Hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette
God, whose love is always stronger Than our weakness, pride and fear,
In your world, we pray and wonder How to be more faithful here.
Hate too often grows inside us; Fear rules what the nations do.
So we pray, when wars divide us: Give us love, Lord! Make us new!
Love is patient, kind and caring, Never arrogant or rude,
Never boastful, all things bearing; Love rejoices in the truth.
When we're caught up in believing War will make the terror cease,
Show us Jesus' way of living; May our strength be in your peace.
May our faith in you be nourished; May your churches hear your call.
May our lives be filled with courage As we speak your love for all.
Now emboldened by your Spirit Who has given us new birth,
Give us love, that we may share it Till your love renews the earth!
Hymn Use Permission: Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Upper Room Books, 2009) includes a permission note for those who own this book to use this hymn (along with the 76 other new hymns in the book) in their local church's worship services. People who do not own Songs of Grace are asked to contact Carolyn (bcgillette@comcast.net) for permission to use the hymn and to get a copy of the hymn formatted for worship bulletin use.
This hymn was written during the brief time period after President George W. Bush issued the ultimatum to Saddam Hussein and before the war actually began. Despite the efforts of many Christians, the United States went to war, violating the historic just war teaching that most major Christian churches have followed, and certainly violating the teachings of pacifist churches. This hymn, a prayer for peace, has grown in its popularity as more and more Christians have reconsidered their earlier support for this war. Sojourners community included the hymn in its online resources, as did the National Council of Churches and Church World Service. The United Methodist Church posted it online with the music.
"God, Whose Love Is Always Stronger" has many biblical references, including Romans 8:28-39, 2 Corinthians 12:9, John 3:7, Revelation 21:5, 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, John 14:27, Matthew 5-7, 1 Thessalonians 2:2, John 3:16, 17:18, Psalm 46:9, and Romans 8:22.
"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth" (I Corinthians 13:4-6). If we believe these words are God's truth, then we will also realize they are not just words that relate to our individual lives. They will also influence how we work for public policy.
What does it mean for Christians and for churches to say that love is patient ... love is kind ... love is not arrogant ... love rejoices in the truth? We do not claim to have all the answers, but we have a vision for peace and a hope given to us by God who loves this whole world. William Sloane Coffin, Jr. once said, "The church's job is to proclaim, 'Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream;' the government's job is to develop the irrigation system."
In what areas do we need to find courage, and do we need to take the time in our busy lives, to speak truth to our leaders about important issues that mean life and death to thousands and thousands of people?
The first hymn in this book began with a proclamation: "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." The last hymn in the book ends with the prayer: "Give us love that we may share it till your love renews the earth." God is with us from the beginning of creation to the time when God's kingdom will come in all its fullness. In the meantime, God's grace fills our lives, and we are sent out to love our neighbors, to seek God's kingdom, and to witness to Jesus Christ who is the light of the world. Thanks be to God!
Copied from Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Upper Room Books, 2009).
- Check out the rest of this web site for other wonderful hymns.
- Consider buying Carolyn's two books of hymns that give permission to use the book's hymns in a local church: Gifts of Love: New Hymns for Today's Worship by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Geneva Press, 2000) and Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Upper Room Books, 2009)
- Share the hymn and her hymns web site with people in your church and other online friends in other churches.
- Check out A Dozen Ways to Support Carolyn's Hymn-writing (including hymn use permission).