New Life Awaits Us All, performed by Ivy Hauser at The Gathering, A Womanist Church

New life awaits us all along the gospel way;
we’re growing and becoming stronger every day.
We join with people rising up on every shore,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.

We will not let abusive systems keep us down;
they cannot stop us now, for we are freedom bound.
The Spirit deep within gives energy to soar,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.

The Spirit gives us visions of equality;
Her power sets us free to be all we can be.
We join together, moving onward to explore,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.

Refrain

We’re growing, changing, claiming all our gifts;
the Spirit liberates, empowers, and uplifts.
She calls us always forward through the open doors,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.

Words © 2019 Jann Aldredge-Clanton                 THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME
From Inclusive Songs from the Heart of Gospel

One of my fondest memories of visits to my paternal grandparents’ home in Abilene, Texas, is playing the piano for family members gathered around to sing gospel hymns. I can still hear Aunt Lavelle, Aunt Katie, Aunt Polly, Aunt Betty, Uncle Leland, my dad, and my granddad singing in beautiful harmony. One of their favorite hymns was “This World Is Not My Home,” envisioning the glories of heaven. Here is the first stanza:

This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through,
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.

I also love this tune and and have written new lyrics to it. My words celebrate open doors and transformation in this life, as well as in the life beyond. We long for transformation, for new life in ourselves and in our world today.

Ivy Hauser, ministry partner at The Gathering, a Womanist Church, sings and accompanies “New Life Awaits Us All.”

New life awaits us all along the gospel way;
we’re growing and becoming stronger every day.
We join with people rising up on every shore,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.

We will not let abusive systems keep us down;
they cannot stop us now, for we are freedom bound.
The Spirit deep within gives energy to soar,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.

The Spirit gives us visions of equality;
Her power sets us free to be all we can be.
We join together, moving onward to explore,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.

Refrain

We’re growing, changing, claiming all our gifts;
the Spirit liberates, empowers, and uplifts.
She calls us always forward through the open doors,
and we keep on embracing new life evermore.

Words © 2019 Jann Aldredge-Clanton                 THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME
From Inclusive Songs from the Heart of Gospel