poems – Songs of Hope

Palm Sunday poem

palms by fullerya on flickr 150x133 To mark Palm Sunday, 9Apr17, we broadcast on Songs of Hope a poem by Ellen Carr called “Those kids”. On palm Sunday, the Sunday before Good Friday, the children in Jerusalem were praising Jesus but the priests did not like it. The poem is from Ellen Carr’s book “Shoes Off, Feet Up: Poems of everyday life and faith”.

Press play to listen or download

This poem is based on a passage from Matthew chapter 21, verses 15 to 16

15 But the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses were angry when they saw his miracles and heard the children shouting praises to the Son of David. 16 The men said to Jesus, “Don’t you hear what those children are saying?”

“Yes, I do!” Jesus answered. “Don’t you know that the Scriptures say, ‘Children and infants will sing praises’?”

9 May 1614 May 17

Poem – Your Mother

Here is a new poem for Mothers Day. Its titled “Your Mother” and is written and recorded by Ellen Carr. This Sunday is Mothers Day in Australia.

Click the play button for the video. Play time is 1 minute 48sec. Right click download to download

7 May 164 June 16

Whats a mother? – poem

Ellen Carr recites her poem “Whats a mother?”. Not all mothers are the same, and this poem touches on that.

Click the play button for the audio. Play time is 2 minutes. Right click download to download. First broadcast on 10/5/15

Songs of Hope on tunein radio

22 June 1423 April 16

“Rap Psalm” (Bouncebackability)

Songs of Hope on 22 June featured a new poem by Ellen Carr in the spotlight segment. The topic was bouncebackability and the title of the poem “Rap Psalm”.

‘Bouncebackability‘ is a new word, recently added to the Oxford Dictionary. It is defined as ‘the capacity to recover quickly from a setback’. When things are tough we can, with God’s help, bounce back. God can definitely help us at these times. He can restore our hope and joy. However, there are also times when we need human help as well, in the form of counselling, pastoral help or medical help, as well as help from friends and family. God can use any or all of these too to help us bounce back.

Here is the audio-only version for your enjoyment

Click the play button for the audio or right click download to download. Play time is 2 minutes

Songs of Hope website: http://songsofhope883.com

16 September 1323 April 16

Poem podcast – ‘You’

Our Songs of Hope spotlight last Sunday 15 September was a poem by Ellen Carr. The title of the poem is “You” and is a poem in praise of God. Here it is as a podcast. Click the button to play the audio.

Here are the words for the poem You:

From the start of all time you laid out your plan,
your designs for the world, and for woman and man.
The earth was set out to circle the sun.
As you tilted its axis the seasons could run.

You measured out time into day, into night.
You portioned the darkness and rationed the light.
You ordered each sunrise and each close of day.
You made us for work and for rest and for play.

You programmed our bodies to grow and mature.
Your intricate blueprints are perfect and sure.
From the womb to the casket you measure our days,
you order our timing, you note all our ways.

The animal kingdom you planned to a tee.
Their instincts and habits were all meant to be.
The birds that migrate at the same time each year,
their nesting and breeding, the timing is clear.

The universe shows in its clockwork precision
the power of your word, your creative decision.
You’re the master of time, of free-will and of grace.
In eternity’s time-line we’ll meet face to face.

When time is eternal, when darkness is done,
in the light of your presence, forever has begun.
When the sun isn’t needed, the moon needn’t shine
all things are made new and eternity’s mine.

Songs of Hope website: http://songsofhope883.com