In a time of lament...
These pieces were written following the 2006 ruling of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ, that the church "may not accept for training, license, ordain or induct anyone involved in a sexual relationship outside of faithful marriage between a man and a woman."
*
In the beginning there was desolation
and in the desolation there was weeping
And the tears filled an ocean
and the ocean raged.
The world was engulfed in darkness
and over the black waters
the spirit sighed
and hoped for light.
We come together in a time of desolation
longing for the God
who is the salt within our tears.
We come together in a time of darkness
searching for the God
who cries out with our pain.
We come together when love has been beaten
calling out to the God
who carries our bruises.
We come together when hope has been pierced by nails
reaching out to the God
who tastes the blood of our suffering.
We come together in a time of lamentation
hoping for the God
who brings light, even in the deepest darkness.
*
When will the day come
when no child will learn to hate herself?
How long, oh God, how long?
When will the day come
when no teenager will have to hide his love?
How long, oh God, how long?
When will the day come
when no father will say “you are not my son”.
How long, oh God, how long?
When will the day come
when no mother will wonder “why can’t you change?”
How long, oh God, how long?
When will the day come
when no one must choose between Church and love?
How long, oh God, how long?
When will the day come
when not one of God’s children will be shut outside?
How long, oh God, how long?
When will the day come
when we stand together, trusting our common ground?
How long, oh God, how long?
When will the day come
when we will walk forward together, in justice and love.
How long, oh God, how long?
*
We know the hush
when singing has been silenced.
We know the bitter pain
of exclusion.
We have hoped through our tears
and wept through our hoping.
We have felt the brutality
of the world around us.
We have felt sting of blows
that come from within this Church, your body.
God of love
you came among us
you bore the humiliation
you felt the piercing nails.
Human and vulnerable
you doubted, and you wept.
When our hearts get weighed down
When we forget the nearness of your kingdom
Lead us to the fig tree, open our eyes
lest we should miss the green promise
of new leaves sprouting
You showed us a truth
worth dying for.
Help us embrace a truth
worth living for.
Remind us always of your promise
No one is left outside of your love.