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THE FEAST OF LIFE: by Marty Haugen, with Gary Daigle |
 images from GIA Publications |
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THE FEAST OF LIFE: by Marty Haugen, with Gary Daigle |
images from GIA Publications |
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1) Gather ’Round This Table (Luke 1:1-4)
Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. (Luke 1:1-4)
For two thousand years people have remembered
and sung and told and danced and lived and written down
the events that God has fulfilled in our midst.The story has been handed down to us from all those
who were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word.So we, too, remember and sing and dance
and pass the story on so that you may know the truth.Come, gather ’round this table – all you from far and near,
gather ’round this table, for all are welcome here, yes, all are welcome here.O come and join the banquet, holy and happy feast.
God has spread a banquet where the greatest shall be least,
the greatest shall be least.Blessed are they who will feast in the Reign of God.
Blessed are they who will share the bread of life.And here we taste salvation, break now the blessed bread,
joined with all creation, every hunger shall be fed, all hungers shall be fed.The cup of God’s own gladness, sweet and abundant wine,
Saved from sin and sadness, let your spirit brightly shine,
all spirits brightly shine.Blessed are they who will feast in the Reign of God.
Blessed are they who will share the bread of life.And here we share the story, ancient and ever new,
cross and crown and glory, our death and life anew, our death and life anew.Sing me a song about Jesus, tell me a story that’s true.
What did he teach us? What did he do?
What did he sing to the children he knew?Sing me a song about Jesus, stories of hunger and meal,
words that can feed us, tales that can heal,
songs that will challenge and help us to feel.What shall I tell you? What shall I sing?
Sing me a song of the time he was born.
Sing me a song of that great Christmas morn.Sing me a song about Jesus.
2) Come to Us, Emmanuel (The Birth of Jesus; Luke 2:1-20)
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)
For centuries, the Israelites had yearned for the Messiah,
who would bring in the day of freedom and justice,
the day of healing and peace.Come to us, O Emmanuel.
A decree went out from Caesar to all his subjects ’round the earth:
They must travel to be counted at the city of their birth.So Joseph and Mary rode down from Galilee,
and in a stable in Bethlehem, Christ Jesus came to be.Gift of God, O Emmanuel.
There were shepherds in the fields ’round
to guard their flocks throughout the night,
when the sky was filled with angels and the dark was filled with light.
“Do not fear, poor shepherds, great news of joy we bring:
the Savior, Jesus, is born this night, let all creation sing.”Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth.
Peace on earth.
3) God Has Anointed Me (Luke 4:16-21; by Gary Daigle)
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:20-21)
Jesus journeyed home, came to Nazareth one day,
entered on the Sabbath to the synagogue to pray.
There he took the scroll, unrolled it, and proclaimed:
“The Spirit of God is upon me.”REFRAIN
God has anointed me to bring the Good News to the poor.
God has anointed me to comfort those who mourn.
Let the trumpet sound, proclaim the Jubilee – the Spirit of God is upon me.Healing for the broken, sight for all who long to see;
on the day of justice, God will set the captives free.
A year of favor from the God of liberty – the Spirit of God is upon me.Every eye was fixed on him; the room was hushed and still.
Jesus said, “I come to bring the Reign that God has willed;
on this very day, this reading is fulfilled, for the Spirit of God is upon me.”
4) Take Up Your Cross (Luke 9:21-25, 57-62)
Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
Jesus began to tell his friends that he was going down to Jerusalem.
He said, “The Son of Man will suffer grievously,
he will be rejected and be put to death, and on the third day, he will rise.”
Then he said to all of us, “This is how you shall be my followers.”REFRAIN
Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me;
deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow.
Through grief and fear, through pain and loss, come follow me;
deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow.If you try to save your life, you will lose it,
all your striving comes to nothing in the end;
Offer up your life to me, and let me use it,
and I will give your life to you again.As they were going along the road, a man said to Jesus,
“I will follow you wherever you go.”
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”Another said, “I will follow you, Lord;
but first let me say farewell at home.”
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back
is fit for the kingdom of God.”And if you should gain the world in all its glory,
all the power and the riches and the fame,
when you face the day of death, what is your story?
And what becomes of all that you have claimed?
5) Who Is My Neighbor? (Luke 10:25-37)
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25)
A lawyer said to Jesus: “Good Teacher, tell me true,
if I wish to gain salvation, what duties must I do?”Jesus said, “You know the law – what does it command?”
“You shall love your God with all your heart, and all your soul,
and all your strength, and all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.”“You have answered rightly – if you do this, you will live.”
[But who is my neighbor?] “Do this and live.”A man was traveling down the road to Jericho one day,
and a band of thieves attacked him as he walked along the way.
They stripped him and they beat him and they left him there to die;
in the ditch he lay there bleeding, and the good folk passed him by.A priest came riding down the road upon a prancing gray,
saw the poor man by the roadside, and he looked the other way.
For it was not his problem if he lived or if he died;
he had other sheep to shepherd, he had other fish to fry.REFRAIN
Oh, who is my neighbor, who is my friend?
And what must I offer, what help must I lend
to comfort the stranger, what mercy extend
to the poor wounded children of earth?A lawyer on his mare came riding, tall and dignified,
Drew up short before the victim – passing on the other side.
His life was filled in meetings with the righteous and the just,
and he had no time to linger by the roadside in the dust.And last came a Samaritan, the hated and despised.
As he looked upon the poor man, he had pity in his eyes.
He bound his wounds and brought him to an inn along the way.
“Give him all your care,” he told them, “and I’ll soon return to pay.”And Jesus said, “Which one of them was neighbor to the man?
Which of them was true and faithful, and fulfilled the Law’s command?”“The one who showed him mercy though he did not know his name.”
Jesus said, “You’ve answered rightly – now go and do the same.”
For this is your neighbor, and this is your friend.
Show love and compassion, protect and defend
and comfort the stranger; your mercy extend
to the poor, wounded children of earth.
6) Where Your Treasure Is (Luke 12:16-34)
And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: (Luke 12:15-16a)
A rich man had a bumper crop; it filled his barns up to the top.
“My soul,” he said, “I have to stop. It’s more than I can carry.” [I know...]I’ll build more barns – the very best. I’ll fill them up, then take my rest.
I’ll dress up in my finest vest to eat, drink, and be merry.”But God said, “Oh, you foolish man, so lost in all your futile plans,
this night your soul returns to me, and where will all your riches be?”REFRAIN
Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be.
All that you possess will never set you free.
Seek the things that last, come and learn from me.
Where your treasure is, there your heart shall be.What do you gain from all your worry – what you should eat or what to wear?
There is no peace in stress and hurry.
Do you not know that you are held within God’s care?Look at the ravens high above you; they do not work their whole life through,
and yet God feeds them and protects them.
So how much more will God protect and care for you?Do not fear, little flock, for God delights to give you the blessed Reign of God.
Give your possessions to the needy – gain a treasure that will not fade.
7) The Banquet (Luke 14:7-24)
When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable: (Luke 14:7)
The Reign of God is like a banquet, and the host says to the servants,
“Go and call those invited, and say to them,
‘Come, for everything is ready now.’”“A deal’s come up for some real estate,
and there’s a meeting; I can’t be late.
My apologies, but I just can make it.”“Just got a brand new SUV –
I got to break it in gingerly.
My apologies, but I just can’t make it.”“We’ve just been married a week or two.
We’ve got important things to do.
You must understand that we just can’t make it.”The Reign of God is like a banquet, and the host says,
“If they will not come, go and welcome everyone.
Go out to the lanes and byways, alleyways and open highways;
welcome every person that you meet.Gather all the poor and lame, robbed of power, class, and name,
those who make their homes on curb and street –
they shall make my banquet hall complete.When you come to the banquet in the Reign of God,
remember, the greatest shall be least.
All are equal and holy in the eyes of God;
all are welcome and treasured at this feast.Only those who are thirsty taste the Reign of God,
only those who are hungry shall be fed;
those who hunger for peace, those who thirst after justice –
they shall taste the goodness of our God,
taste the wondrous banquet feast of God.The Reign of God is like a banquet.
8) God Rejoices When the Lost Is Found (Luke 15:1-32)
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: (Luke 15:1-3)
Suppose that you were put in charge of sheep,
and a hundred you must keep, and you lost one. What would you do then?You would leave all the ninety-nine behind,
and go off at once to find the one who slipped out from the pen.When you found the one who went astray,
you’d call your friends that very day and say, “Rejoice with me,
for my lost sheep has been found.”So, God rejoices when the lost is found,
every wayward sheep that is homeward bound,
more than all the other sheep who stayed in town.
God rejoices when the lost is found.A woman has ten silver coins and one of them is lost.
She lights the lamp and cleans the house and does not count the cost,
and when she finds the missing coin, she calls her friends to say,
“Rejoice, for what I loved and lost is back with me this day.”So, God rejoices when the lost is found,
every wayward soul come to holy ground,
like the silver drachma when it rolls around.
God rejoices when the lost is found.God rejoices when the lost is found,
every wayward soul come to holy ground,
every humble sinner that is turned around.
God rejoices when the lost is found.A man had two sons, and the younger one said:
“Pop, give me all the money that I’ll get when you’re dead.”
So the father gave half of all that he had to the child,
and the son took the money and ran off to start living wild.Well, he squandered his money on wine and women and song.
Yes, he squandered his money on wine and women and song,
and he damaged his health by partying all night long.And when the money was gone, he found his friends were gone, too.
When the money was gone, he found his friends were gone, too;
no more partying songs. The son was singing the blues.There were no more buddies to play with,
there were no more fish in the sea,
there were no more guys to hang with –
nothing is free.And the times got so hard, he soon had nothing to eat.
Oh yes, the times got so hard, he soon had nothing to eat;
he was feeding the pigs and living out on the street.Bereft, broke, beat down, and busted,
so corrupt and callous and crude,
He fed those pigs and lusted after their food, ’til the son said,“Back at home, I had it good: lots of comfort, lots of food,
lots of love – I wish I could go home again.”And when the son had thought it through,
he turned to bid the pigs, “Adieu,”
and started home. He finally knew where he belonged.From far away the father saw the boy,
ran to meet him in his joy, wrapped his arms around him there.“I’ve sinned against you, Father,” said the son.
“Treat me like the lowest one in your household –
I will serve you there.”“Fetch my son a robe and ring and shoes;
set a feast and spread the news that my long-lost son is home again.”O sing rejoicing, for the lost is found;
raise a mighty shout and a joyful sound.
Spread the feast of welcome – let us all sit down,
for this son of mine once lost is found.”God rejoices when the lost is found,
when the sinners' footsteps are homeward bound,
when the chains are broken and the walls come down.
God rejoices when the lost is...“I can’t believe you’d throw a party for this punk,
who spent your hard-earned money on his women, wine, and junk,
and now that he has blown it all he comes to you with all this bunk
and says, ‘Oh, I am sorry. Please forgive me.’Through all these years, I slaved for you, did everything you asked me to –
you never gave me so much as a goat.And now my brother gets the fatted calf
as a prize for losing half of all of your possessions.”“My son, you are always with me, and all I have is yours.
Can’t you understand my joy
when my lost and desperate boy comes home again?
So come in and break the bread, for your brother who was dead is alive,
your brother who was lost has been found.”So God rejoices when the lost is found,
when the poor and broken are gathered ’round.
Oh, the blest amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
God rejoices when the lost is found.
9) Look on Us, Savior (The Passion; Luke 22:14 – 23:46)
When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:14-15)
When Jesus knew that the time of his death was near, he said to his disciples,
“I have yearned to eat the Passover with you before I suffer.”When they were all gathered at table,
Jesus took bread and wine, blessed it, and gave it to them, saying,“Take this, all of you, and eat it:
This is my body given up for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.Take this, all of you, and drink from it:
This is the cup of life poured out for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.No more will I share this wine or this bread,
until that time I am raised from the dead;
then at God’s table we all shall be fed.”Jesus led us to the garden.
He said, “This night you face the time of trial.
Pray now, and keep watch here awhile.”
All too soon he found us sleeping.
“Awake,” he said, “to face your grief and fear.
See now, my betrayer is here.This is the hour; my time is at hand.
You who would take up your cross now must stand.
Pray that your faith is not founded on sand.”Deep in the darkness, disaster, coming with torches and knives –
they bound up our Master, and we ran for our lives.No one would stay to defend him; no one would stand by his side.
In panic, we fled then, seeking somewhere to hide.Look on us, Savior, and show us your face,
fearful and weak, we rely on your grace.
You who have suffered and died in our place: Hear us, O God. Hear us, O God.Then in the morning, they tried him – sentenced our Master to die,
while Peter denied him with a curse and a lie.Soldiers who beat him and scourged him, called him to summon his might,
they mocked him, and urged him, “Bring your Reign in our sight.”Look on us, Savior, and show us your face;
fearful and weak, we rely on your grace.
You who have suffered and died in our place: Hear us, O God. Hear us, O God.Still he was meek and forgiving, bearing his cross to the end.
He died for our living, faithful brother and friend.Deep in the darkness, we lost him; faintly we heard his last call,
the pain that it cost him – losing God and us all.Look on us, Savior, and show us your face.
Fearful and weak, we rely on your grace.
You who have suffered and died in our place: Hear us, O God. Hear us, O God.
10) Emmaus/Within the Reign of God (Luke 24:13-49)
They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)
That very day, two of Jesus’ disciples
were trying to get as far as they could from Jerusalem,
hoping at least to reach Emmaus by evening.On the journey to Emmaus, with our hearts cold as stone,
the one who would save us had left us alone.
Then a stranger walks with us – and, to our surprise,
he opens our stories and he opens our eyes.And our hearts burned within us as we talked on the way,
how all that was promised was ours on that day.
So we begged him, “Stay with us, and grant us your word” –
we welcomed the stranger, and we welcomed the Lord.And that evening at table, as he blessed and broke bread;
we knew it was Jesus arisen from the dead.
Though he vanished before us, we knew he was near –
the life in our dying, and the hope in our fear.And so they rushed back to Jerusalem and found
that he had already appeared to Peter and to the women.On our journey to Emmaus, in our stories and feast,
with Jesus we claim that the greatest is least.
And his words burn within us: “Let none be ignored;
who welcomes the stranger shall welcome the Lord.”And suddenly, Jesus himself stood among them.
They were terrified, and thought they’d seen a ghost,
but he said to them:“May the peace of God surround you, listen well and understand.
Let the Reign begin with you, come and learn to know God’s plan.
Bring the message to all people – every nation, every land.
Give your lives in grateful service, and be guided by God’s hand.Make your life a living story, and your song a living flame
of the Spirit God within you, who has called you each by name,
called you out from sin and sadness, out of fear and hate and shame:
praise the God of joy and gladness, stand and shout the faith you claim.You must preach the word of justice, always live the word you preach;
go and teach the way of mercy and become the truth you teach.
Go and live the Gospel story in your thoughts and deeds and speech,
for the Reign of God is near you; it is here within your reach.”Blessed are they who will feast in the Reign of God.
Blessed are they who will share the bread of life.
Blessed are they who are least in the Reign of God;
they shall rejoice, they shall rejoice, they shall rejoice at the feast of life.Stand up and do not fear, for Christ is truly present here,
and heaven is truly near within the Reign of God.
Now at this wedding feast the greatest here shall be the least.
All bonds shall be released within the Reign of God.REFRAIN:
Blessed are they who will feast in the Reign of God.
Blessed are they who will share the bread of life.
Blessed are they who are least in the Reign of God;
they shall rejoice in the feast of life.Sing out the Jubilee when those enslaved are all set free;
children of God are we within the Reign of God.
No more can we forget the ones who bear life’s crushing debt;
God’s justice guides us yet within the Reign of God.
[REFRAIN]One earth, one holy band, one family as our God has planned –
all share the Promised Land within the Reign of God.
All you who seek God’s face are welcome in this holy place;
join in the feast of grace within the Reign of God.
[REFRAIN]
Other Biblical Music:
Return to my Biblical Music
webpage or my Gospel of Luke webpage.
This page was last updated on November 21, 2016
