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They crushed the crown of thorns upon his head
and lifted high the cross for all to see.
A mangled Savior, naked, left for dead:
“Behold, the Lamb of God! Behold your King!”
What strength he had to never say a word,
to stoop and stagger up to Calvary.
What strength to yet forgive the mocking crowd:
“Behold, the Lamb of God! Behold your King!”
The nails that pierced his hands have pierced my heart.
The cruelest cost for sin was paid for me.
Lest you, my soul, forget the Father's love:
Behold, the Lamb of God! Behold your King!
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They charged a very handsome price,
exchanging praise for sacrifice.
The outer courts, a holy space,
had now become a marketplace.
So with a whip and frenzied eyes,
The rabbi taught and terrorized,
and cried, while they fled here and there,
“My house shall be a house of prayer!”
I begged my lovers, “Enter me,
open my gates, then pay your fee.”
I forgot the ransomed price
he paid when whipped, then sacrificed.
My body is a temple for
his spirit, which he freely pours.
O, cleanse me from these cursed affairs,
and make your house a house of prayer
The Rock had called us living stones;
instead we murder, shame, disown,
erecting walls and plastered signs
with rules, and doctrines, that divide.
Unspoken expectations learned
that love, acceptance, must be earned.
O, overturn our hearts, ensnared,
and make your house a House of Prayer.
As we for your cruel death prepare,
Lord, make your house a House of Prayer.
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Child, come to me.
Heed what I say
for you have been suffering
and it seems that you might
actually break,
so lean on the cross.
We die to ourselves
to finally be free,
and although it seems harder now
harder still are his words
“Depart from me,”
so take up your cross.
Refrain:
Do you expect to escape what no one has avoided?
Show me a sinner or saint who has not suffered pain.
Not even our Lord, Jesus Christ, turned aside from his darkest hour;
why now should you aspire to go any other way
than the Way of the Cross?
Go where you will.
Seek what you want.
You will not find a higher way any way,
although it is not glamorous,
this Way of the Cross.
Arrange every step,
suit your own will,
yet you will find suffering finds a way anyway
and must be borne still;
and there is the cross. (Refrain)
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Wilt thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which was my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt thou forgive that sin, through which I run,
And do run still, though I still do deplore?
When thou hast done that, thou hast not done,
When thou hast done that, thou hast not done,
For I have more.
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin, and made my sin their open door?
Wilt thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallow'd in, a score?
When thou hast done that, thou hast not done,
When thou hast done that, thou hast not done,
For I have more.
I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My final thread, I shall perish on the shore;
Swear by thyself, that at my death thy Son
Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore;
And, having done that, thou hast done;
And, having done that, thou hast done;
And, having done that, thou hast done;
I fear no more.
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Lord Almighty and everliving God,
you have blessed us with your holy presence.
As the members of the body of your son,
we worship you with joy and with reverence
For it is right, and a good, and a joyful thing
wherever we are to give you praise.
The Creator of earth, and the Lord of heaven,
and even still, you know us by name.
He was stretched out, his arms nailed to a cross
truly suffered in submission to your will
Sacrificed to cleanse the sin that we had done,
put to death to be the life of the whole world.
And it is right, and a good, and a joyful thing
to remember the body and the blood.
What assurance we have in these mysteries -
that we are now the children of God.
And now Father, responding to your love,
may we do the work you've given us to do.
make us faithful witnesses of mercy's peace;
send us to the world to love and to serve you.
For it is right, and a good, and a joyful thing
when we love all our neighbors as ourselves.
Happy voices we'll raise as we sing your praise:
"Be glorified above all else!"
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May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in your presence.
May those who love your salvation say, “Great is the Lord!”
And as for me, I am poor and needy,
O my God, do not delay to save me!
Lord, behold us!
Lord, behold us!
Behold your family
whom Jesus was willing to be betrayed.
Lord, forgive us!
Lord, forgive us
as you forgave the hands of sinners
and on the Cross was willing to suffer.
Lord, behold us!
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7. |
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Hope is now interred in a hollow cave
You are left for dead; I am left afraid.
All your promises hold a hollow sound,
fade with evening's light, thick shadows on the ground
Refrain:
Lord, are you awake? I can hardly breathe,
clinging to a grave, desperate to believe.
You said to abide, yet you're the one who left.
Hope is now interred.
Lord, what happens next?
Was it all a dream to believe you love
covering my sins somehow was enough?
How I fled the scene! To whom shall I go,
paralyzed by fear, estranged from all I know? (Refrain)
Numbering my days as I count the sheep,
huddled in a room, too terrified to sleep.
Have I played the fool all along the way?
I still hear your voice: "O ye of little faith." (Refrain)
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This is the 3rd "rough draft" album in a series of demo/scratch recordings. These is album is comprised by songs are inspired over the years by the liturgy, Scriptures and prayers that accompany each week day of Holy Week leading to Holy Saturday.
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the Cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
