The Council of Jerusalem

by David R. Weiss
A hymn written in anticipation of this day back on April 13, 2004

Chorus:
It was a glorious day in Jerusalem
It was a glorious day in Jerusalem
It was a glorious day in Jerusalem
When Peter and Paul said to all of them:

The kin-dom of God is wider you see
The family of God is fuller you see
The Spirit of God blows freer you see
Than ever we thought that it could be

Peter:
I saw a blanket from heaven put down
Forbidden foods set all around
I said, “Dear Lord, what can it mean?”
And God told me, “I call these clean!”

When the call came next to please come preach
As Cornelius and family did beseech
I saw that the food was folks, you see
Gentile—and yet clean as could be

So I went and I preached right from my heart
But don’t you know—was merely the start
Cause right then and there, came the wind
God’s Spirit eager to gather them in

Paul:
I’ve traveled afar with Barnabas
Won’t you all please listen to us?
We’ve seen the signs and wonders done
By God whose reign exceeds the sun

Isaiah of old had promised it true
That God had gathering more to do
In Gentile lands this is what we saw:
The Spirit unlimited by the Law

Where faith is sown in the human heart
Nothing of ours can keep us apart
From the love of God given as grace
This is the truth we need to face

Chorus:
It was a glorious day in Jerusalem
It was a glorious day in Jerusalem
It was a glorious day in Jerusalem
When Peter and Paul said to all of them:

The kin-dom of God is wider you see
The family of God is fuller you see
The Spirit of God blows freer you see
Than ever we thought that it could be

Peter & Paul:
And who are we – or are any of you
To tell the Lord what is proper to do?
I know what the Word of the Lord has said
But the Spirit of God is racing ahead!

The gifts of God – the water and the word,
The bread and the wine, and the heart well-stirred –
Come to the church from heaven you see
From the Spirit that blows mighty and free!

Final Chorus:
It was a glorious day in Jerusalem
It was a glorious day in Jerusalem
It was a glorious day in Jerusalem
When Peter and Paul said to all of them:

The kin-dom of God is wider you see
The family of God is fuller you see
The Spirit of God blows freer you see
Than ever we thought that it could be

The gifts of God – the water and the word,
The bread and the wine, and the heart well-stirred –
Come to the church from heaven you see
From the Spirit that blows mighty and free!