Presbyterian hymnwriter the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette pens ‘We Have a Common Calling’
December 4, 2023
On the heels of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) joining 28 other faith partners in the One Home One Future campaign, Presbyterian hymnwriter the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette has written a hymn to support the Creation care campaign.
“We Have a Common Calling” is set to “AURELIA,” the tune for “The Church’s One Foundation.” Hear a version of the new hymn here.
Gillette, who together with her husband, the Rev. Bruce Gillette, serves as pastor of First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego, New York, grants congregations and pastors free use of lyrics she sets to well-known hymns. To date, she’s written nearly two dozen hymns on Creation care. She recently taught a workshop, “Songs for Creation,” at the national Presbyterians for Earth Care conference, “The Climate Crisis and Empowering Hope.”
We Have a Common Calling
AURELIA 7.6.7.6 D (“The Church’s One Foundation”)
We have a common calling, O God of love and grace —
to care for your creation, to tend what you embrace.
We have one home, one future; we’re not in this alone.
We’re called to work together for this our common home.
You call us to be partners — to notice and to care;
you make us loving stewards of land and sea and air.
We see our climate changing; God, show us what to do
to care for your creation, to heal the earth with you.
We’ll work to build strong leaders; we’ll listen to our youth.
We’ll strengthen congregations to help them speak the truth.
We’ll work with other partners in our communities —
for moral, wise perspectives must shine in times like these.
We see our neighbors suffering — especially the poor,
and so we’ll work toward justice and toward an earth restored.
We’ll work as loving neighbors to plan and to prepare.
We’ll allocate for climate; the earth deserves its share.
O God, as congregations, we don’t act out of fear;
our moral obligations will motivate us here.
We seek a blest tomorrow; our voices rise above.
May we, today, be faithful in this great work of love.
Tune: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864
Text: Copyright ©2023 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Email: carolynshymns@gmail.com New hymns: www.carolynshymns.com
Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service
Today’s Focus: Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette pens ‘We Have a Common Calling’
Let us join in prayer for:
PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
T. Clark Simmons, Senior Church Consultant, Atlanta GA, Board of Pensions
Alex Simon, Multimedia Specialist, Communications Ministry, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Let us pray
Lord, help us all to learn from the valuable examples of faith our leaders set. Amen.
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