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- Once on the Roads of Green Galilee
Once on the Roads of Green Galilee
This beautiful text by Laurie Gauger reminds us of God’s grace in a number of ways, and provides a wonderful song that is useful throughout the Church Year. It could be an Epiphany season hymn, showing us God’s grace in Jesus as he revealed himself throughout his ministry—preaching, teaching, and healing (see verse 1 especially). It could also be a hymn for the Sundays in Lent, showing us God’s grace in Jesus’ commitment to the cross—paying the price for all sin and all sinners (see verse 2). And finally, it could be a hymn for the Pentecost season, as it reminds us how God uses us to share his grace with others (verses 3-4). So it all comes together here with this powerful text and beautiful melody: the love that Jesus showed on the roads of Galilee; the love that he revealed at the cross; the love that lives and shines through our sanctified lives.
Once on the roads of green Galilee, you searched the shadows, eager to heal
bodies and spirits in pain.
Show us, O Lord, the forms love can take: how your heart opens, how your heart breaks
when souls are cold and afraid.
You touched the leper, pardoned the shamed, dined with the outcast, called them by name.
Mercy marked all of your days.
And then at Calv'ry—O Lord, what love!—you sought and bought all sinners with blood.
All are embraced by your grace.
May we take in those shiv'ring in fright, shelter the wand'rers lost in the night.
Teach us, O Lord, how to live.
Warm up our hearts and work through our hands. Love is your gift and love your command.
Help us to live as you lived.
May we see Christ in each neighbor's face: no one beneath or beyond our gaze,
no one unworthy of love;
welcoming strangers, calling them friends, trav'lers with us till this journey ends—
all of us children of God.
Included in your purchase: PDF of Piano Accompaniment and Guitar Chords, Congregation Bulletin TIFF file, MP3 file (accompaniment only).
Suggested donation: $15
Purchase of this song includes permission to use the music freely within an individual congregation. Purchases may not be transferred to or used in other congregations. If you have questions about this, please contact me.