Come and Make the People Whole
© 2017 Bret Hesla.
Ch:
Whole. Come and make the people whole.
Come and make the people whole.
Come and make the people whole.
Heal now the twisted values that abandon
the fam’lies needing help to be whole.
Come and make the people whole.
Heal now the broken laws that favor rich folks,
and block the rising of the poor folks.
Come and make the people whole.
Heal now the deep infection of white priv’ledge,
the wound that festers in the incrowd.
Come and make the people whole.
Heal now the fear that keeps us all from seeing
that we are all a single body.
Come and make the people whole.
Help us to find a room for every person
To find a home for every people
Come and make the people whole.
Words and music by Bret Hesla.
© 2017 Bret Hesla. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Licensed via OneLicense.net, Contact: Bret.hesla@gmail.com.
Minnesota organizer Grant Stevenson once pointed out that all our various efforts for justice, for anti-racism, for immigrant welcome, for earth healing, for shared abundance – can be summed up in a single prayer, “Come and make the people whole.” That idea forms the core of this song, with his permission.
Usage: “This is our opening song every time we use our earth-friendly liturgy. It sets the stage for the rest of the service. It can be thought of as a confession.” Paul Andress, music leader at Edina Community Lutheran Church.
Collection: This song is part of a 2017 collection, Singing Prayers for the Earth, that I did in collaboration with Richard Bruxvoort Colligan.