The Seventy

This poem, based on Luke 10:1-9 was written in collaboration with Camille Dungy.  Thanks be for her gifts!  We will use this as the reading which will be underscored by pairs of congregation members walking a symbolic discipleship journey around the sanctuary.   
 
The Lord appointed seventy
to go before him
to prepare the way,
to go into all the world
with nothing but open hearts.

The Lord appointed seventy
To go before him,
because of talents,
not treasure,
with nothing but open hearts

They were sent in pairs, the seventy,
two by two,
by two,
by two,
by two.

They were sent in pairs, the seventy.
They were sent out in thirty-five directions.
They were sent out in thirty-five directions
with nothing but open hearts
and the word of the Lord.

The Lord said to them, the seventy
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few”
And they looked puzzled,
the seventy,
with their open hearts, and their talents

The Lord said to them, the seventy
“There is so much to reap, but not enough reapers.”
And they looked confused,
The seventy,
and wondered if open hearts were enough.
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The Lord said to them, the seventy
“There are abundant blessings for all at the table of joy.”
And they got ready to go in thirty-five directions,
the seventy,
with their open hearts, the word of the Lord, and a desire to share joy.

Then the Lord told them, the seventy
“Go like lambs but watch out for wolves.”
And they looked troubled,
the seventy
with their open hearts, the word of the Lord, and a desire to share joy.

Then the Lord said to them, the seventy
“Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.”
And they looked doubtful,
the seventy
with their talents, not treasure and their worries.

So the Lord reminded them, the seventy.
They were chosen by the Lord.
They were to go into the world with nothing
but their open hearts, the word of the Lord, their talents, not treasure, their desire to share joy,
and faith.

Thanks be to God, the pairs went, the seventy,
into the world in all directions.
The seventy appointed by the Lord,
the seventy,
with their talents, not treasure.

Thanks be to God, the pairs went, the seventy
into every town and place where the Lord himself intended to go.
The seventy appointed by the Lord,
the seventy,
with nothing but open hearts and the word of the Lord.

So they went in pairs, the seventy,
two by two,
by two,
by two,
by two.

They went in pairs, the seventy.
They went out in thirty-five directions.
They went out in thirty-five directions
with nothing but open hearts
and the word of the Lord.

Yes they went in pairs, the seventy,
two by two,
by two,
by two,
by two.

In pairs, the seventy,
in thirty-five directions.
in thirty-five directions
with nothing but open hearts
and the word of the Lord.
and each other.