Hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

A hymn lamenting violence against women and girls

A hymn lamenting violence against women and girls
Christ Would Not Cast the Judgment Stone
GERMANY (8.8.8.8) ("Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life")

Christ would not cast the judgment stone
At one who stood afraid, alone;
He stopped the violence in that place
By speaking truth and showing grace.

To one the world would not protect,
Christ offered care and showed respect;
In one whom others cast away,
He saw a child of God that day.

May we show Christ's compassion here
To girls and women bound by fear,
To those who live in silent pain,
To those who can't go home again.

We pray for those who from their birth
Are never shown their human worth;
We pray for women hurt this day
While others turn their eyes away.

O God, may we who call you Lord
Now labor for a world restored,
Where, in your image, all will be
Protected, valued, safe and free.

Biblical Reference: John 8:1-11
Tune: William Gardiner's Sacred Melodies, 1815; sometimes attributed to Ludwig van Beethoven ("Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life")
Alternate tune: WOODWORTH, William Batchelder Bradbury, 1849 ("Just As I Am, Without One Plea")
Alternate tune: O WALY WALY, Traditional English melody ("Though I May Speak")
Text: Copyright © 2013 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Email: bcgillette@comcast.net     New Hymns: www.carolynshymns.com/

See also Hymns Celebrating Women of the Bible and Books About Women of the Bible.

Hymn Use Permission: This hymn is copyrighted and is not covered by any organization (such as CCLI or OneLicense) that gives churches permission to use church music. If you would like to use this hymn, please contact Carolyn and Bruce Gillette (bcgillette@comcast.net) for permission and to get a copy of the hymn in MS Word format for bulletin use. See also A Dozen Ways to Support Carolyn's Hymn Writing.

This hymn was originally written for the service led by Presbyterians from the United States and New Zealand/Aotearoa as part of the Ecumenical Women's presence at the 57th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. We are grateful to Jill Bolander Cohen for requesting its creation.