What caused the Lord to come?
Our sin!
What drove the Lord to the wilderness?
Our sin!
What caused the Lord to be scorned?
Our sin!
What scarred the Lord by the scourge?
Our sin!
What killed the Lord on the cross?
Our sin!
What has the Lord cancelled by his love?
Our sin!

Repentance is not shown by the
Wringing of hands or shedding of tears;
Neither is it found in the
Stern face or solemn voice.
Repentance is found in the
Expression of love in daily things,
In care for your 'neighbour';
Fair justice for the oppressed,
In the 'seeing on Christ'
In everyone you meet.

We may not be adulterers, Lord, but
You said "To look with lust is just as bad".
We may not be murderers, Lord, but
You said "To say 'you fool'" is nearly as bad.

We are heavily burdened with our sin, Lord,
And you said "Come to me you heavily burdened".
We know the quality of our lives is poor, Lord,
And you said "I am come that you might have life".

The complexity of our beliefs bewilders us, Lord,
But you said "Have faith like a little child".
We understand the details of your Creation, Lord,
Teach us to know the way that leads to life with you.

The glorious, recurring, message
Of the Gospel; Christ has born
Our sin! The marvellous grace
Of God, to invite us to share
In the work of spreading the news.

Though God's 'time' is "now and
Evermore", our only time is now.
Thus we cannot 'put off the evil day'!
God-in-Christ calls us to choose
"Good and life or evil and death" now.

The world regards us as irrelevant
Yet we have the only relevant message.
The world sneers at the concept of truth
But the only truth is to be found in God.
Our physical poverty means great spiritual strength.