Trinity, Eternity
Trinity Sunday; Exodus 34:1-8, Matthew 28:16-20
(lyrics written to be sung to the Russian song Meadowland Polyushko-Polye. If you are looking for it on YouTube, first try the beautifully sung solo version by Alexander Zelkin for its subtlety, steady tempo and reflective atmosphere, rather than the Red Army choir’s hectic militaristic heroics, also beautifully sung!)
- God present, past’s master,
Grace who will embrace our future,
Time is yours and timelessness, each person’s story,
You are ever loving and forgiving.
- Bread broken, wine poured out,
Jesus, gift of life abundant,
Teach us to remember you are always with us,
Live in us as pattern of our living. - God’s Spirit, heart’s wisdom,
You are flame that guides our journey,
Wind that blows from places far beyond our boundaries,
Bird that brings a word to name our longing. - One God in three persons,
Trinity of love outflowing,
Sharing and relating we reflect your image,
valuing the wonders you created. - Worlds dance to your music,
Everything is linked in kinship,
No-one can be left outside of your great mercy,
Trinity, Creator, Word and Insight.
Barbara Messner first written June 2001, rewritten 28/05/2026 – for Jeannie, one of the original performers, who asked me to find this song again.
When I wrote the first version of the lyrics to “Meadowland”, I found the tune in a book of folk songs of the world. Wikipedia now tells me it was a Soviet song about the Red Army, composer Lev Knipper 1933, poet Viktor Gusev. However some internet performances describe it as a folk song, so perhaps it was adapted later for the Soviet song. It is an expressive tune that can inspire contrasting interpretations and varied lyrics.
Barb, poet priest 