By Student Rabbi Stacey Robinson
Sing praise and
shout hallelujah
as bullets sing their siren song
and death is never far;
and sing praise
while fires rage and
children fall silent
behind barbed wire fences, and
children fall silent
with bellies distended, and
children fall silent
as their homes are devoured,
and they race against monsters and time.
Sing praise, for the monsters are winning.
Free the captive.
Feed the hungry.
Give shelter to those in need.
This is my song,
this praises my name –
Be kind.
Work for peace.
Hallelujah!
Hope is an action.
Pray with your feet.
Hallelujah!
Lift your eyes and see God
In the eyes of the other.
Hallelujah!
All the earth is holy ground.
The bush burns,
do you not see?
Open your eyes –
there are such wonders!
Open your heart –
there is such love!
Sing hallelujah!
This is my bounty.
This the glory.
For this we give thanks.
For the richness of life,
And the jagged edges that cut
and draw blood,
And the beauty
In the sound of rain
and silence,
We give thanks.
For the Creator of eternity
and time,
Who calls to us in darkness
and light,
In our hunger
And our want,
We give thanks.
For the fullness,
For the stones that bite
And the bedrock upon which we stand,
For the hands that lift us,
And the song that fills us
We give thanks.
For our breath,
For our bodies
For the grace of healing,
And the blessing of light,
So that we can taste the sweet,
The sharp,
The weary,
Lonely,
Lovley
Holiness of this day
Sing hallelujah
And give thanks