Monday, October 31, by Margaret Monroe
Hymn: Shall We Gather at the River
Prayer Focus: During last year’s All Saints’ hymn festival, one of the readings shared was a tender poem by the poet Susan Palo Cherwien. Susan died late last year after a battle with cancer. She devoted her life’s work to writing sacred texts—hymns, poetry, and readings for worship. Enjoy this piano setting of “Shall We Gather at the River” as you read Susan’s words about saints and the cycle of life.
“A Harvest of Days”
There are the saints.
They have seen the types of things we have seen.
They have lived through the types of things we will live through:
They went to college or worked the docks.
Found a life-partner or remained alone.
Raised children or dedicated their lives to other service.
They were young and vibrant
then, experienced and doubtful
then, old and tolerant.
They watched children grow to adults.
Watched their own youthful faces age.
Watched parents die.
They delighted in friendships.
Saw their skin become like parchment.
Saw friends die.
And as they grew older
(the same vibrant people,
in bodies smaller now, and slow,)
it seemed they were the congregation for all the funerals.
And we have watched them die.
And we know that someday we will be the congregation at
all the funerals.
And the young will watch us die.
And they will become the congregation at all the funerals.
† † †
The cycle of life is relentless,
but precious.
For God is also relentless and flows like a river
through the midst of life.
Every life is nourished by the river of God.
Showered and quenched,
by this great river.
(There is a river that makes glad the city of God.)
It seems that time bears us all away,
But it is the great and gentle river of God
that carries us through life
through death
through the portal
to the shores
of the timeless stream.
“A Harvest of Days,” from the collection Crossings: Meditations for Worship by Susan Palo Cherwien, © 2003 MorningStar Music Publishers. All rights reserved. Reprinted under One License #A-727534.
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