For The Good Of Us All

In a byre near Bethlehem ,
Passed by many a wand’ring stranger,
The most precious Word of Life
Was heard gurgling in a manger,
For the good of us all.

And He’s here when we call Him,
            Bringing health, love and laughter
            To life now and ever after,
            For the good of us all.

By the Galilean Lake
Where the people flocked for teaching,
The most precious Word of Life
Fed their mouths as well as preaching,
For the good of us all. And He’s here.....

Quiet was Gethsemane,
Camouflaging priest and soldier;
The most precious Word of Life
Took the world’s weight on his shoulder,
For the good of us all. And He’s here.....

On the hill of Calvary -
Place to end all hope of living -
The most precious Word of Life
Breathed his last and died forgiving,
For the good of us all. And He’s here.....

In a garden, just at dawn,
Near the grave of human violence,
The most precious Word of Life
Cleared his throat and ended silence,
For the good of us all.

And He’s here when we call Him,
            Bringing health, love and laughter
            To life now and ever after,
            For the good of us all.

[this carol, by John Bell of the Iona Community, is set to the lovely old folk tune "Wild Mountain Thyme" - we sung it on Sunday night, and I thought it was excellent]