Sunday, 21 June

Today for the communion anthem, the choir sang a hymn, “Listen Deeply” by Fritz Fritschel, set to music by David Del Rocco. I kept a copy of the day’s bulletin which included the text of the hymn. Afterwards, I spoke to Carol Langner, Fritz’s widow, and asked if she would give me
permission to put it on my website. She readily agreed.

The service today focused on community, on extending our communities to include others, to gather others into a common goal: love others, treat all with kindness, include any and everyone. Instead of a sermon today, Barry, the organist and choir director, lead the congregation in various hymns chosen from members spontaneously. With a mixture of Lutheran movements among our members, we sang “A Mighty Fortress” in two different settings, both beautiful.

Fritz’s last stanza alludes to a goal from the Black church in America, to become a Beloved Community, a worthy goal for all Americans in this time of trial and division.

Listen Deeply

Listen deeply to falling leaves,
to fallow fields once filled with sheaves,
to earth’s fierce urge for fruitful care,
where creatures all receive full share.

Listen deeply to quanta leap,
to dreamy paths rise up in sleep,
of earth’s myst’ries as yet unseen,
to be sustained in tones of green.

Listen deeply to movements sound,
to nature’s songs wherever found,
in rainbow’s arc of cov’nant light,
now bursting forth with color bright.

Listen deeply to signs of hope,
to dreams beyond our present scope,
with love and peace for what may be,
to form a loved community.

Refrain
For listening deeply is our prayer,
in listening deeply, God is there,
for listening deeply is our prayer.