Jim Burklo

Deeper Love: A Song for Communion — Jim Burklo

Tune: O Waly Waly (Welsh folk tune) — also known as The Water Is Wide (listen to James Taylor’s performance of it) Use freely, with attribution. For deeper love we spread the bread I won’t be full till all are fed Till every soul has home and bed The rest of us can’t move ahead […]

Progressive Christian’s statement of faith — Jim Burklo, USA

I’m a progressive Christian who: keeps the faith and drops the dogma experiences God more than I believe in any definition of God thinks that my faith is about deeds, not creeds takes the Bible seriously because I don’t take it literally thinks spiritual questions are more important than religious answers cares more about […]

Collection of Children’s Messages — Jim Burklo, USA

Jim writes, ‘Use freely. All I ask is attribution!’ Breaking Free – a flower becomes a butterfly – and learns to appreciate flowers The Clay Bird (an interfaith message – Christian/Muslim) Elephant Eggs – pure silliness! punch line: what you need is probably already here. Of Seeds and Stardust – a poetic science-based creation story […]

This is our flag, a hymn — Jim Burklo

What words describe our reaction to specific flags? This hymn comes in two versions: international and specific to the United States of America (scroll down). The tune is Finlandia. International version This is our flag, inviting every nation To human freedom and democracy We lift it high, and sing out our devotion In harmony from […]

This is my body…2020 Words for communion — Jim Burklo, USA

‘This is my body…’ This is the body of Christ. This body knows what it is like to long for a hug, but not be able to get one when it needs it the most. This body knows how to feel a hug through a window or a screen. This body knows what it is […]

Softly and tenderly, lyrics for today — Jim Burklo

New words to an old tent-meeting revival hymn Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for me Walking his pathway toward joy and compassion Calling for you and for me Come home, come home You who are weary come home; Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling, “Dear searcher, come home” Leave behind […]

Feast & Fast, Lent in a time of epidemic — Jim Burklo, USA

Let us fast from hugging and handshaking And let us feast on bowing and waving. Let us fast from hoarding food and toilet paper And let us feast on the food in the back of our pantries. Let us fast from gathering physically And let us feast on communing virtually. Let us fast from obsessing […]

Wisdom for my Grandchild — Jim Burklo, USA

Written to welcome a newborn grandson, Jim’s beautiful and wise words can be adapted easily for any grandchild. My dear grandson, Jacob – Precious crown of creation swaddled in a blanket, Sleeping deep in heavenly peace – To the Love who is God I give thanks for your birth, And on behalf of this world […]

Joseph’s Ladder, an Advent Poem — Jim Burklo, USA

For more Christmas poems by Jim Burklo click here. I turn in shame, I toss in pain I cannot sleep: confusion reigns I cannot sort the wrong from right I groan in turmoil through the night. Across the town dear Mary rests; A baby grows below her breasts. Good sense suggests that it is mine […]

Las Posadas, Seeking room in the inn — Mexico

Las Posadas, a Mexican Advent tradition stretches from 16 December through Christmas, during which actors depict Mary and Joseph looking for lodging. They travel throughout the town or city, followed by a procession of children and other members of the community carrying candles. A song is traditionally sung at each ‘inn’ along the way. Las Posadas — Jim Burklo, […]

To Be a We — Jim Burklo, USA

The I I think is what I am Is actually a we The what I am is what you are There is no separate me For I don’t weigh a single pound Nor look a single see I can’t be touched, I can’t be found My body I can’t be And so it is with […]

Just as You Are, A Progressive Christian Welcome — Jim Burklo, USA

We follow the way of Jesus. He opens our hearts To know that our true selves are one with God, who is Love. Jesus saves us from fear, from selfishness, from meaninglessness. He leads us to serve with compassion and act for justice. He moves us to curiosity and creativity. He brings us together in […]

Communion Institution — Jim Burklo, USA

You bring alive what once seemed dead Your word becomes as real as bread Your love we taste in sips of wine Your meal reveals the life divine Jim Burklo, Associate Dean of Religious Life at the University of Southern California, writes regularly for the ProgressiveChristianity.org liturgy project. Many of his liturgical materials can […]

Communion in a Time of Dread (hymn) — Jim Burklo, USA

Tune: Sursum Corda 10.10.10.10. (How Like a Gentle Spirit) (Use freely, with attribution) One truck delivers us our wine and bread Another swerves and leaves our children dead One driver sings a hymn of love and life Another chants a call to holy strife One phone is used to set a bomb alight Another used […]

Seeker of Justice, new words to ‘Fairest Lord Jesus’ – Jim Burklo, USA

Tune: “Fairest Lord Jesus” (Crusaders’ Hymn: 5.6.8.5.5.8) Seeker of justice, turner of the tables One who made sure that the poor were fed Land for the landless, home for the homeless And baskets filled with fish and bread. Friend of the friendless, lover of the enemy, Love that conventions cannot contain, Boundless […]

Holy, holy, holy, Love Now Ascending (hymn) — Jim Burklo, USA

Tune: Nicaea (Holy, Holy, Holy) Words by Jim Burklo (use freely with attribution) Holy, holy, holy, love now ascending Early in the morning our song shall rise to you Holy, holy, holy, joy that has no ending Giving, forgiving, breathing life anew. Holy, holy, holy, love without a limit Care that […]

reference http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply

We Praise You, God of All (hymn)– Jim Burklo, USA

Tune: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”, Coronation C.M. Words by Jim Burklo (use freely with attribution) We praise you, God, with rousing song, we answer at your call Your Word creates the universe, We praise you, God of all Your Word creates the universe, We praise you, God of all […]

Call to Worship: A Credo for Christians — Jim Burklo, USA

May be read in unison as a Call to Worship I worship and adore God, source, essence, and aim of all things, spirit that enlivens all beings. I follow the way of Jesus, who found God in himself and shared a way for others to find God in themselves. He […]

Benediction, May the peace of God… — Jim Burklo, USA

May the peace of God surround you Like the trees of the forest May the peace of God warm you all over Like the sun in the sky May the peace of God swell and roll over you Like a wave in the sea May the peace of God fill you Like the cool wind […]

Virgin Monologue — Jim Burklo, USA

“‘God did it’ isn’t an explanation,” said Joseph. He got no account for the baby’s chromosomes, No description of the mechanism that Transmuted the divine shadow into royal blood. “‘The devil made me do it’ would have sounded better to me,” said Joseph, Though it never did him any good When he said it to […]

For All the Ways (hymn for Church Anniversary)– Jim Burklo, USA

Tune: “For All the Saints” Sine Nomine 10.10.10.A Words by Jim Burklo (use freely with attribution) Appropriate for Church Anniversaries For all the ways we help each other grow As we share stories, moments high and low The face of Christ among us now will show We sing allelujia, allelujia. For all the people […]

Las Posadas, Seeking room in the inn — Mexico

Las Posadas, a Mexican Advent tradition stretches from 16 December through Christmas, during which actors depict Mary and Joseph looking for lodging. They travel throughout the town or city, followed by a procession of children and other members of the community carrying candles. A song is traditionally sung at each ‘inn’ along the way. Jim Burklo has written new […]

The Wise Man’s Confession — Jim Burklo, USA

A Christmas Poem What wisdom I have Awakens me to my blindness. I cannot see light itself: What I know of light Is only an alluring shadow Of what it is and does. From billions of years away in space-time, Through darkness intervening, At its inconceivable speed The light of an exploding star passes Through […]

Credo for Christians — Jim Burklo, USA

God is Love, the cosmic creativity present everywhere and in everything, Gently urging all toward the good. To transcending Love, we raise our awestruck praise! Jesus embodied the Love that is God. He loved the poor, the sick, the outcast, He loved the unpopular, and even his own enemies. He loved so completely, he loved […]

Awe fills us at the shore (hymn) — Jim Burklo, USA

(use freely with attribution) Tune: Madrid 6.6.6.6 – “Come Christians, Join to Sing” Watch mountain shadows run Allelujia! Amen! Clouds gilded by the sun Allelujia! Amen! Hear tumbling water sing Birds calling on the wing In canyons echoing Allelujia! Amen! Breathe in the desert air Allelujia! Amen! Let footsteps call to prayer Allelujia! Amen! […]

Group blessing of baptismal water — Jim Burklo, USA

Let us prayerfully focus on this water, as I pour it into the bowl, and as we do, let each of us infuse it with our commitments to share with (this child / name) the unique gifts that God has given us, gifts (this child / name) will need from us as s/he goes along […]

Progressive Baptism Liturgy (for a child) — Jim Burklo, USA

We are here to praise God for the life of /Name/, our young friend, who in such a short time has brought us so much joy. Through /Name/ we have experienced birth again in a new and more conscious way; in him, God has created the world again, opening us to wonder and possibility that […]

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