One of the great joys in my current life is the blessing of working with The Reverend Dr. Jim Rigby, Pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church here in Austin, TX. Jim is blessed with a superb gift for words, and is a master communicator – both with spoken words and written words. A couple of weeks ago he handed me a stack of paper – each page was filled with hymn texts that Jim had written – like finding great hidden treasures on each and every page. What a blessing to have a colleague and friend who has been given the gift of not only words – but also poetic words that are marvelous for singing. Like Jane Parker Huber – Jim authored these texts with existing well-known hymn tunes in mind. It is always easier to introduce a new hymn if both the text and the tune are not new. That needs to be a primary subject for a series of future posts – writing for a congregation is very different than writing for a choir or solo artist.
Following is Jim’s text for the hymn we used at the opening of worship last Sunday. We paired it with the hymn tune “Ein’ Feste Burg” – attributed to Martin Luther and usually sung using words also attributed to Martin Luther – “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” – both tune and text written in the first quarter of the sixteenth century.
I especially appreciate the way that Jim’s text points us toward an awareness that when living from the heart in Christ – loving is the answer!
We seek the truth that sets us free, we seek the truth abiding.
We dwell within your loving word, your wisdom ever guiding.
The spirit and the dove, they only sing of love,
They whisper through the day and call us on our way,
They guide us lest we stumble.
When we are deep within our hells, when memories have bound us,
You turn us from within our shells to feel your love around us.
When worries cloud the mind, when evey hope seems blind,
We stumble in our fear, but then we feel you near,
In you we find our answer.
We seek the truth that sets us free, we seek the truth abiding.
Great God, who made the stars and light shine on us when we’re hiding.
From Christ we learn the art, of living from the heart;
Each day we learn anew, love tells us what to do,
For loving is the answer.
Bold emphasis is mine.
Copyright © 2013 by Jim Rigby. All rights reserved.
I have been privileged in the past to work with other colleagues and friends who have been a real blessing to me by sharing the fruits of the stewardship of their gift of words. I will write about them in future posts.
We must always be reminded and know that in our living loving is the answer!!
tmitchellmusic 
I love that text! Thank you for sharing and providing a place to talk about it.
Well said, both about Jim and by him.