God Has Given Us Each Other
© 2019 Bret Hesla
1. God has given us,
given us each other
and reaches through our arms
as we enfold, through days of sorrow,
those of us who are hurting.
2. God has given us,
given us each other
and reaches through our arms.
In times of shock,
when we are reeling,
we have held to each other.
3. God has given us,
given us each other
and reaches through our arms.
When suff’ring speaks,
we feel the breaking.
Then we join in the lifting.
Words and music by Bret Hesla.
Written on commission for Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Minneapolis.
© 2019 Bret Hesla. All rights reserved. Use with permission, please.
Licensed via OneLicense.net, Contact: Bret.hesla@gmail.com.
Recording:
Piano: Tom Witt; Harmonica: Bret Hesla;
Vocals: Martha Schwen-Bardwell (lead), Cathy Pino, Rebekah Moir, Nate Crary, Paul Andress, Ray Makeever, Chris Tripolino, Bret Hesla
Notes: God Has Given Us Each Other
This song is one of a commission series for my home congregation, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Each Sunday morning, the service ends with open time for announcements. Often someone will come forward to share a pretty difficult personal story, some hardship or sorrow they’re going through, or even a confession of some sort. Along with a request for support, and prayers. The silence in the room at these times is itself quite powerful.
As I gathered song ideas and insights from members of the community, it was clear that this type of vulnerability and sharing, and the responses of support and embrace from fellow members, are an important feature of this congregation, and a source of its strength.