Now the Welcome

Christ the healer, Christ the host, raising cup in festive toast
Christ the one who sets the feast, Christ the one who calls the least
Christ the holy, Christ the lowly, Christ the teller of new tales,
Christ the bearer of a God who never fails, never fails.

Thus the leper, thus the lame, alleluias both proclaim
Thus the deaf can hear a cry, thus the blind can use their eye
Thus the praying, thus the playing, thus the laughter and the grin
Thus the graciousness of God who gathers in, gathers in.

Then the Spirit, then the Friend, then the mighty Rushing Wind
Then the Wisdom from on high in the tongues of flame come nigh
Then the telling, then the yelling, then the hearing each their own
Then the wideness of God’s love is thus made known, thus made known.

Then the blanket, then the food, Peter’s palate by God wooed
Then the Spirit of the Lord on the Gentiles freely poured
Then the seeing and agreeing and the witness to the rest
Then the op’ning of the church at God’s behest, God’s behest.

Now the wonders, now the signs, mark of God’s surprise designs
Now the mustard seed grown full, now the lamp atop the bowl
Now the thirsting, now the bursting, now the new wine spilling out
Now the welcome of our God hear us shout, heart us shout!

Text: David R. Weiss, b. 1959 (text, 2004, © 2008 David R. Weiss)
Tune: Carl Schalk, b. 1929, THINE (Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise, With One Voice hymnal #801 – © 1983 Augsburg Publishing House)

Permission is given to photocopy Now the Welcome for use in worship.

Author’s Note: Now the Welcome is especially appropriate for Pentecost (or any service focused on welcome) and suggests how the outpouring of the Spirit continues the work of God’s welcome begun in Jesus’ ministry, furthered in the welcome of the Gentiles, and ongoing still today.