An Adventure Hymn

Very early in my hymn-writing career, the church I served as minister had a holiday club for local children, and the theme was around travel. Each day had its own theme – 5 in all – and they were:

Holidays

Space

Hot places

Treasure Islands

Transport

The week, as is usual, ended with a Sunday service in the church and I was asked to bring together the themes in a celebration. This hymn was part the result.

It was not included in my published collections because it’s a bit specific, but anyone who feels they can weave something around it is welcome to use it – just acknowledge authorship and copyright, and please don’t make unauthorised changes. That’s not because I don’t think it can be improved, but just that if words are being attributed to me I prefer them to be my own!

People on a journey

Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic

We are people on a journey moving forward every day,

with our friendship growing closer in our work and in our play,

and we learn about each other and ourselves along the way;

God’s people journey on.

Glory, glory, alleluia!

Glory, glory, alleluia!

Glory, glory, alleluia!

God’s people journey on.

(Holidays)

There’ll be sights to see and things to do and time for having fun,

there’ll be time to stand and stare with nothing pressing to be done,

and we’ll organise the journey so there’s room for everyone,

as we keep moving on.

Glory, glory, alleluia!

(Space)

Now, we don’t know every detail that the future has in store,

but we’re quite prepared ‘to boldly go where no one’s gone before’,

we believe that God is there for us and who can ask for more?

That’s why we journey on.

Glory, glory, alleluia!

(Hot places)

We may find ourselves in Timbuktu or sailing up the Nile,

facing sun-stroke or mosquitoes or the fearsome crocodile,

but the people and the scenery will make it all worthwhile,

so we’ll keep moving on.

Glory, glory, alleluia!

(Treasure Islands)

There are moments when we dream about how lovely it would be

to be idle on an island in the Caribbean Sea,

but our treasure is the love that God has given us for free,

so we shall journey on.

Glory, glory, alleluia!

(Transport)

There are some who travel gently, there are some who must compete,

using bikes and cars and aeroplanes while others use their feet,

but we’ll end up all together when the journey is complete,

so let us journey on.

Glory, glory, alleluia!

So we journey on together with our God, who will not rest

‘til the sick are healed, the hungry fed, and everyone is blessed,

and as long as there is anyone exploited or oppressed

the journey must go on!

Michael Forster

© Michael Forster