Hymns by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette

When Mary Poured a Rich Perfume
ELLACOMBE (8.6.8.6 D)
("I Sing the Mighty Power of God"; "Hail To the Lord's Anointed")

When Mary poured a rich perfume on Jesus' weary feet,
Her caring filled that humble room; the fragrance there was sweet.
But full of anger, Judas said, "We could have used this more!
Why was her gift not sold instead and given to the poor?"

The Lord replied, "Leave her alone! She bought it for this day.
This caring love that she has shown is faithful to God's way.
The poor will always be with you, but you will not have me."
He blessed her and he thanked her, too, for giving lavishly.

O Christ, what can your people bring to show you thanks and love?
You need no fragrant offering; for now you reign above.
Since there will never cease to be the poor throughout the land,
May we, your church, serve faithfully by offering them our hand.

Biblical References: John 12:1-8; Deuteronomy 15:11
Tune: Gesangbuch der Herzoglich Wirtembergischen Katholischen Hofkapelle, 1784; adapted and harmonized by William Henry Monk, 1868 ("I Sing the Mighty Power of God"; "Hail To the Lord's Anointed")
Alternate tune: FOREST GREEN, Traditional English melody; arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906 ("How Beautiful the March of Days")
Text: Copyright © 2001 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Copied from Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Upper Room Books, 2009).
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: 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.


Hymn Note for "When Mary Poured a Rich Perfume"

Faithful people in Jesus' day memorized many passages of the Bible. Jesus, and the gospel writers who quote him, often would quote part of a verse with the expectation that people would know what follows. It is like when you hear the expression, "Four score and seven years ago" you naturally think of what follows — the rest of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. What Jesus was quoting to Judas is Deuteronomy 15:11: "Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land." Rather than saying there is nothing we should do about the poor, the Bible makes clear that we are called to help those in need.