Hannah C Brown

hymn writer

  • How Can We Know You, Christ?

    Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash

    Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?”.  Disciples, crowds and rulers puzzle over this question. Each of us who follows Jesus works towards our own sense of understanding and relationship. What is Jesus’ nature, purpose, and power?

    This text owes a debt to Sylvia Dunstan’s iconic “You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd,” perhaps my favorite hymn. I bring humbler aspirations, focusing on our personal experience of the paradoxical mystery of Christ. 

    This text is designed to be used with SURSUM CORDA (Smith).

    How can we know you, Christ, both earth and sky,
    here and hereafter, human and divine?
    Begotten by a love so great and wide
    you pull in close to put your hand in mine.

    How can we know you, Christ, both word and way,
    so long awaited, swift to stir and wake?
    Disrupting powers, practices, and faith
    you offer peace to mend and breath to take.

    How can we know you Christ, both yoke and gift, 
    struggle to serve and grace we can’t resist?
    Confounding death to bridge the great abyss
    you rise with joy to live within our midst. 

    Teach us to know you Christ, both host and bread,
    question and answer, pilgrimage and end.
    Confusing wisdom, you give hope instead,
    your presence all we need to comprehend.

    Text by Hannah C. Brown (c) 2023 GIA Publications, Inc.

    This text can be reproduced for worship using One License.

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  • I Come to You

    Image from freebibleimages.org

    Jesus’ ministry begins as he offers invitations to fisher folk on the seashore. As his ministry continues, so do his invitations, often given to the most unlikely people. How do we receive his call, here and now, and how do we respond?

    This text is designed for the tune WAYFARING STRANGER.

    I come to you, the lost and scattered,
    I come to you, the smug and strong,
    I come to you, the souls ungathered,
    Now come to me, learn you belong.

    Refrain:
    Leave all you’ve done, I am forgiving, 
    Leave all you’ve known to come and see
    Leave all you’ve owned, you’re just beginning
    Leave all you’ve been and follow me.

    I come to you, the disregarded,
    I come to you, the scarred and shamed,
    I come to you, the broken-hearted,
    Now come to me and be reclaimed. Refrain

    I come to you, the false and failing,
    I come to you, the wild and worn,
    I come to you, the wronged and railing,
    Now come to me, and be reborn. Refrain

    Text by Hannah C. Brown (c) 2023 GIA Publications, Inc.

    The text can be reproduced for worship using One License.

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  • Across the Sea

    Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

    This text began when someone mentioned having a hard time finding a hymn for Matthew 14:22-33, in which Simon Peter attempts to walk on water. I was struck by how many of the scenes with Jesus on or by the water speak to the longing and uncertainty of the disciples as they find their way in faith. The push and pull of the tune O WALY WALY, which I first encountered as “The Water is Wide,” felt like the perfect pairing for both the emotional experience of the disciples and the movement of the waves.

    Across the sea you stand alone,
    far from this boat where winds have blown.
    What pow’r could span a rift so wide?
    “Take heart my friends, I’m by your side.”

    On swell and sand you teach the crowd
    with words to heal both poor and proud.
    Where is our hope and daily bread?
    “Cast in the deep and you’ll be fed.”

    At rest at last, you’re sleeping sound
    when fears arise and storms surround.
    Why don’t you wake to soothe and save?
    “Peace! Now be still, both gust and wave.”

    Along the shore you called my name 
    and strangely moved by grace I came.
    How can I serve? Who shall I be?
    “Come follow me on land and sea.”

    Text by Hannah C. Brown (c) 2023 GIA Publications, Inc.

    This text can be reproduced for worship using One License.

    The scripture references include: Jesus walks on water (Mt 14:22-33, Mk 6:45-53, Jn 6:15-21), Miraculous catch of fish (Lk 5:1-11, Jn 21:1-14), Jesus stills the storm (Mt 8:23-27, Mk 4:35-41, Lk 8:22-25), Jesus calls the disciples (Mt 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Jn 1:35-42).

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  • A New Song Sounded in the Night

    Bells at the church of Santo Stefano in Assisi, Italy. Bells around this city ring throughout the day as pilgrims come and go and the message of the gospel continues to be shared.

    The original text for THE LINDEN TREE CAROL describes the angel Gabriel bringing news to Mary of Nazareth and then carrying her response back to a company of angels. In this new text, good news takes a journey from angels to shepherds and then out into the world. This familiar story from the gospel of Luke is complemented by imagery from Psalms 96 and 98, often read during Christmastide. Thanks to the Rev. Angela Menke Ballou who shared the idea of the Christmas message sounding like a bell that still rings in our hearts.  

    One performance possibility is to “pass” the tune between different groups in the congregation.

    You can find the hymn on GIA Unbound here and reproduce it for congregational use with One License.

  • Hark How the Heralds

    Photo by Leon Kohle on Unsplash

    This text celebrates all the messengers of Advent. It could be used as a Call to Worship or Candle Lighting song during the weeks of Advent and Christmas, with one or more stanzas used each week. It was inspired by the Advent series “Hark! Heralding of our Faith” developed by the liturgical community “This is The Day.”  I suggest pairing this text with the tune TRURO.

    Hark how the heralds now proclaim
    with hope and warning words aflame
    to rouse all slumb’ring souls from sleep:
    “God-with-us comes to those who weep.”

    Hark how the prophets’ words return,
    their ancient promises discern
    in one who calls for peace today:
    “Our God draws near, prepare a way.”

    Hark how the joyful news arrives
    to bud and blossom in our lives
    as bold and faithful, Mary cries:
    “In me God’s justice magnifies.”

    Hark how the angels thrill and throng
    with messages to make us strong:
    “Fear not, for love is come to birth;
    behold, good news for all the earth.”

    Hark how the crowds begin to sing!
    The humble shepherds’ praises ring
    as rev’rent magi join the cheer:
    “Come worship God who joins us here!”

    Text by Hannah C. Brown, (c) 2023, GIA Publications, Inc.

    This text may be reproduced for worship using One License.

  • Praise God Who Lives within You

    Statue of the Visitation at Church of the Visitation in Ein Karem, Israel Photographed Deror avi

    One of my favorite moments in scripture is when Mary of Nazareth rushes to her kinswoman Elizabeth and the two of them witness and affirm for one another the marvelous things that God is doing in their lives. I was startled to realize how few hymn texts there are to mark this momentous event. This text is written to represent the voice of Elizabeth, and all of us, as we witness the presence and power of God in Mary, in one another, and in the world around us.  

    You can find the hymn on GIA Unbound here.

    This text is set to the tune HAF TRONES LAMPA FÄRDIG and can also be used with LANCASHIRE or ST. THEODULPH. All three of these tunes are associated with a much older Advent text, “Ermuntert euch, ihr Frommen” by Laurentius Laurenti, translated into English by S.L. Findlater as “Rejoice, Rejoice Believers.”

    This text can be reproduced for worship using One License.

  • God, Be With Your Weary People

    Photo by Mahmud Ahsan on Unsplash

    Every year during Advent, we are invited to anticipate Jesus’ arrival among us with joy. This text uses imagery found in Advent scriptures, asking God to come meet our urgent needs and help awaken our hope.

    View this hymn on GIA Unbound. The text is set to the familiar tune HYFRYDOL and also to Sally Ann Morris’ beautiful tune TREASURED.

    You can reproduce this hymn for worship using One License.

  • Give Me A Name

    Photo by Samara Doole on Unsplash

    Our names carry many layers of meaning. Sometimes we need a new name—literal or symbolic—to remember or share who we really are. This text is for the many moments when we may feel the need to be renamed or reclaimed: at baptism, after a gender transition, following divorce, or beyond. Whoever we are, and whatever has changed, we are always God’s beloved children.

    I wrote this new text to be used with the tune WOODWORTH which for many has the association of the text “Just as I am.”

    Find a preview of the text and music for this hymn here. This piece can be reproduced for worship using One License.

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  • Jesus, Faithful Ancient Tree

    Photo by niko photos on Unsplash

    A few years ago I preached an Easter sermon on fungus: the amazing underground networks that connect trees so that a whole forest can operate as one organism. The hub of that forest organism is sometimes called a mother tree, an elder that shares memory and resources with others. Research on this phenomenon has been done by the ecologist Suzanne Simard, among others.  Simard describes how trees that are dying in this network offer their nutrients to those around them. This sounded surprisingly similar to what Jesus did through his death and resurrection.

    Our scriptures are full of shoots, branches, and vines, many of them describing God. How might it challenge or inspire our faith to focus on these images? How might it change our value for creation?

    I’m grateful to Ben Brody for composing a beautiful tune for this text. You can find the piece at GIA Unbound and reproduce it for worship with One License. Listen to Ben sing it here:

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  • As We Are, We Are Yours

    Photo by Katie Rainbow 🏳️‍🌈 on Unsplash

    Faith calls us to be transformed, and to transform the world around us. But too often, churches and societies have mistaken what it is that needs to be changed. This text invites us to celebrate the joyful affirmation of God as the starting point of our personal and collective transformation. God accepts us as we are, in our diversity, with a special love and concern for those who are marginalized.

    I have followed Mark Miller’s work for years. It was such a thrill that he was interested in working with this text, and I love what he created. I hope that this song will bless many communities seeking to live out acceptance and inclusion.

    You can find the music and text on GIA Unbound and duplicate it for worship with One License. Here’s Mark and collaborator Julian Wamble singing it!

    In October 2023, The First Congregational UCC Church of Boulder sang this for their Open and Affirming Anniversary. You can view their recording here.

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