Servants of Love
Hymn composed by
Carson CoomanContextual information
“Servants of Love” was commissioned from composer Carson Cooman and poet Kendyl Gibbons in 2022 to mark the conclusion of the ministry of the Rev. Erin Splaine as Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, MA.
“Servants of Love” was commissioned from composer Carson Cooman and poet Kendyl Gibbons in 2022 to mark the conclusion of the ministry of the Rev. Erin Splaine as Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, MA.
Tune Name
BARTLETT
Tune Name
Text Meter
8.7.8.7.7.7.7.6.
10.9.10.9
Song Composer
Carson CoomanHymn Arranger
Composer Background information
Carson Cooman (he/him) is an American composer with a catalog of hundreds of works in many forms—from solo instrumental pieces to operas, and from orchestral works to hymn tunes. Since 2006, he has been Composer in Residence for the Memorial Church of Harvard University. From 2007 through 2023, he served as organist for the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton, MA. In 2023, he was appointed Monastery Organist for the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge, MA.
Lyricist Background information
Until her retirement in 2025, Rev. Dr. Kendyl L. R. Gibbons (she/her) was Senior Minister of All Souls Unitarian Church in Kansas City, MO. Previously, she served as Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, MN. She has served as President of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association and Co-Dean of the Humanist Institute.
Arranger Background information
Lyrics
Call on the prophets before us; call on the wise ones of old;
Call on the ancestors’ chorus; call on those witnesses bold.
These in their lives were faithful, nobly they reasoned and strove—
Who were servants of justice, who were servants of love.
Labor in friendship and laughter; labor to reap and to sow;
Labor for worlds that come after; labor to learn and to grow.
True community building, promise of kinship to prove,
In the service of justice, in the service of love.
Light of the stars full of wonder; light of the chalice to guide;
Light of ideals now to ponder; light of the truth to abide.
Shine through our doubt and delusion, pour out a grace from above,
For the serving of justice, for the serving of love.
Bring us together in welcome; bring us together in care;
Bring us together in freedom; bring us together in prayer.
Make us a covenant people, vision and hope on the move;
Make us servants of justice, make us servants of love.
Resources
Music XML and MEI and MIDI and Musescore files