1. From Dust We Were Made
Genesis 2:7, Job 38:7, (paraphrased by James Lee III)

Dust, from dust we were made.
Inanimate, lifeless…dust that lay
on the ground until day six.
Then those hands appeared.
Those hands took the dust,
formed man, and then GOD breathed
into man’s nostrils the breath of life.
A living soul was born.
Ah, those hands. They took a rib from man.
A woman was formed and united with man.
United bones, united flesh, unashamed.
Breathe. Arise. Sing.
The morning stars also sang together,
and all the children of God shouted for joy!

2. Now and Then
Charles Bertram Johnson

All life is built from song
In youth’s young morn I sang;
And from a top-near hill
The echo broke and rang.
The years with pinions swift
To youth’s high noon made flight,
All life is built from song
I sang amid the fight.
To life’s sun-setting years,
My feet have come—Alas!
And through its hopes and fears
Again I shall not pass.
The lusty song my youth
With high-heart ardor sang
Is but a tinkling sound—
A cymbal’s empty clang.
And now I sing, my Dear,
With wisdom’s wiser heart,
All life is built from love,
And song is but a part.

3. Reflection
Texts by members of the May Festival Youth Chorus

Where is the song?
Where is our joy?
searching—longing—seeking—chasing—Calling.

Into what day will we break as dawn?
Out of this dark will we climb?

The longing of our age is an age of belonging.

Into this day we must rise as a sun,
out from this darkness to shine.

Here is our song—
Hear this, our joy!
seeing—meaning—breathing—being—Singing.

4. Seeking Joy
William Henry Davies

Joy, how I sought thee!
Silver I spent and gold,
On the pleasures of this world,
In splendid garments clad;
The wine I drank was sweet,
Rich morsels I did eat—
Oh, but my life was sad!
Joy, how I sought thee!

Joy, I have found thee!
Far from the halls of Mirth,
Back to the soft green earth,
Where people are not many;
I find thee, Joy, in hours
With clouds, and birds, and flowers—
Thou dost not charge one penny.
Joy, I have found thee!