As newborn stars were stirred to song

As newborn stars were stirred to song

Author: Carl P. Daw
Tune: ALEXANDRA (Hirten)
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

1 As newborn stars were stirred to song
when all things came to be,
as Miriam and Moses sang
when Israel was set free,
so music bursts unbidden forth
when God-filled hearts rejoice,
to waken awe and gratitude
and give mute faith a voice.

2 In psalms that raise the singer’s sense
to universal truths,
in prophet’s dark-toned oracle
or hymn of three brave youths:
the song of faith and praise endured
through those God called to be
a chosen people bearing light
for all the world to see.

3 When God’s redeeming Word
took flesh to make salvation sure,
unheeding hearts attuned to strife
refused love’s overture.
Yet to the end the song went on:
a supper’s parting hymn,
a psalm intoned on dying lips
when sun and hope grew dim.

4 But silence won no vict’ry there;
a rest was all it scored
before glad alleluias rose
to greet the risen Lord.
The church still keeps that song alive,
for death has lost its sting,
and with the gift of life renewed
the heart will ever sing.

(This is the only representative text available.)^ top

Author: Carl P. Daw

Carl P. Daw, Jr. (b. Louisville, KY, 1944) is the son of a Baptist minister. He holds a PhD degree in English (University of Virginia) and taught English from 1970-1979 at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia. As an Episcopal priest (MDiv, 1981, University of the South, Sewanee, Tennesee) he served several congregations in Virginia, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. From 1996-2009 he served as the Executive Director of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. Carl Daw began to write hymns as a consultant member of the Text committee for The Hymnal 1982, and his many texts often appeared first in several small collections, including A Year of Grace: Hymns for the Church Year (1990); To Sing God’s Praise (1992), New… Go to person page >

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Wonder, Love, and Praise #788

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