The Church's One Foundation

*** Revised Common Lectionary *** Lectionary Reading: Colossians 1: 15-28 CLASSIC POEM: The Church’s One Foundation S.J. Stone The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; she is his new creation by water and the Word. From heav’n he came and sought her to be his holy bride; with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died. Elect from ev’ry nation, yet one o’er all the earth; her charter of salvation: one Lord, one faith, one birth. One holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food, and to one hope she presses, with ev’ry grace endued. The Church shall never perish. Her dear Lord to defend, to guide, sustain, and cherish, is with her to the end. Tho’ there be those that hate her and strive to see her fail, against both foe and traitor she ever shall prevail. Tho’ with a scornful wonder the world sees her oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed, yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up, “How long?” and soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song. ‘Mid toil and tribulation and tumult of her war she waits the consummation of peace forevermore till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest, and the great Church victorious shall be the Church at rest. *** This poem is in the public domain, and may be read in a live-streamed worship service. CONTEMPORARY POEM: The Victory Thomas Merton SNIPPET: Sing your new song in the winepress where these bloody pence Weep from the skin of our Gethsemani, Knowing that we must die to break the seed our prison … [ READ THE FULL POEM ]