Be With Those Who Wander…

This Sunday Lauryn is preaching on one of my favorite bible stories, one I love so much it was preached on at my ordination service. Jacob’s “wrestling with God,” found in Genesis 32, has often felt like a metaphor for my own call-resistant journey.

As we prepare to hear this beloved scripture, we will sing a new hymn that we first sang back in March, Be With Those Who Wander, text by Hannah Brown and music by Ben Brody. The words form an intercessory prayer on behalf of many, and ends with a reminder that God is with us.

It will also serve as a bit of a preview for Ben’s music, since he will be joining us for worship on October 26. To help us prepare to sing it in worship on the 19th, I wanted to share the music and words, as well as point you to a recording from when we sang it previously (hymn starts at 40:51):

https://www.youtube.com/live/C-O-BL6l6q0?si=3yrAmfS90gNIep7b&t=2450

And here is the text for those of you using text readers:

Be with those who wander in sorrow and fear,

who wait and who wonder alone and unclear.

Be with those who wrestle with anger or shame,

who ask you for answers in anguish or blame.

Be with those who struggle to find what they need,

who pray in each moment for pain to recede.

Be with those enduring depression or grief,

who long for your healing, for peace or relief.

Be with those resisting the systems that harm,

who reckon and witness, reform and disarm.

Be with those who lead us from pathways of death,

who seek out what’s joyful and fight for each breath.

God, comfort your people defying despair.

God, call us to action as partners in care.

You love all who wander, so help us to know

that none are abandoned, that promise can grow.

Words by Hannah Brown, Music by Ben Brody, ©2023 GIA Publications, Inc. Shared  with permission under OneLicense.net #A-720486.