We Are the Song
© 2017 Bret Hesla
1. We are the song of a stream on the prairie.
We are the hymn of a sky filled with awe.
We are the chorus of wagons arriving
Seeking a life from the topsoil and sod.
Chorus:
Always give thanks; Always rejoice!
We have been sung by God’s beautiful voice.
In times of trial, in seasons of joy
We have been sung by God’s beautiful voice.
2. We are the song rising after tornados.
We are the chorus of great flocks of youth.
We are the hymn of a town full of music
Brimming with jobs that gave families a boost.
3. We are the song of a main street returning.
We are the chorus of mission come home.
We are the hymn in a language unheard of
Knocking with gifts at a welcoming door.
4. We are the song of the cross on this altar.
We are the chorus of prayers with a pint.
We are the hymn of injera and lefse
Mixing our flavors and blending our lives.
5. We are the song of inspiring leaders,
Some in the pulpit but most in the pews.
We are the chorus of friendship and service
Hanging the sheetrock and sharing the food.
Words and music by Bret Hesla.
Written on commission for St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Austin, MN, on their 150th Anniversary October 2017
© 2017 Bret Hesla. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Licensed via OneLicense.net, Contact: Bret.hesla@gmail.com.
I wrote a series of songs on commission for St.Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, MN, St. Olaf was founded in 1867 by Norwegian immigrants, meeting on the front porch of a small cabin on the prairie. Today the town is a vibrant, culturally diverse mix of people, and the church is discovering all sorts of new ways to be people of faith. St. Olaf is also my boyhood church and Austin my hometown, making this project extra meaningful for me.