Hymn: Come Holy Spirit, Burning Bright
This is the second hymn that I have written and it is both similar and substantively different from my first.
The goal with this hymn was, again, to fix a perceived deficiency in the hymnal. We often joke about how the Holy Spirit is the red-headed stepchild of the Trinity: never being paid enough attention, always there but rarely acknowledged. The issue, of course, is our lack of understanding the third person of the Trinity. (Enter me.)
The structure of this hymn is more sweeping and comprehensive than it is episodic. I wanted to trace the Holy Spirit’s powerful presence in salvation history. After an opening invocation which sets the stage for the rest, I proceed through creation, the Exodus story, the temple with prophets/priests/kings, imagery from the Farewell Discourse, and Pentecost with a Trinitarian, soteriological doxology to close. In each stanza, the memory of the Spirit's work becomes a prayer for the Spirit to work among us now.
The idea of exegetical memory has really captivated me in recent months and this hymn is an expression of how one verse or passage triggers the memory of another. The seven stanzas draw upon the following passages: Genesis 1:1–3; Exodus 13:21–22; Exodus 14:21–22; Exodus 40:34–38; 1 Samuel 16:13; 1 Kings 8:10–11; Joel 2:28–29; Luke 1:35; John 14:16–17, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7–15; Acts 2:1–21; Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:16–25; Ephesians 2:18–22; Revelation 21:1–5. Additional scriptural allusions appear throughout.
I wrote this hymn with the intention that it could be used on Pentecost, at ordinations, during Celebrations of New Ministry, and any other setting that is more Holy Spirit-focused. Verses 1 and 7 should be sung in any setting, while verses 2–6 can be selected in part or in whole.
Each stanza turns that memory into present prayer through a short, changing refrain: “O come,” “O create,” “O lead,” “Descend,” “O fall,” “O stay,” and “O save.” Each stanza then resolves into the same refrain, “Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,” allowing the changing petitions of the hymn to return again and again to a common acclamation of praise.
As you may recall, I am a liturgical theologian who loves words … I am not a musician. Therefore, I set this hymn to a familiar tune: LASST UNS ERFREUEN. Hopefully this promotes congregational singing!
As ever, permission is granted for congregational use with attribution. If your parish sings this hymn, I’d love to know how it goes!
Come Holy Spirit, Burning Bright
Come Holy Spirit, burning bright
Let your fire fall as heav’nly light
O come now, Holy Spirit
Pour out yourself upon all flesh
Breathe in us your breath and refresh
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Brooding over the waters dark
Beating wings, the Creator’s spark
O Create now, Holy Spirit
Make light and glory manifest
Your shadow is where we find rest
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Pillar of cloud, you led in light
Tower of fire, you cleaved the night
O lead now, Holy Spirit
Push back the waters where you blow
Guiding your people where they go
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Anointing prophets, priests, and kings
A holy place with holy things
Descend now, Holy Spirit
Fill up the temple and empow’r
Love over-flows with gracious shower
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Advocate, Comforter, and guide
Your peaceful presence here abide
O stay now, Holy Spirit
Ignite our hearts with holy fire
Direct our love, align desire
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Rushing wind and tongues of fire
Indwell your church, your saints inspire
O fall now, Holy Spirit
Defend your preachers with the word
Proclaim the gospel of the Lord
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Our triune God redeeming all
From death’s dark shadow and the fall
O save now, Holy Spirit
Restored to Father by the Son
And Holy Spirit, three in one.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.