God has been at work
Through the ages, 'round the world
At its best, tradition
Is the Spirit's voice, distilled
Let us bless and cherish
What our God has revealed
Let us honor these roots together

Chorus:
Step by step, side by side
We will walk together
Hand in hand, left and right
There is just one body
In our Lord Jesus Christ
We will live as one, together

I know I'm getting on in years
Not many mornings left to go
I don't take any day for granted
Each is a precious gift, I know

But when another falls to shadows
It's time to grieve with those they've known
This plague has made it even harder
We bear our sadness so alone!

Chorus:
For Paradise awaits
All who sleep in You
One day we all will wake
Remade and named anew
But now we mourn,
So give us, Lord,
A chance to laugh and cry
To gather with Your people
And simply say goodbye

So much has been taken from our people
Taken from our families and friends
So how can we believe in new beginnings,
When so much sweet comes to a bitter end?
We will find reminders of redemption,
We will speak and sing the sacred truth
That when the darkness on us has descended
The Light will rise again and lead us through

Refrain:
Rejoice! The Lord has done great things!
Rejoice! The Lord has done great things!
The good news is the hist'ry of the healing that He brings
Rejoice! The Lord has done great things.

Step by step and mile by mile
Bring each woman, man and child
To Your called community,
Singing, faithful, bold, and free

Refrain:
Love divine who for us longs
Make us one in morning song

Father, the time has come
To glorify Your Son,
So He can give glory back to You

For these sheep I plead,
And the ones they will lead to You;
Oh, fill them with joy and grace and truth

Chorus:
Oh, lead them to unity, join them to You and Me,
Healing, revealing, that all might believe
Help them to teach and pray, living out every day
All We have shown them, that all might believe

Now the family and friends have joined you here today
May the bonds that connect us be with us always
When you need to rejoice, may we double that joy
May we split up the burden when the time comes to cry

May you grow with the laughter, may you grow with the pain
And may praise and thanksgiving be your lifelong refrain
To the One Who has sent you all the ones that you love
A lifelong community all around from above

Like the wind as it tiptoes
In rows on the lake
Like the cycle of breathing,
Through the give and the take
May the Spirit of patience,
And kindness, and love
Be your Guide from within
And around and above