News - 25th May 2003

Hail the Day That Sees Christ Rise!
(tune: Christ the Lord is Risen Today)

1. Hail the day that sees Christ rise, Alleluia!
To a throne in paradise, Alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, Alleluia!
Enters now the highest heaven, Alleluia!

2. Christ, for you high triumph waits. Alleluia!
Lift your heads, eternal gates! Alleluia!
You have conquered death and sin; Alleluia!
You, our Sovereign, enter in! Alleluia!

3. See! The nail marked hands above; Alleluia!
Sing of God's redeeming love; Alleluia!
Hark! Christ's words our hearts assure: Alleluia!
"I will send a Comforter!" Alleluia!

4. Christ for us still intercede, Alleluia!
By your suffering for us plead; Alleluia!
Make us worthy of the place, Alleluia!
Which you offer us by grace, Alleluia!

A Memorial Day Prayer
By Rev. Dick Kozelka (retired)
First Congregational Church of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN

Eternal God,
Creator of years, of centuries,
Lord of whatever is beyond time,
Maker of all species and master of all history --
How shall we speak to you
from our smallness and inconsequence?
Except that you have called us to worship you
in spirit and in truth;
You have dignified us with loves and loyalties;
You have lifted us up with your lovingkindnesses.
Therefore we are bold to come before you without groveling
[though we sometimes feel that low]
and without fear
[though we are often anxious].
We sing with spirit and pray with courage
because you have dignified us;
You have redeemed us from the aimlessness
of things' going meaninglessly well.
God, lift the hearts of those
for whom this holiday is not just diversion,
but painful memory and continued deprivation.
Bless those whose dear ones have died
needlessly, wastefully [as it seems]
in accident or misadventure.
We remember with compassion those who have died
serving their countries
in the futility of combat.
There is none of us but must come to bereavement and separation,
when all the answers we are offered
fail the question death asks of each of us.
We believe that you will provide for us
as others have been provided with the fulfillment of
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

In Flanders Field
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead, Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Decoration Day
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sleep, comrades, sleep and rest
On this Field of the Grounded Arms,
Where foes no more molest,
Nor sentrys shot alarms!

Ye have slept on the ground before,
And started to your feet
At the cannons sudden roar,
Or the drums redoubling beat.

But in this camp of Death
No sound your slumber breaks;
Here is no fevered breath,
No wound that bleeds and aches.

All is repose and peace,
Entrampled lies the sod;
The shouts of battle cease,
It is the Truce of God!

Rest, comrades, rest and sleep!
The thoughts of men shall be
As sentinels to keep
Your rest from danger free.

Your silent tents of green
We deck with fragrant flowers
Yours has the suffering been,
The memory shall be ours.

Coming soon...
The Friends of Historic New Utrecht Website
www.historicnewutrecht.org