The Serpent
Two separate texts by Richard Leach - one portraying the Temptation in the Wilderness (Lenten), the other the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Advent). GREAT for a Lessons and Carols service (and suitably serpentitious.) SATB (with divisi) choir and organ.
Words by Richard Leach
Copyright Selah Publications, used by permission
Anthem for Advent
“What do you ssee?” the sserpent ssaid.
The woman answered “Death.”
“It is not death,” the sserpent ssaid,
“It surely is not death.”
“I see what God told us to see,”
The woman quickly said.
“Ssee what I ssay,” the sserpent ssaid.
“Ssee what I ssay,” it ssaid.
“What do we see?” they asked themselves,
The woman and the man;
When they had heeded twisted words,
All they could see was shame.
“God cannot see!” they told themselves,
And fled into the trees;
For God was near, yet God would call,
And God would surely see.
Yet shame and fear are not the end,
For Jesus Christ shall come,
to crush the serpent under fo,Ot,
to tear his kingdom down.
(Anthem for Lent)
Words by Richard Leach
Copyright Selah Publications, used by permission
“What do you ssee?” the sserpent ssaid.
The woman answered “Death.”
“It is not death,” the sserpent ssaid,
“It surely is not death.”
“I see what God told us to see,”
The woman quickly said.
“Ssee what I ssay,” the sserpent ssaid.
“Ssee what I ssay,” it ssaid.
“What do you ssee?” the tempter ssaid,
The Savior answered, “Stone.”
“Must it be sstone?” the tempter ssaid,
“It surely could be bread.”
“Let it be stone,” the Savior said,
“For life is more than bread.
See what the scripture says,” he said,
“See what the scripture says.”
We see what we are told to see
Whom shall we listen to?
Give us the grace, O God, to see
What we are told by you.