NEW BEGINNING

1. Give us a new beginning where we can start again.
So many things are broken that only you can mend.
Your presence can revive us,
the touch of your embrace.
We walk in deepest darkness,
— show us your loving face.

2. Such beauty in a flower,
such glory in the sky;
and yet our lives unravel
no matter what we try.
Such constant disappointment
when dreams are crushed once more,
when truth is rarely spoken,
and peace turns into war.

3. O come to us, Lord Jesus,
we’re fearful and distressed.
The earth and heaven tremble
and nothing is at rest.
O come and make a new world
where tears are wiped away,
where love is like the bright sun
that rises ev’ry day.

2003 Words © Robin Mann.
Music: Hans Leo Hassler 1564-1612

This rich tune has been used for many songs. Best known is ‘O sacred head now wounded’. Our congregation (St Stephen’s, Adelaide) was going through a very bad time in 2003. I wrote these words for the first Sunday in Advent, but they seem to resonate at any time. There are always problems, difficulties we can’t overcome. And so we pray ‘Give us a new beginning’. Luther suggests we begin each day asking for forgiveness for wrongs done, & asking for a new start.

ALWS 5/10/23

To say I've been inactive on my website is a serious understatement! I've written nothing here since early 2021.

So, does this mean the world has stopped for us, that nothing is happening?
A major event for us in 2022 was moving house in October. We had been in Modbury Heights since July 1993.Now we're back in Klemzig.

In May we travelled to the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia, seeing work supported by Australian Lutheran World Service. Dorothy and I are Ambassadors for the ALWS programme, Lives You Touch. We are encouraging people to leave money in their will for the work of ALWS. We committed to leave a third of our will many years ago and hope many others can touch lives in this way.
Since then we have visited Box Hill & Loxton with Jonathan & Julie Krause as part of the Asante presentations, promoting the cause of ALWS. Still to come this year are Asante events in Toowoomba & Rochedale (Nov 26 & 27) and Perth (Dec 10)

Looking forward to seeing many people on these occasions.