our palms down, dear Lord
                                   We cast them in your way
                                   We shout hosannas loud, dear Lord
                                   Don't you love our grand display?

                                   What, dear Lord, desert you?
                                   Never, never, nay
                                   Just listen how we praise you
                                   Just listen how we pray

                                   We shall deny you, dear Lord
                                   Before the cock crows thrice?
                                   But, that's already been done once, Lord
                                   And it wasn't very nice

                                   Don't you want our palms, dear Lord?
                                   We thought you'd be impressed
                                   Are all our words vain repetitions
                                   And all our gestures merely jest?

                                   You mean there's still a cross to bear
                                   There's still a bitter cup? 
                                   And we must join you at Calvary 
                                   If we're to sit with you and sup?

                                   Then let us go with thee, dear Lord
                                   With courage and stout heart
                                   And see the Cross as not the end
                                   But simply as a start
                                   Of something good

                                                                                                                                       
                                                       
                                                                           WE RAISE OUR CUPS

                                                We have wandered
                                                To the well
                                                Of the world
                                                And have found it
                                                Dry and empty

                                                With dry lips
                                                Aching hearts
                                                And parched souls
                                                We come now
                                                Oh Lord, to Thee
                                                And raise our cups
                                                Rejoicingly

                                                As Thou pourest
                                                Out our drink
                                                Almost instantly
                                                We realize
                                                That our tiny cups
                                                Can ne'er contain
                                                Thy blessings
                                                Flowing freely
                                                Into our lives
                                                Refreshingly
                                                Eternally

                                                 
                                            OUR DAILY BREAD

                                          Give us this day, Lord
                                          Our daily bread
                                          As we open your book
                                          Let us be fed
                                          With words for the famished
                                          And lines that are true
                                          By stories that witness
                                          And glorify you

                                          Nourish us, strengthen us
                                          Fill up our cup
                                          Invite us to dinner
                                          With you, let us sup
                                          Fill every heart
                                          With joy sublime
                                          As we sit 'round the table
                                          At your suppertime

                                          Give us your bread
                                          Daily we pray,
                                          Bread that we need, Lord
                                          That we may not stray.
                                          We all need your bread, Lord
                                          From the greastest to the least,
                                          If we're to sit down, Lord,
                                          At your wedding feast

                                             
                                         BEYOND OURSELVES

                                                Help us
                                                Oh Lord
                                                To move out
                                                Beyond ourselves
                                                Away from the spotlight
                                                And center stage
                                                Into the shadows
                                                Of humanity.

                                                You know how far
                                                We have to travel still
                                                To get beyond
                                                Our own periphery.

                                                Let us
                                                Be unafraid
                                                To travel on 
                                                To thy trajectory

                                                And become
                                                A reflection
                                                Of thy own.

                                                            

                                          THE SUN COMES UP IN THE MORN

                                        "Always again," wrote Richard L. Evans,
                                        "there is another day. Always, eternally, 
                                        there is hope and faith...and morning."

                                        Regardless of the clouds banked against us
                                        Whether things go all right or all wrong
                                        We have this witness to bear
                                        The sun still comes up in the morning
                                        The sun comes up in the morn.

                                        Even if our day has been discouraging
                                        And our paths have been strewn with stones
                                        This is a truth we love to share
                                        The sun still comes up in the morning
                                        The sun comes up in the morn.

                                        So, if today's thunder has muffled our song
                                        And shaken our soul and rattled our bones
                                        With you we rejoice and gratfully declare
                                        The sun still comes up in the morning
                                        The sun come up in the morn.

                                                                
                                                       BE WITH US THEN, LORD

                                        Sometimes our heart grows weak and weary
                                        Sometimes our days seem dark and dreary
                                        In those times when things go wrong
                                        The blue bird's gone, there is no song
                                        Be with us then, Lord
                                        Be with us then

                                        When our faith's been torn asunder
                                        Foolish doubts try dragging us under
                                        When old friends have passed away
                                        And all our hopes have gone astray
                                        Be with us then, Lord
                                        Be with us then

                                        Regardless of the rough terrain
                                        Let love remain as our refrain
                                        Walk beside us, be our friend
                                        And even at our journey's end
                                        Be with us then, Lord
                                        Be with us then