Go to love the Lord of Light - a Candlemas hymn

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When my dear (and much-missed) colleague Zack got a new job and proposed to leave England forever for his native Illinois, becoming rector of Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church in the delightfully named Champaign, Illinois, I wanted to write him a hymn in celebration/ mourning. Emmanuel celebrates its patronal at Candlemas, so the theme was obvious - and Zack loves the tune Picardy, so that too was obvious!


Go to love the Lord of Light

a Candlemas hymn, for the Revd Dr Zachary Guiliano and for his new ministry at Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church in Champaign, IL

Come into the Lord’s own Temple,
come to see the Son of grace
dedicated to his Father,
Child who set the earth in place.
Here where faithful prayer has sounded
see the hope for every race.

Come to hear the words of Anna
to the fearful and forlorn;
to those waiting for redemption
Anna speaks of coming morn;
broken, waiting, lost and hopeless
hear her news and look for dawn.

Come to see the hope of ages
hidden long and now revealed.
Simeon knows faith rewarded,
all his anxious years are healed
by this Child, for all the nations
long-awaited strength and shield.

Come to love the Light of nations,
bring the sword that pierced your soul.
Broken, waiting, lost or hopeless:
Mary knows the grief you hold.
But the Child who dies and rises
bears your wounds and makes you whole.

Go in peace with trust new-kindled,
go to love the Lord of light;
dare to grasp the hope he offers
take new courage for your fight:
light that healed you sends you, shining,
to a world again made bright.

Tune: Picardy

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