Liturgical Texts from the Gulf Coast

Introit: After Ike

By the waters of Bolivar we sat down and wept,
when we remembered you, O Gilchrist;
when we considered you, our House of Joy.

We hung up our thinking caps on a lonely scrub cedar;
on a single bare post in the midst of a empty sand flat;
and our hearts bowed down with grief.

We uncovered our heads in the sunlight and salt air;
and our hearts were heavy with sorrow.

How shall we play silly games (Trivial Pursuit, Pigmania, Train),
weak with laughter, late into the night,
on a red kitchen table, surrounded by watermelons,
when there is neither game board, nor table,
nor watermelons to cheer us on?

How shall joys be multiplied, and sorrows divided, in the breeze and afternoon shade,
if there is no place to sit down together, under your shadow?

How shall memories be made and shared and kept,
if there is no gathering place?

And now, O Lord of sea and sky, of waters and winds, hear us:
Give heed to our lament, Maker of starfish and sand dollars.

Lean down and listen to us, who mourn for what is no more;
Pay attention to us, who grieve for what has been lost.

From the morning sun, rising over the Gulf, come to us;
With the first stars at twilight, as cicadas play an evening hymn,
show yourself to us.

Surround us on every side, that we may not drown in despair or distress;
when the winds of loss and waves of grief howl and rage,
come quickly and rescue us.

Let this place, this empty and desolate sand flat, be again a holy place,
a place set apart, for those who will come here:
a sanctuary for birds, and sand crabs, and salt grasses;
a smooth and level ground for tents and campfires.

Let this small patch of earth know growth and greenness once more,
let this air ring with the laughter and life of your little ones.

Fill us with beloved memory, and show us the way forward,
and bring us up, to the shady front porch of your House of Joy;
for you are the God of the living,
in you all things live and move and have their being,
and in you nothing Loved is ever truly lost.

10/25/08




A Canticle of Praise
Written for the Blessing of a Crawfish Hatchery in Chambers County, TX in 2005

O give thanks to our God, who is good:
whose love endures for ever.

You sun and moon, and stars of the sky:
give to our God your thanks and praise.

Sunset and sunrise, night and day:
give to our God your thanks and praise.

All mountains and valleys, coastal plains and high plains:
give to our God your thanks and praise.

Mesquite and pine trees, magnolias and scrub cedars;
Bluebonnets and black-eyed Susans, Indian blanket and Indian paintbrush:
give to our God your thanks and praise.

All you creatures, great and small;
White tails and white wings, armadillos and hummingbirds:
give to our God your thanks and praise.

Oceans, swamps, rivers and creeks, worship the Lord:
give to our God your thanks and praise.

You who swim or slink or move in the waters;
Crawfish and crab, oysters and shrimp,
Redfish, bluefish, catfish and jellyfish:
give to our God your thanks and praise.

Let the people of God worship the Lord:
give to our God your thanks and praise.

Teachers and lawyers,
statesmen, students and scholars;
Farmers and fishermen, CEOs and janitors,
Homeowners and housekeepers, worship the Lord:
give to our God your thanks and praise.

You who seek after God in the silence of your hearts:
Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers;
give to our God your thanks and praise.

In times of trouble and in times of gladness;
In plenty and in want, in sorrow and in joy:
give to our God your thanks and praise.

To God be glory and worship; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Let us give to our God our thanks and praise.

From the heights of the sky to the depths of the sea:
Let us give to our God our thanks and praise.