“Our Loving Mother Comes to Us”: Vontril & Alexandria McLemore & Jann Aldredge-Clanton
A recent New Wineskins Community Gathering focused on gratitude in the midst of struggles and challenges. We shared stories and expressions of gratitude. We talked about the difference it makes for us to express gratitude anyhow/anyway.
Vontril and Alexandria McLemore, my good friends and ministry partners of New Wineskins and The Gathering, A Womanist Church, sang a beautiful duet with lyrics that combine some of the original words of “How Can I Keep from Singing” with new words from my hymn “Our Loving Mother Comes to Us.”
Our Loving Mother comes to us when we are weak and weary;
She holds us gently in Her love through days and nights so dreary.
She lightens all our heavy loads and shares our painful feelings;
Her strong support and tender care will bring us deepest healing.
Our Loving Mother calms our fears and brings us restoration;
She lifts our spirits, gives us hope and strength for new creation.
For every mountain we must climb, She fills our hearts with courage;
with Her we know that all is well, and we again will flourish.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Love restores all heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?
Our Loving Mother sends us out to change the world with caring,
to work for justice everywhere, to join together daring.
She stirs our souls with hopeful songs, with joyous music ringing;
we praise Her everlasting love with voices gladly singing.
Words © 2021 Jann Aldredge-Clanton ENDLESS SONG
At the New Wineskins Community Gathering we also read this litany of praise and gratitude for all creation.
Celebrating All Creation
Reader 1: We gather here to praise our Loving Mother, who made all of us good and whole in the divine image.
We praise the Giver of healing and abundant life.
We praise the Life-Giving Spirit who lives and moves in all of us.
Reader 2: Come, let us celebrate, for we are wonderfully made!
Reader 3: Praise the Source of all creation, giving life throughout the earth,
blessing every love relation, filling all with sacred worth.
Reader 4: Celebrate all forms and colors, varied beauty everywhere,
streams of goodness overflowing, wondrous gifts for all to share.
Reader 5: Many genders, many races, all reflect Divinity;
many gifts and many graces help us be all we can be.
Reader 6: Partners on this path of freedom, taking down each stifling wall,
we will open doors of welcome, bringing hope and joy to all.
Reader 7: Long have many been excluded, judged and scorned by custom’s norms;
everyone will be included as we work to make reforms.
Reader 8: Let us end abuse and violence, bringing justice everywhere,
joining Holy Wisdom’s mission, helping all be free and fair.
Reader 9: Equal relationships free and nurture body, mind, and soul,
reaffirming every person, all created good and whole.
Reader 10: Come, rejoice and join together, celebrating life and love;
praise the great Creative Spirit, living in us and above.
Copyright © 2019 Jann Aldredge-Clanton
(From The Gathering: A Womanist Church: Origins, Stories, Sermons, and Litanies)