Poems (Jordan)/Word-Ministry
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WORD-MINISTRY
How oft it is, when people gather 'round
The board of social intercourse; among
The many viands which may there abound,
There is not one to really feed the throng!
The board of social intercourse; among
The many viands which may there abound,
There is not one to really feed the throng!
Some hungry life, hoping for e'en a crust
From—what should be! the blest Communion Bread,
Finds naught, in all the subjects there discussed,
To strengthen him against his gnawing need.
From—what should be! the blest Communion Bread,
Finds naught, in all the subjects there discussed,
To strengthen him against his gnawing need.
How oft there might, in kindly words encupped,
Be the refreshing wine of sympathy
For some care-fevered life, who long has hoped
For just this kind of human ministry.
Be the refreshing wine of sympathy
For some care-fevered life, who long has hoped
For just this kind of human ministry.
There should from ev'ry social contact be
A living influence, to reach away
To lives beyond our own word-ministry,
Through those with whom we have conversed today.
A living influence, to reach away
To lives beyond our own word-ministry,
Through those with whom we have conversed today.
Thus the feast's fragments, basketed within
The lives and memories of those full fed,
Were borne to those—about the board unseen—
Who feeding thereupon, are comforted.
The lives and memories of those full fed,
Were borne to those—about the board unseen—
Who feeding thereupon, are comforted.
Then let us bring the little we possess;—
The "seven loaves and the small fishes, two,"
To Him who will the humble off'ring bless
To help of all with whom we have to do!
The "seven loaves and the small fishes, two,"
To Him who will the humble off'ring bless
To help of all with whom we have to do!