Day 95: Tuning our Hearts

Over the last 95 days, we have tuned our hearts toward the spirit of giving each Monday. By using our "hunger lens", we have shed light on just a few of the many songs, hymns, and tunes that can inspire us to help our neighbors in need. Notes became nudging, phrases became pleas, and words became worship.

Can you match these hunger-related texts to their title?

(answers can be found beneath the title choices)

(1) COME! Open your heart!
Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called to be hope for the hopeless,
So hatred and blindness will be no more.

(2) Neighbors are wealthy and poor,
Varied in color and race,
Neighbors are nearby and far away.

(3) This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth's kingdoms:
Thy kingdom come, on earth thy will be done,
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
And hearts united learn to live as one.
O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,
Myself I give thee: let thy will be done.

(4) Cure your children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to your control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss your kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss your kingdom’s goal.

(5) I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them, my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide, Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them, Whom shall I send?

(6) All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
For all his love.

(7) Recall the outcast woman with whom our Lord conversed,
Christ gave her living water to quench her deepest thirst.
Like her, our hearts are yearning, Christ offers us his word,
Then may our lips be burning to witness to our Lord.

(8) As birds in the morning sing their praise,
God's fatherly love we cherish,
For giving to us this day of grace,
For life that shall not perish.
The church God has kept two thousand years,
and hungering souls did nourish.

(9) Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others, Shared until all are fed.

(10) Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;

Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.

From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,

Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

(11) Praise God for love, Praise God for life
In age or youth, in husband's wife.
Lift up your hearts, let love be fed
Through death and life, in broken bread.

(12) With joyful lips we sing to You,
our praise and gratitude,
That You should count us worthy Lord,
to share this heavenly food.

(13) We come to the hungry feast, hungry that the hunger cease,
And knowing, though we eat our fill, the hunger will stay with us still
We come, we come to the hungry feast.

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(Click on the title to re-visit that day)

(a) O Day Full of Grace
(b) We Come to the Hungry Feast
(c) Christ, Be Our Light
(d) Here I Am, Lord
(e) Gift of Finest Wheat
(f) Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
(g) For All the Faithful Women
(h) When Love is Found
(i) God of Grace and God of Glory
(j) We are Called
(k) Jesu, Jesu
(l) We Plow the Fields and Scatter
(m) This is My Song

(Answers: 1J, 2K, 3M, 4I, 5D, 6L, 7G, 8A, 9C, 10F, 11H, 12E, 13B)

Day 95. Dollar 95. God of grace and glory, we are indeed called to help those in need. Love is found when we stand up for the cause Jesus himself believed in, helping those who hunger not only for their daily bread, but also for the feast that is to come. We give thanks for those faithful men and women who plow the fields so that others may eat, and for gifting us with the finest grains of wheat from the field. This is truly our song to you, God of grace. As Christ was our light, let us continue to shine that light for others, in Jesus' name. Amen.

O Day Full of Grace

As we enter the final days of our 10.10.10 countdown,

there will be two days of grace.

Days to count our blessings, and not the days themselves.



O Day Full of Grace
Arranged: F. Melius Christiansen
Sung by the UW Eau Claire Concert Choir

O day full of grace, which we behold,
to us from the sea ascending;
you over the earth thy reign unfold,
good cheer to all mortals lending,
that children of light in every clime
may prove that the night is ending!

How blest was the gracious midnight hour,
when God in our flesh was given;
Then brightened the dawn with light and power
That spread o'er the darkened heaven;
The rose o'er the world that Sun divine,
Which gloom from our hearts has driven.

As birds in the morning sing their praise,
God's fatherly love we cherish,
For giving to us this day of grace,
For life that shall not perish.
The church God has kept two thousand years,
and hungering souls did nourish.

Yea, were every tree endowed with speech,
And were every leaflet singing,
They never with praise God's worth could reach,
Though earth with their praise were ringing.
Who fully could praise the Light of life
who light to our souls is bringing?

With joy we approach our Father’s land,

where day is forever dwelling,

where ready for us His mansions stand,

where heaven with praise is swelling;

and there we shall walk in endless light,

with blest ones His praise forth telling.

God of Grace, grant us comfort in knowing you walk beside us each day. We thank you for our daily nourishment, both by bread and in spirit. Keep watch over those who yearn to be comforted by you. We ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 82: We Come

We Come to the Hungry Feast
ELW#479
Text and Music: Ray Makeever



Click here to listen to hear a portion of the song

Click here to read a lovely vespers blog entry by Jo Quanbeck, a member of Holden Village - a center for renewal, a Lutheran ministry welcoming all people into the wilderness to be called, equipped and sent by God.

We come to the hungry feast, hungry for a word of peace,
To hungry hearts unsatisfied the love of God is not denied.
We come, we come to the hungry feast.

We come to the hungry feast, hungry for a world released,
From hungry folk of ev'ry kind, the poor in body, poor in mind,
We come, we come to the hungry feast.

We come to the hungry feast, hungry that the hunger cease,
And knowing, though we eat our fill, the hunger will stay with us still
We come, we come to the hungry feast.

Day 82. Dollar 82. Holy One, Bless with nourishment those whose bodies ache with physical hunger and thirst. Give comfort to those who suffer, near and far. Move your spirit of peace into every broken place. Amen.

Day 75: Christ, Be Our Light

Christ, Be Our Light
ELW #715
Text and Music: Bernadette Farrell
Click here to listen to this hymn


Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your Church Gathered today.

Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
Light for the world to see.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has power to save us,
Make us your living voice.

Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
Shared until all are fed.

Longing for shelter people are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
Walls made of living stone.

Many the gifts, many the people,
Many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
Making your kingdom come.

Day 75. Dollar 75. Dear Lord, as we remember the many who long for food and water, help make us your bread, broken and shared for others. Amen.

Day 68: Here I Am, Lord

Here I Am, Lord
Hymn: Daniel Schutte
Text: Isaiah 6:8, 1 Samuel 3
ELW #574




Perhaps you might want to....
Listen as a morning devotion
Sing along as an afternoon offering
Watch as an evening prayer
(click on the words above to view)

Here I am Lord, is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin, my hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have born my peoples pain.
I have wept for love of them, They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone, Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them, Whom shall I send?

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them, my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide, Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them, Whom shall I send?

Day 68. Dollar 68. Thank you, Hunger Relief Community, for answering with a resounding, "Here I Am, Lord" when asked to care for the needs of others. May God bless you as you begin another week.

Day 61: Gift of Finest Wheat

You Satisfy the Hungry Heart
Music: Robert E. Kreutz
Click here to listen to the hymn being sung

You satisfy the hungry heart with gift of finest wheat,
Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat.

As when the shepherd calls his sheep, they know and heed his voice;
So when You call Your family Lord, we follow and rejoice.

With joyful lips we sing to You, our praise and gratitude,
That You should count us worthy Lord, to share this heavenly food.

Is not the cup we bless and share the blood of Christ outpoured?
Do not one cup, one loaf, declare our oneness in the Lord?

The mystery of Your presence Lord, no mortal tongue can tell;
Whom all the world cannot contain comes in our hearts to dwell.

You give yourself to us, O Lord, then selfless let us be,
to serve each other in Your name in truth and charity.

Day 61. Dollar 61. Good and Gracious God, in the busyness of our days help us to not turn away from our neighbors in need. Grant us courage to stand with them, lift our voice join with theirs, and let our actions reflect the example we have in your Son, Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Day 54: Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus

Text: George Duffield, Jr.
Click here to sing along with this hymn!

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;

Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.

From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,

Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey;

Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day. 

Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes; 

Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long;

This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song.

To those who vanquish evil a crown of life shall be;

They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.

Day 54. Dollar 54. "...Till every foe is vanquished..." may we stand up to hunger! Like the woman from yesterday's Gospel lesson, we need to stand up strong and sing that victor's song together!

Day 47: For All the Faithful Women

"For All the Faithful Women"

(ELW #419)

Text: Herman Stuempfle Jr.

Click here to listen to the hymn

We praise your name for Miriam, who sang triumphantly

While Pharaoh's vaunted army lay drowned beneath the sea.

As Israel marched to freedom, her chains of bondage gone,

So we may reach the kingdom your mighty arm has won.

To Hannah, praying childless, before the throne of grace,

You gave a son and called him to serve before your face.

Grant us her perseverance; Lord, teach us how to pray

And trust in your deliverance when darkness hides our way.

For Ruth, who left her homeland and ventured forth in faith,

Who pledged to serve and worship Naomi's God till death.

We praise you, God of Israel, and pray for hearts set free

To bind ourselves to others in love and loyalty.

We honor faithful Mary, fair maiden, full of grace.

She bore the Christ, our brother, who saved our human race.

May we, with her, surrender ourselves to your command

And lay upon your altar our gifts of heart and hand.

We sing of busy Martha, who toiled with pot and pan

While Mary sat in silence to hear the word again.

Christ, keep our hearts attentive to truth that you declare,

And strengthen us for service when work becomes our prayer.

Recall the outcast woman with whom our Lord conversed,

Christ gave her living water to quench her deepest thirst.

Like her, our hearts are yearning, Christ offers us his word,

Then may our lips be burning to witness to our Lord.

We praise the other Mary, who came at Easter dawn,

And near the tomb did tarry, but found her Lord was gone.

As joyfully she saw him in resurrection light,

May we by faith behold him, the day who ends all night.

Lord, hear our praise of Dorcas, who served the sick and poor.

Her hands were cups of kindness, her heart an open door.

Send us, O Christ, your body, where people cry in pain,

And touch them with compassion to make them whole again.

For Eunice and for Lois, we sing our thanks and praise.

Young Timothy they nurtured and led him in your ways.

Raise up in ev'ry household true teachers of your word

Whose lives will bear clear witness to Christ, our risen Lord.

Day 47. Dollar 47. We give thanks and praise for each faithful woman in our Hunger Relief Community - "For all the faithful women who served in days of old, to you shall thanks be given, to all their story told. They served with strength and gladness in tasks your wisdom gave. To you their lives bore witness, proclaimed your power to save."

Day 40: When Love is Found

"When Love Is Found"

With One Voice (WOV) #749

Text by Brian Wren

Click here to listen to the hymn

(found at the bottom of the link)

When love is found and hope comes home Sing and be glad that two are one. When love explodes and fills the sky Praise God and share our maker's joy. When love had flow'red in trust and care Build both each day that love may dare To reach beyond home's warmth and light To serve and strive for truth and right. When love is tried as loved ones change Hold still to hope though all seems strange 'Til ease returns and love grows wise Through listening ears and opened eyes. When love is torn and trust betrayed Pray strength to love 'til torments fade 'Til lovers keep no score of wrong But hear through pain love's Easter song. Praise God for love, Praise God for life In age or youth, in husband's wife. Lift up your hearts, let love be fed Through death and life, in broken bread. Day 40. Dollar 40. "Lift up our hearts, let love be fed. Through death and life, in broken bread. Praise God for love, Praise God for life." Praise God for the over 3,000 lbs of rice collected Sunday morning!

Day 33: Rich in Things, Poor in Soul

"God of Grace and God of Glory"

ELW #705

Click here to listen to the hymn

God of grace and God of glory,
On your people pour your power.
Crown your ancient church’s story,
Bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn the Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Cure your children’s warring madness,

Bend our pride to your control.

Shame our wanton selfish gladness,

Rich in things and poor in soul.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

Lest we miss your kingdom’s goal,

Lest we miss your kingdom’s goal.

Save us from weak resignation,

To the evils we deplore.

Let the gift of your salvation,

Be our glory evermore.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

Serving you whom we adore,

Serving you whom we adore.

Day 33. Dollar 33. Let us strive to be poor in things and rich in soul as we serve the God of grace and glory!

Day 26: We Are Called

"We Are Called"
Evangelical Lutheran Worship #720
Click here to listen to hymn

Today's photo: James, one of the 12 disciples
who lived out his baptismal call by
following and teaching about Jesus

We are called to act with justice,
We are called to love tenderly;
We are called to serve one another,
To walk humbly with God.

COME! Live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom,
To live in the freedom of the city of God!

COME! Open your heart!
Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called to be hope for the hopeless,
So hatred and blindness will be no more

SING! Sing a new song!
Sing of that great day when all will be one!
God will reign, and we'll walk with each other
As sisters and brothers united in love!

Day 26. Dollar 26. We are called to act with justice! We are called to open our hearts to those who lose hope! We are called to serve one another! Thank you, Hunger Community, for responding to the call!

Day 19: Jesu, Jesu

"Jesu, Jesu"
Evangelical Lutheran Worship #709
Click here to listen to the hymn

Jesu, Jesu,
Fill us with your love,
Show us how to serve
The neighbors we have from you.

Kneels at the feet of his friends,
Silently washes their feet,
Master who acts as a slave to them.

Neighbors are wealthy and poor,
Varied in color and race,
Neighbors are nearby and far away.

These are the ones we will serve,
These are the ones we will love
All these are neighbors to us and you.

Kneel at the feet of our friends,
Silently washing their feet,
This is the way we will live with you.

Day 19. Dollar 19.
Fill us with your love, show us how to serve
The neighbors we have from you.

Day 12: Plow and Scatter

"We Plow the Fields and Scatter"
Evangelical Lutheran Worship #681
Click here to listen to the hymn

We plow the fields, and scatter
The good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered
By God's almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine,
And soft refreshing rain.

Refrain:

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above,

Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord

For all his love.

You only are the Maker

Of all things near and far;

You paint the wayside flower,

You light the evening star;

The winds and waves obey you,

By You the birds are fed;

Much more to us, his children,

You give our daily bread. Refrain

We thank thee, then, O Father,

For all things bright and good,

The seed time and the harvest,

Our life, our health, and food;

No gifts have we to offer,

For all thy love imparts,

And, what thou most desirest,

Our humble, thankful hearts. Refrain

Day 12. Dollar 12.
Thank you for scattering seeds of hope to a hungry world!

Day 5: This is My Song

"This is My Song"

Evangelical Lutheran Worship #887

Hymn of the Day, 4th of July

Click here to listen to Hymn

This is my song, O God of all the nations.
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my song, the country where my heart is,
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine.
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,

And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine;

But other lands have sunlight, too, and clover,

And skies are everywhere as clear and blue as mine,

O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,

A song of peace, for their land and for mine.

This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth's kingdoms:

Thy kingdom come, on earth thy will be done,

Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,

And hearts united learn to live as one.

O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,

Myself I give thee: let thy will be done.

Day 5. Dollar 5.

---O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,

---Myself I give thee: let thy will be done.