[233]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - REMEMBER ME UNTIL I COME
This poem was written as a Communion meditation with the view of being a Communion hymn. It uses a Metre 12 in the four lines. I adapted this for another poem based on this one using a Metre 10 that can be sung to various tunes. At the end of this poem I will also put that one in.
There are many hymns that are suitable for the Communion service, yet I wanted to express my own appreciation of the Lord’s sacrifice for me.
In our small fellowship we remember the Lord weekly as I believe the custom was in Apostolic times. Jesus said to remember Him, and if our love is weak that we only want to remember Him monthly or quarterly, then I think something is wrong.
{{1 Corinthians 11:24-26 and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, “This is My body which is for you. DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME,” for as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death UNTIL HE COMES.}}
The Lord comes for His Church and as we remember His eternal sacrifice for us, we also look forward to the coming of the Lord, for when He comes, there will be no need for the Communion service, as we will be with Him face to face.
We are people of short memories and so we need to be constantly reminded of the foundation of our faith which is the cross of Jesus Christ who made full atonement. We really need to appreciate that, and meditation on the bread and the cup assists in that.
The Communion we keep goes under various names, and the one I like best is “The Lord’s Supper” but others are The Lord’s Table and The Remembrance Meeting, The Breaking of Bread, and there are others as well.
The Lord’s Supper came out of the Passover the Jews kept, and in the Passover the one great aspect that was remembered was the deliverance from Egypt. Likewise Christians remember the deliverance from “Egypt” because Egypt in scripture is a type is the world. Jesus delivered us from sin and the world by His death on the cross.
{{Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”}}. Dead to the world and alive in Christ.
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REMEMBER ME UNTIL I COME (Version 1. Twelves)
This bread upon the table, lies before us set,
A fit reminder of the body of the Lord.
It speaks of gratitude - for Jesus paid our debt.
He’s bidden us to eat it, all in pure accord.
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Around this loaf we gather, in His presence met,
To think of Him who bore our sins and faced death’s sword.
We take this bread and eat. His death we’ll not forget,
Remembering He’s risen, now the One adored.
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This cup joins with the bread, communion sweet they be -
Reminder this, of blood so freely shed for sin.
The Lamb of God is He, upon the cross we see,
Whose blood has cleansed the ones that God has brought within.
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New covenant through blood, the one so fully free,
We take the cup and drink in memory of Him.
My sins’ dark load was His - His blood my only plea.
Until He comes, we meet; let not this truth grow dim.
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Until He comes for us, this feast again we hold,
And thus declare the ground on which we simply meet.
Proclaim His death, and hear the Lamb’s great love retold,
Where Satan’s forces through His death, have met defeat.
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Then found in Him, we make this proclamation bold.
We sing His praise and worship the Redeemer sweet.
The eyes of faith would see His glories here unfold.
With joy, until He comes, this feast we will repeat.
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11 - 21 March, 1999 R E Ferguson 12-12-12-12 ABAB
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HERE IS THE ADAPTED POEM IN A 10 METRE
REMEMBER ME UNTIL I COME (Version 2. Tens)
The bread upon the table now is set,
Reminder of the body of the Lord.
In gratitude - for Jesus paid our debt -
He’s bidden us to eat in one accord.
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Around the loaf, and in His presence met,
We think of Him who faced death’s dreadful sword.
We take this bread. His death we’ll not forget,
For Christ is risen, now the One adored.
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This cup joins with the bread, and sweet they be -
Points to the blood so freely shed for sin.
The Lamb of God upon the cross we see,
Whose cleansing blood has brought us safe within.
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New covenant through blood, so fully free,
We take the cup in memory of Him.
For my sins’ load, His blood my only plea.
Until He comes, let not this truth grow dim.
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Until He comes, this feast again we hold,
And thus declare the ground on which we meet.
Proclaim His death - the Lamb’s great love retold,
Where Satan’s forces now lie in defeat.
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Then found in Him, we set this statement bold.
We feast in praise and worship Him so sweet.
The eyes of faith His glories do behold.
Until He comes, this feast we will repeat.
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21 March 1999 R E Ferguson 10-10-10-10
Christus Rex St Agnes Eventide/Monk “Abide With Me”
Cliff Town Morecambe Toulon (good one).