"Shouts of Hosanna"

I'm posting an additional time today to share the lyrics to a hymn we sang in our Palm/Passion Sunday service and which I wrote several years ago to address the unique liturgical challenges of compressing all the traditional Holy Week services into one. "Shouts of Hosanna” attempts to capture the shifts in mood and meaning we experience in Holy Week and the always-tensive emotions present at Holy Communion.  I therefore chose the affecting hymn tune TENDERLY, by Colin Gibson, that alternates between major and minor keys. The story is told from the perspective of the confused disciples, who surely experienced a range of emotions, then and upon remembrance.  This song attempts to bridge the celebration of Palm Sunday and the pathos of Christ’s passion with a foretaste of the hope beyond.--Ellen Sims

HYMN             “Shouts of Hosanna”              TENDERLY

Shouts of hosanna die in the darkness;

Crowds have dispersed; only twelve now remain.

Here we have gathered, bracing for challenge;

Here we expect he’ll announce his campaign.

Then without warning, he names a traitor,

One who’s disloyal to teacher and friend.

Darker the room grows, softer the whispers:

“What did he mean by ‘My time is at hand.’”?

Blessing the bread, he breaks it and shares it:

“This is my body; new food for your soul.”

Blessing the wine, he speaks of forgiveness,

Fruit of the vine that can make us all whole.

Night comes on fast now; we see but dimly.

He leads us out to a garden to pray.

Yet before leaving, he says, “Remember.

Here is God’s strength as you face a new day.”

“Taste here forgiveness; Drink here compassion.”

Strengthen yourselves for the journey ahead.

Share this with others who seek God’s vision.

Grace you will find in the wine and the bread.