Contemporary Hymn: Where Is Bread?

Suggested tune: ABBOT’S LEIGH http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRA3edFjXA4

 8.7.8.7 D (“God Is Here!”)

“Where is bread?” the great crowd murmured--
Thousands strong, yet all in need.
“Where is bread?” your people wondered,
Faced with such a crowd to feed.
Who, Lord Jesus, could have guessed it?
One small boy brought food to share.
Taking what he gave, you blessed it;
All were fed, with much to spare.

Where is bread?  We know their yearning;
Every day, we wish for more.
God, in time, we’re slowly learning:
All we own can make us poor.
Our possessions can possess us,
Leaving hunger deep inside.
Christ our Bread, come now and bless us;
At your feast, we’re satisfied.

“Where is bread?” the call is rising;
Millions cry who must be fed.
God, your answer seems surprising:
“You, my Church, you give them bread.”
Bread to fill each hungry spirit,
Bread for hungry stomachs, too!
Give us bread and help us share it.
Richly blest, may we serve you.
 

Scripture text:  John 6:1-15, Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17
Text: Copyright © 2000 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.  All rights reserved
bcgillette@comcast.net  www.carolynshymns.com

Tune:  Cyril Vincent Taylor, 1941.
Permission for free local church use is given to congregations that support the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.

Other tune suggestions:

IN BABILONE http://www.hymnary.org/tune/in_babilone

BEACH SPRING http://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Snippet/S-LordWhoseLove-BeachSpring-PipeLC-48-CAM.mp3

HYFRYDOL http://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Snippet/S-LoveDivine-Hyfrydol-SPiano-48-CAM.mp3

GAELIC http://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Snippet/S-JesusCallsUsHereToMeet-PipeLC-48-CAM.mp3

O DU LIEBER MEINER LIEBE http://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Snippet/S-JesusRefuge-ODuLiebe-PipeLC-48-CAM.mp3

HYMN TO JOY  http://www.smallchurchmusic.com/Snippet-2010/S-JoyfulJoyful-OdeToJoy-SBand-48-CAM.mp3

This hymn is in Songs of Grace:  New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Discipleship Resources – Upper Room Books, 2009). Carolyn is also the author of Gifts of Love:  New Hymns for Today’s Worship (Geneva Press, 2000) and co-pastor of the Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware.  bcgillette@comcast.net

This hymn text, formatted together with the music, can be found in Christian Reflection, http://www3.baylor.edu/christianethics/FoodandHungerhymnGillette.pdf  the journal of the Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University:  

Click here for a pdf version