1 Holy Spirit, heaven's breath,
blow wherever now is death:
safe and sound, or lone and lost,
bring us life at Pentecost!

2 Wind that races from the sea
causing future things to be,
from our chaos make anew
minds to love and worship you.

3 Wind that blows through farm and field
tiny seed for mighty yield,
sow the word of life in us;
plant the tree they call the cross.

4 Wind that shreds the cloudy sky,
gale for making wet or dry,
move the guilty soul to tears,
then remove the mourner's fears.

5 Wind that fans into a flame
sparks of faith in Jesus' name.
come in judgement and in love;
burn in us till mountains move!

6 Praise the Spirit, earth and heaven,
praise to Jesus Christ be given:
praises sing from shore to shore
God our glory evermore!

ADDITIONAL VERSES
Coastal:
Wind that whips the grassy dunes,
gives the salty waves their tunes
make fresh music, rhythm, rhyme;
make your people move in time!
Town:
Wind that eddies through the town
gusting up the streets and down,
drive our dirt and dross away,
make us clean this holy day.
Countryside:
Wind that bends the shaking trees
bringing woodlands to their knees,
break our hearts, to mend again,
self to die, and love remain.
Music:
Wind that sounds through pipe and reed
treble, bass, in turn to lead;
harmonise your church's voice
that in truth we shall rejoice.
Bells:
Wind that shakes the steeple's bell,
echoes round the towers that tell
God has given his church a tongue;
let his changes here be rung!
Living creatures:
Wind that cattle must endure,
breeze where gulls and geese can soar;
breath by which creation sings,
make us rise on eagles' wings!

Christopher Idle
© Christopher Idle/Jubilate Hymns Ltd
7 7. 7 7
part of the podcast series: 30 Hymns: Christopher Idle with Lance & Sue Pierson
Permitted Variant: The original hymn for use in the Anglican Diocese of Saint Edmundsbury and Ipswich gives line 3 in verse 6 as 'Suffolk sings from fen to shore'.

 

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