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Benediction

from I've Got Eyes by Andrew Dutney

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about

Words and music by Andrew Dutney.
Based on the "Apostolic benediction", 2 Corinthians 13:14.

"This version of the “Apostolic benediction” (2 Corinthians 13:13) began as an exegesis assignment when I was in my second year of training at Trinity College, in Brisbane (1979). I’d spent several weeks working on those great Pauline words charis (grace), agape (love) and koinonia (fellowship) – essentially a summary of the Gospel that had stopped St Paul in his tracks on the way to Damascus and given him the marching orders for the rest of his life. After spending a lot of time exploring the depth and complexity of those words I just wanted to find a simpler, more direct way of translating them. So in the little chorus I wrote it became “kindness”, “love” and “friendship” – familiar, ordinary, but still profound.

I was the chaplain to a childrens’ camp at Alexandra Park that summer, and taught the kids the song to use in our evening prayer time. A couple of months later I recorded a concert with a band (our first performance) at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. (My live album, “I’ve Got Eyes” was recorded that night.) After a few of hours we’d played every song we knew – some twice – but the packed audience were still calling for an encore. The only thing I had left to play was the Benediction. So I came out on stage again by myself. I sang it through once to thank and bless those lovely friends and bid them good night. As I started to go through it a second time people began to sing along softly. Their voices gathered and strengthened as they realised that somehow they already knew by heart the song that they’d just heard sung for the first time. It was a graced moment as we settled into the final “…be with us”."

lyrics

May the kindness of our Lord, Jesus
and the love of our God
and the friendship,
and the unity
of the Spirit
be with us.
Be with us.

credits

from I've Got Eyes, released September 1, 1980
Andrew Dutney: Guitar and vocal.

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Andrew Dutney Adelaide, Australia

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