I Watch the Sunrise

Words © 1970 John Glynn
Music © 1970 Colin Murphy

I watch the sunrise
Lighting the sky
Casting its shadows near
and on this morning
Bright though it be
I feel those shadows near me
But you are always
Close to me
Following all my ways
May I be always
Close to you
Following all
Your ways Lord
I watch the sunlight
Shine through the clouds
Warming the earth below
And at the midday
Life seems to say
I feel your brightness
Near me
For you are always
Close to me
Following all me ways
May I be always
Close to you
Following all
Your ways Lord
I watch the sunset
Fading away
Lighting the clouds with sleet
And as the evening
Closes its eyes
I feel your presence near me

Yes you are always
Close to me
Following all my ways
May I be always
Close to you
Following all your ways Lord

LISTEN

Around the Sun

(By R.E.M.)

I want the sun to shine on me
I want the truth to set me free
I wish the followers would lead
With a voice so strong it could knock me to my knees

Hold on world ’cause you don’t know what’s coming
Hold on world ’cause I’m not jumping off
Hold onto this boy a little longer
Take another trip around the sun

If I jumped into the ocean to believe
If I climbed a mountain would I have to reach?
Do I even dare to speak? To dream? Believe?
Give me a voice so strong
I can question what I have seen

Hold on world ’cause you don’t know what’s coming
Hold on world ’cause I’m not jumping off
Hold onto this boy a little longer
Take another trip around the sun

Around the sun
Around the sun
Around the sun
Around the sun
Around the sun

Let my dreams set me free…
Believe…
Believe…

LISTEN

Shine Your Way

by Owl City & Yuna

“Shine Your Way”
(from “The Croods” soundtrack)

Just before the dawn,
When the light’s still gone,
Shine, shine your way,
And you may not know, where to go,
Shine, shine your way

Open road but it’s still dark,
Build a fire from a spark,
And shine, shine your way,
Feed the feeling in your heart,
Don’t conceal it then you’ll start,
To find, find your way

No one can stop, what has begun,
You must believe when I say

All of your tears will dry faster in the sun,
Starting today,
Shine, shine, shine,
Shine your way

There’s an open sky,
And a reason why,
You shine, shine your way,
There’s so much to learn,
And now it’s your turn,
To shine, shine your way

There’s a feeling deep inside,
You can let it be your guide,
To find, find your way,
And there’s no time for us to waste,
Got to take a leap of faith,
And fly, fly away

Don’t have to walk,
Now you can run,
Nothing can get in your way

All of your tears will dry faster in the sun,
Starting today,
Shine, shine, shine,
Shine your way

Morning is breaking,
Darkness is fading,
We found a way to the light,
It’s such a beautiful sight

Any time, anywhere,
Turn around and I’ll be there,
To shine, shine your way

Like a star burning bright,
Lighting up the darkest night,
I’ll shine, shine your way

Now I can see,
You are the one,
Sent here to show me the way

All of our tears will dry faster in the sun,
Starting today,
Shine, shine, shine,
We’re on our way,
Shine, shine, shine,
That’s what we say,
Shine, shine, shine,
Shine your way

There’s a reason why
You shine, shine your way

All of our tears will dry faster in the sun
Shine your way

NOTES:

Used in Midsummer service 2015

LISTEN

Turn Your Face to the Sun

by Maithri Goonetilleke
Found at http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/poetry.cgi?record=163

Beloved, There are days when nothing seems right.
When every shell you pick up on the winding shore is broken.
When the silken treasure slips through your fingers too quickly.
When comforts are empty. And the world is noise.

On those jagged edged days,
when the wind is screaming for a reason only she understands
and you find yourself all alone…
Turn your face to the sun.

There is goodness in the world,
that even the river of tears cannot erase.
There is love in the world,
that the numbed armies of fear can not destroy.

Sometimes that goodness is everywhere apparent.
It pours from the heart of every moment.
From the light of every smile.

On those soft days, love hides in the eaves
to drop like sweet honey on your forehead
and sings her lilting lullabies in the arms of the winds.

But on some days, Beloved. On days like today….
We need to look, to see.
So turn your face to the sun.
Even when she is nowhere to be seen.

Go inside yourself.
Find a speck, a splinter of beauty to be grateful for.
‘Yes’, the day has worn you.
And ‘Yes’ our mistakes have been so many.
But say ‘Thank you’ anyway.

Take account of all that is in your possession.
A mind. A heart. A body.
A life that breathes, even if for just one more day.

Now count the eyes that have smiled
at you on your wild journey,
the hands that have held you tenderly,
the ears that have listened,
the prayers that have been made on your behalf.
And whisper your ‘Thank you’ again.

Count the sky that has watched you grow with His painted eyes,
The heaving waves that find their echo in the tides of your breathing,
The little birds that have sung you their songs,
The stars which have been a lamp to your path,
and are your rightful inheritance.

Count unexpected laughter,
Count undeserved grace,
Count Passion and Love making
and Dreams yet to be born,
And bow your head and say ‘thank you’,

Now count the lives who still need your light,
The hungry, the sick, the helpless,
Count the children who will die today
and imagine if with the breath of your body
you could help just one.

Turn your face to the sun,
And know yourself as a child of the light.
You are the Goodness that cannot be extinguished,
The love that burns through the darkest night.

And perhaps, In turning
You will see what i have seen.
That this day where everything seemed wrong was not your curse,
It was your gift.

Your chance to find inside yourself a forgotten ‘thank you’,
To smile in the face of the grim suppressors,
To stand in the heart of the glowering darkness
and turn your face to the sun.

The Sun Is Gonna Rise

(Bill Miller)

There’s no reason
For fighting this way
There’s no rhyme in the
Words that we say

The sun is gonna rise
The sun is gonna rise again
The sun is gonna rise
The sun is gonna rise again

There’s no beauty
In thoughts that betray
There’s no peace
When your life’s gone astray

Good and evil
Fighting for your soul
We are children
Standing in the coldest night

Here Comes the Sun

(Beatles)

[Intro]
Here comes the sun (doo doo doo doo)
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right

[Verse 1]
Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right

[Verse 2]
Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right

[Bridge]
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Follow the Sun

(Xavier Rudd)

Follow, follow the sun
And which way the wind blows
When this day is done

Breathe, breathe in the air
Set your intentions
Dream with care
Tomorrow is a new day for everyone,
Brand new moon, brand new sun

So follow, follow the sun,
The direction of the bird,
The direction of love

Breathe, breathe in the air,
Cherish this moment,
Cherish this breath
Tomorrow is a new day for everyone,
Brand new moon, brand new sun

When you feel life coming down on you,
Like a heavy weight
When you feel this crazy society,
Adding to the strain
Take a stroll to the nearest waters
And remember your place
Many moons have risen and fallen long, long before you came

So which way is the wind blowin’,
And what does your heart say?

So follow, follow the sun,
And which way the wind blows
When this day is done

LISTEN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E1bNmyPWww

Calling All Directions

Song: Calling All Directions
Artist: Elaine Silver
Album: Faerie Goddess

When I look to the East, I see sunrise
When I look to the East, I see light
With a soft golden gift of the morning
I am breathing you in, now revive
Yes I’m breathing you in, now revive

Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh (4), Ahh Ahh (2) Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh (5)
Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh (4), Ahh Ahh (2) Ahh Ahh Ahh (3)
Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh (4), Ahh Ahh (2) Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh (5)
Ahh Ahh Ahh Ahh (4), Ahh Ahh (2) Ahh Ahh Ahh (3)

As I turn to the South, Fires burning
With the warm true acceptance of Love
I am open to grand expectations
As I’m sowing your seeds from above
And awaiting your light crystals of Love

(chorus)

Flying on to the West wings outstretched I am dressed
In a transparent garment of light
I’m absorbing your ultimate amber
As you slip past the line of my sight
And I see day is one with the night

(chorus)

In the darkness I search for the north star
to illuminate this sojourn of mine
My discoveries and self affirmations
make each moment more precious in time
as I proclaim thou art Goddess divine

(chorus)

The Goddess is in all of us
To demonstrate her power
Her elements sustain our lives
We honor Her this hour
Oh, yes. We honor Her this hour.

(chorus)

Listen:

New Flowers

New flowers, ancient powers,
ancestors speaking to me.
Like vines intertwining,
wisdom is leaking into me.

And we are wise and we are strong.
We are humble and we come from the sun.
Round and round we go.
The sun, radiant we glow.

And we’re rising to the occasion
to lift your very soul.
We’re rising to the occasion
to lift your very soul.

The air is a singer, the fire is a song,
as sure as this earth I’m standing on.
The air is a singer, the fire is a song,
as sure as this earth I’m standing on.

We Are Awake

(Reclaiming Collective)

We are awake in the night.
We turn the wheel to bring the light.
We draw the sun
from the womb of the night.