A Poem of Faith – Unison version and version for choral reading

We look to experience the unknowable Power,
The Power behind the world of knowable things,
The Power behind all becoming.
We call this Power “God,”The Creator, the Provider,
The Father, the Mother.

We desire to know that Truth,
The Truth behind Nature
And the moral understanding
Planted deep within the human heart.
We call this Truth
The “Word of God,” the Christ,
Jesus the human incarnation of God,
Our Brother, our Sister,
The Wisdom Teacher, the Way
Of compassion, justice, forgiveness and peace.

We seek the Source,
The giver of life, of understanding,
Of strength in virtue.
We call this Source the “Spirit of God,”
The Breath of God,
The Wind and Fire,
The Spirit of Imagination.

As in a vision now we see
The Power, the Truth, the Source
In one unending dance,
“Three in One, One in Three,”
One God of Abundance, Wisdom, Compassion.

Our human hearts are made to yearn
For relationship with God.
We embrace this yearning, and call it “Faith.”
And our faith is this,
The Good News for two thousand years:

“God is Love,
And those who abide in Love
Abide in God,
And God in them.”

A Poem of Faith

Women or those seated on the pulpit side:

We look to experience the unknowable Power,
The Power behind the world of knowable things,
The Power behind all becoming.
We call this Power “God,”
The Creator, the Provider,
The Father, the Mother.

Men or those seated on the lectern side:

We desire to know that Truth,
The Truth behind Nature
And the moral understanding
Planted deep within the human heart.
We call this Truth
The “Word of God,” the Christ,
Jesus the human incarnation of God,
Our Brother, our Sister,
The Wisdom Teacher, the Way
Of compassion, justice, forgiveness and peace.

Choir or all:

We seek the Source,
The giver of life, of understanding,
Of strength in virtue.
We call this Source the “Spirit of God,”
The Breath of God,
The Wind and Fire,
The Spirit of Imagination.

Celebrant:

As in a vision now we see
The Power, the Truth, the Source
In one unending dance,
“Three in One, One in Three,”
One God of Abundance, Wisdom, Compassion.

All:

Our human hearts are made to yearn
For relationship with God.
We embrace this yearning, and call it “Faith.”
And our faith is this,
The Good News for two thousand years:

“God is Love,
And those who abide in Love
Abide in God,
And God in them.”

John Schimminger

St. John’s-Grace Episcopal Church, Buffalo, New York