Gabriel and Maria

The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
surprising her by calling out her name:
‘Fear not,’ he said, ‘for God has seen and favours you,
You’re chosen for a blessing, Maria.

‘You will become a mother, Mary,
by Holy Spirit, with a child holy;
he is the one earth’s waiting for – the child of God,
O chosen for a blessing, Maria.’

‘But Gabriel how can this be, my friend?’
‘With God no thing’s impossible,’ he said.
‘Then let it be as you have said, I sing God’s praise.’
O, chosen for a blessing: Maria.

And so in Bethlehem she bore her boy
beneath a star as angels sang for joy:
Immanuel, our God with us, through Mary.
O chosen for a blessing, Maria.

words (c) Sarah Agnew 2019
music ‘Gabriel’s song’ Basque tune

Lead, kindly light

Lead, kindly Light, the path ahead unknown;
Light, lead me on.
I know the Way may take me far from home:
Light, lead me on.
Within this body welcomed to my place,
so to my kin I offer my embrace.

Lead, kindly Light, into the Way divine,
lead on with Love.
God interrupts, Christ bids me give my life,
led on by Love;
God meet me gently, e’en in solitude:
for love’s no more confined now I’m with you.

Longing with branches – wattle, eucalypt –
Light, lead us on;
this life of faith with gratitude enriched,
Light, lead us on:
within this body, each we take our place,
with all creation sing to God our praise.

words (c) Sarah Agnew (2019) 

Sing to tune Sandon (TiS 582) 

Composed for the occasion of the closure of ministry of 

Rev Dr Ockert Meyer at Canberra Central Parish, December 2019 

Beautiful promise

An Advent / Christmas carol

Hold on now,
good earth, all creation;
hold on now,
it won’t be long.
God has heard
and will not abandon:
gather ‘round,
for hope is coming.
Ah! Ah!
Beautiful is the promise
Ah! Ah!
Beautiful is the peace.

Wake up now,
you people, get ready!
Wake up now,
the prophets have seen!
Listen to the Spirit,
she’s stirring,
calling out,
‘Make haste, and follow!’
Ah! Ah!
Challenging is the promise.
Ah! Ah!
Challenging is the peace.

Christ will come,
be born here among us,
when we tell
the story again.
Angels came in dreams
to whisper,
angels sang in
dazzling chorus:
Ah! Ah!
Beautiful is the promise!
Ah! Ah!
Beautiful is the peace.

words: Sarah Agnew (c) 2019
music: ‘Bring the torch, Jeanette, Isabella’ – Traditional French Carol
recording: Calvary Rochester, Minnesota, 1 December 2019. Music Director Brian Williams. 

Inspiring Love

a reimagining of Charles Wesley's hymn 

[tune: ‘Love divine, all loves excelling’ - HYFRYDOL, could also sing to Blaenwern] 

Love divine, all love inspiring,
joy of heav’n on earth is known;
you, the heart of all that’s living,
you, the breath, the mind, the soul.
All creation sings your praises,
plains and mountains, sea and sky;
we will join the sacred chorus,
we will sing your love through time.

Jesus come to dwell among us,
Holy love personified.
Wisdom of the broad wide cosmos,
timeless star dust in your eyes.
With your touch you healed and welcomed,
with your words you showed us your way;
now we follow your path of justice,
spread your peace more day by day.

Breath of Life, breathe ever hopeful,
liberate from tyranny.
Blow, wind, blow, and carry onward
humans into unity.
Help us weave our threads together,
vibrant, strong, community;
we are one, one body in Spirit;
found in wonder, love, are we.


Sarah Agnew
(in loving memory of my Dad)

Open invitation: now, abundant life!

An easter hymn

words: Sarah Agnew © 2019 

(adapted from Edmond Luis Budry tr Richard Birch Hoyle)
music: Maccabaeus adapted from GF Handel (Together in Song 380)

Yours be the glory, risen dauntless Love:
open the invitation, now: abundant life.
Angels again were with you, rolled the stone away,
you, set free from death to show us all the Way.

Yours be the glory, risen dauntless Love:
open the invitation, now: abundant life!

See there the women, faithful in loving care,
open to invitation, mystery and awe they shared.
Peter again ran headlong, rushed to see the grave,
all the beloved disciples saw and were amazed!

Yours be the glory, risen dauntless Love:
open the invitation, now: abundant life!

Glorious creation, shout and sing: rejoice!
God is recreating, calling out with joy;
former things shall not bring weeping and distress,
for the invitation reaches out to bless!

Yours be the glory, risen dauntless Love:
open the invitation, now: abundant life!

Here, now, we praise you, Wisdom and Word of God,
come to live among us, teach and show us Love.
Let your church with gladness, sing our Maker’s song,
open to invitation, in the Spirit, one.

Yours be the glory, risen dauntless Love:
open the invitation, now: abundant life!

A story of justice, peace and joy

God give you comfort, gentle folk,
disturb you on the Way;
remember Jesus, child of Love,
was born on Christmas day
to save us all from tyranny,
for we have gone astray.

O, story of justice, peace and joy, peace and joy.
O, story of justice, peace and joy.

From Spirit, Wisdom, Creator,
the blessed angels came,
revealing to the shepherds:
the world has changed today!
A child is born, to Mary,
the Son of God, by name.

O, story of justice, peace and joy, peace and joy.
O, story of justice, peace and joy.

Now to our God sing praises,
all you within this place,
and with true loving kindness
each other do embrace;
thus Christ is born, and born again -
we need his light to blaze.

O, story of justice, peace and joy, peace and joy.
O, story of justice, peace and joy.

'A story of justice, peace and joy.'
Words: (c) Sarah Agnew 2018.
Tune: God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

Come, now, long-expected Jesus

a hymn for Advent and Christmas 

Come, now, long-expected Jesus,
born to set creation free;
from our deepest fears release us,
into love and liberty.

You our rest and consolation,
hope and light for all, you bring;
peace between us and our nations,
joy for every heart to sing.

Born so unexpected, Jesus,
not a king we’d recognise:
yours a realm of peace and justice,
welcome for the smallest lives.

With Creator, and with Spirit,
unify our diverse hearts;
grace and love we do inherit,
one within your Holy Heart.

Words: Sarah Agnew
Tune: Stuttgart
(a reimagining of Charles Wesley's 'Come, thou long-expected Jesus')