Near To You:
In Your Mouth and In Your Heart

[ 3 voices ]

A

Word
[

B

Let those who have ears

C

do you have ears?

A

let them listen

B

Listen
[

A

And God said

B

God speaks
God speaks the Word

C

In the beginning was the Word

A

Word from the beginning

C

hovering over the depths
deep calling to deep

B

Word of all worlds

C

with God
in the world

A

through whom the world was made

C

the light of all people
shining in the darkness

A

the Word

C

full of grace and truth

B

given to us

C

full of grace and truth
[

B

Moses

A

who first heard God’s word at the burning bush
after many years of desert wandering

B

summoned all the Israelites and said to them

C

What is asked of you
is not too hard for you
or beyond your reach
Do not say in your hearts

A

The word is far away
too far away to reach
too long a journey

C

The Word is not in heaven
that you need say

A

Who will go up to Heaven for us
to get the Word
so that we may hear the Word
and observe it?
[

C

Do not say in your hearts

A

The Word is far away
Who will cross to the other side of the sea
Who will abandon safety and the shoreline

B

Who will descend into the abyss for us
to get the Word
so that we might hear the Word
and observe it ?
[

C

No

A

These are not the questions

C

No

B

Do not be deceived

C

For the Word is near you
in your heart and in your mouth

A

so near

B

it is already in your mouth
already in your heart

C

in your breath and in your blood

B

you cannot escape it
[

B

It pulses with your every heart-beat

A

so near

B

it moves with your every breath

C

so near

B

it vibrates with every word you speak

A

so near

B

it soars with every song you sing
[

C

You hear

A

because you were created in the Word
the Word of God

B

so near you

A

through whom all things are made

C

created in the Word

A

It cannot be taken from you

B

so near you
[

C

Yes

A

You need not search it out

B

It searches you
the light that enlightens all peoples

A

No planning
No long distance travel

C

The word is near you

B

so very near you
[

A

It is not what you see
It is not what you think
It is not what you feel

B

It is what you hear

A

Faith comes by hearing

C

ah yes

A

the Word of God in your mouth

C

ah yes

B

the Word of God in your heart

C

ah yes

A

and what is heard

B

comes through the Word

C

of Christ Romans 10.17
[

A

Do not be among those
who look and look and do not see

C

who listen and listen and do not hear
[

A

Catch the word as it flies by you

B

gentle breath

A

catch it as it rests upon your forehead

C

sweet slow whisper

A

catch it as it pounds upon your chest

B

heavy hammer

A

catch it as it cuts between

C

a two-edged sword

A

cuts between life and death
[

B

Listen for the Word

C

Listen to the Word

A

Listen in the Word

C

the Word so near you

B

And speak the words that gird your heart
that sound your soul

A

sweet deep echo

C

the Word so near you
[

A

Have you heard the Word
the Word of God?

C

this word

A

heard and unheard
vibrating out through all time

B

It is not beyond you in the heavens

C

nor lost in the depths

A

No

B

It is near you
so utterly near you

C

already in your mouth
already in your heart

A

in your breath and in your blood

B

You cannot escape it

C

It is your life
[

A

Word