Poquonnock Bridge Baptist Church

To My Beloved PBBC Community

“Wonderful Words of Life”
(Text and Music by Philip P. Bliss)

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life
Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life

Christ, the blessed One gives to all wonderful words of life
Sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life
All so freely given, wooing us to Heaven
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life

Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life

Our words have become important these days. When we can’t see each other face to face, and person to person, the words we use carry more weight than ever before…our spoken words and written words, words we post, words we pray, words we whisper and words we shout, preached words, lived words. As the pandemic wears on and our patience wears thin, as national division grows and global fears increase, we are quick to use harsh words, hurtful words, hateful words.

As our words take on more significance than ever before, the world needs more carefully chosen words…words of truth and forgiveness, words of hope and healing, words of compassion and understanding, words of justice, unity, reconciliation. We need to hear good words more often, words that challenge us as well as comfort us. In a poem by David Whyte called, “Loaves and Fishes,” we find these words: “People are hungry and one good word is bread for a thousand.”

May we echo the gospel call…to say a good word to someone today; ours may be the only good word they hear. May we make the effort to be that one good word for someone this week; we may be the single wonderful word they most need right now. May we offer pardon and peace whenever we can, that our own words might bring life, share love, and feed thousands.

In the name of the One whose words have the power to change the world…
Pastor Claudine