Thine the Amen

I had the distinct privilege and honor of meeting Herbert Brokering in the fall of 2008 at Camp Arcadia on Lake Michigan for a worship forum led by Herb and Carl Schalk and Robert Rimbo.  Herb was energetic, witty and a true delight.  He approached hymn writing in a totally different way than I had ever thought of the craft and we had an opportunity to visit a few times at the forum in that lovely setting at Camp Arcadia.  He shared some of the tunes written by his late wife, Lois, one of which in particular, a tune written for Herb's text, EVERYTHING IS ONE, made a deep impression on me.  Probably my favorite text by Dr. Brokering is "Thine the Amen."  We sang it as our closing hymn this past All Saints' Day.  It is a "stream of consciousness" text with little punctuation.  Herb now sees his Savior face to face in the "wonder full surprise" of the eternal wedding banquet of the Lamb.  Thank you, Lord, for Herb!

Thine the amen

    Thine the praise

        alleluias

            angels raise

Thine the

    everlasting head

        Thine the breaking

            of the bread

Thine the glory

    Thine the story

        Thine the harvest

            then the cup

Thine the vineyard

    then the cup is

        lifted up

            lifted up.

Thine the life

    eternally

        Thine the promise

            let there be

Thine the vision

    Thine the tree

        all the earth

            on bended knee

Gone the nailing

    gone the railing

        gone the pleading

            gone the cry

Gone the sighing

    gone the dying

        what was loss

            lifted high.

Thine the truly

    Thine the yes

        Thine the table

            we the guest

Thine the mercy

    all from Thee

        Thine the glory

            yet to be

Then the ringing

    and the singing

        then the end

            of all the war

Thine the living

    Thine the loving

        evermore

            evermore.

Thine the kingdom

    Thine the prize

        Thine the wonder

            full surprise

Thine the banquet

    then the praise

        then the justice

            of Thy ways

Thine the glory

    Thine the story

        Then the welcome

            to the least

Then the wonder

    all increasing

        at Thy feast

            at Thy feast.

Thine the glory

    in the night

        no more dying

            only light

Thine the river

    Thine the tree

        Then the Lamb

            eternally

Then the holy

    holy holy

        celebration

            jubilee

Thine the splendor

    Thine the brightness

        only Thee

            only Thee.