Anthem for Rally Day - Sunday September 7, 2008
related to "Do No Harm"
the first sermon in a series based on
Rueben P. Job’s “Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living”
for a pdf of the score (including revisions made at the September 4th rehearsal) CLICK HERE
for mp3 file of song, CLICK HERE
(sorry, it's a rather crude recording, but OK to practice with)
DO NO HARM
Music and lyrics by Nancy Rexford
Introduction (soloist)
There are three simple rules for the Wesleyan life
And the first is a tool that will minimize strife.
So when you have lurched into some disagreement
With veiled accusations and voices vehement
Go back to the sermon you heard in September,
For rule number one is the one to remember:Verse and refrain
“Do no harm” doesn’t escalate, accelerate the danger at hand.
“Do no harm” gives a little space, a little time, a safe place to stand,
So you can think what to do.
Do no harm – it isn’t complicated –
Do no harm while you wait for word from above
Do no harm – don’t underestimate it –
While you wait for the spirit, wait for the spirit, wait for the spirit of love.Set a guard on your tongue, don’t let the words fly out and hurt someone dear.
For the smirk that belittles and the word that they were not meant to hear
Can spread its damage through a family, or even through the whole community
– it isn’t complicated –
Do no harm while you wait for word from above.
Do no harm – don’t underestimate it –
While you wait for the spirit, wait for the spirit, wait for the spirit of love.Bridge (patter interlude)
Because we all deal with folks who are silly or surly,
Predictably late or self-righteously early,
With waiters who are rude and the relatives with grudges,
The people who are quick to volunteer to be our judges.
What really drives me crazy is when teenagers are lazy!
What I really find frustrating is when doctors keep me waiting!
And Republicans who lie to us and Democrats deny to us that—
Wait! Wait! Stop and think, use your brain
When somebody yanks your chain!Final verse and coda
You don’t know what the burdens are that weigh on someone else’s troubled heart—
They might be harder than you ever knew.
Could there be some word of comfort that the Holy Spirit’s trying, trying,
To send them through you?
Do no harm – it isn’t complicated –
Do no harm while you wait for word from above
Do no harm – don’t underestimate it –
While you wait for the spirit, wait for the spirit,
While you wait for the spirit of love, do no harm.
Copyright © 2008 by Nancy Rexford
