paschal cycle, pt. 1
album art by Jill Kuhlman
We began these songs in March of 2020, as we tried to cope with the never ending storm of changes that shook the ground beneath our feet. As the pandemic set it, we realized that the Easter season we found ourselves in was going to be different than any before. And so, we sang about it: our despair, our pain, our lament, our sliver of hope. In our songs, we cried out to a God we had to believe was still there. We begged him to listen, to come, to rise, to return, to renew. To walk with us into a morning where the dew was fresh on the ground, and there was no longer any more pain. We watched and waited and worked as the deep wounds of our country grew deeper, as the divisions in our churches grew wider, as the death toll grew higher. And we wept, again and again.
We did not wake up in a new world; at least, we haven’t yet. But we have been walked with in this one, and, as the seasons blossomed and turned golden and withered and hibernated, we, too, have been renewed. We are on the other side again, on the cusp of a new springtime, holding out our bleeding hands, asking for warmth and reassurance.
As we step into the cycle of seasons again, we wanted to take this opportunity to share our work over the past year with you. This EP— Paschal Cycle, Pt. 1— journeys through the first stages of the Paschal Cycle (the feasts around Easter), and walks with Jesus through the events of Holy Week, beginning with Maundy Thursday. You can listen to them all at once, or listen to one each day as you go through Easter weekend.
We hope that, in these songs, you are able to find a place to grieve, find comfort, find rest, and find hope as you walk through Holy Week. In it, there is a time for everything. Hope and grief. Heavy and light. Both.
Paschal Cycle, Pt. 2 will be releasing late May. Subscribe to ensure you don’t miss it!
for more information on the Paschal Cycle, read this or listen to this!
lyrics
maundy thursday:
Sometimes I find I catch myself forgetting who I am
Running everywhere, forgetting where this hurry all began
But knowing Who he is from whence he came he could kneel to wash their feet
No more supposed to be, or have to be, can’t work to earn my seat
Seems like love love love
I’ve seen love love love
He laid aside his coat, He wrapped a towel around his waist
And poured the water
Servant Lord, who wraps a towel around your waist
Do you make me clean?
Now I’m staring at this great big field of manna everywhere
And I gathered all I can so why do I still feel despair
Fear of running out and not enough have led me face to face
With choosing independence or giving into grace
I choose love love love
You are love love love
He laid aside his coat, He wrapped a towel around his waist
And poured the water
Servant Lord, who wraps a towel around your waist
Do you make me clean?
Lord I’m hungry, I’m hungry for your peace
And Lord when we are weeping, please be our feast
Lord I’m hurting, I’m hurting to be clean
And Lord, you came with serving, you cleaned our feet?
Not just my feet, Oh wash my head, my hands my back my face
You are my feast ,you are my bread, tears landing for your grace
I’ll deny you once deny you twice, tonight a third time too
But when you look at me, I’ll try to breathe repent and you I’ll choose
good friday
the stars sing slow tonight, knowing we are hurting
the stars the same tonight but everything has changed
only heaven knows the answers to our questions
but tonight, it’s dark, and nothing’s sure
I fell asleep when you asked me to be praying
I ran away when trouble came and fear drew near
Lies I whispered in the darkness haunt my waking
And tonight, it’s dark, and nothing’s sure
You look into my eyes, knowing what I’ve done
You look into my eyes, and just like that, you’ve gone
And somehow you love me anyway
And you’ve died anyway
your blood cries from the ground, a slow and healing song,
and joins in with the stars, who’ve been there all along
And your blood heals me anyway
When you give your spirit away
Though I don’t deserve it and I cannot grasp it,
In exchange for your life, my life is remade.
Though nothing is sure, you loved me till the end.
In my lament, your wounds
let me dream again.
tenebrae (holy saturday)
Our world is sinking. I know that's nothing new
Ooooh
Our bodies are on fire. My God, are we on fire?
I try to keep singing. Well, what else can I do?
Oooooh
Cause sunday there’s no choir
On sunday there’s no choir
My God, who art in heav’n, are you in heav’n still ?
My God, whose kingdom this is, is this your kingdom still?
What is that? Oh What is hanging on that tree?
Oooooh
You’re all that I desired. and what did I desire?
Oh don’t you see? See, He went and died on me!
Oooooh
And everyone’s a liar.
My God, are You a liar?
resurrection
You are the light that brings life
To my aching and worn out heart
You promised you’d come back again
But the darkness is closing in
I’ve dreamed the same dream that
You’re here with me,
That you look into my eyes
And you say those same words
you said when you found me
“do not be afraid.”
And I cry, in the dark,
At the empty tomb
“Where, my Jesus, are you?”
And as the sun lights the sky
You’re there now before me, saying
“Daughter, I’m making things new.”
Your light shines in the darkness
And the dark can’t overcome it
You’re back, as you promised
You were right all along
Though we went out with weeping,
We will come back rejoicing
Your voice heals my pain
As you call out my name
I just can’t seem to believe
All the promises you have spoken
The doubts and the whispers rush in
And my aching and worn heart’s broken
They say they’ve seen you,
And I wish it was true,
But my heart refuses to hear
Until I touch your wounds
And look in your eyes.
Teacher, are you there?
And I cry in the dark
In this small, locked room
“Where, my Jesus, are you?” `
And as the sun lights the sky,
You’re there now before me,
And I see your pierced hands, and you smile
You’re in the stillness
You’re in the wind
Jesus, you’re making me all new again.
You are reviving
You are restoring
You speak through my doubts
For You’re faithful credits:
Lyrics to Maundy Thursday and Tenebrae, Vocals, Album Art: Jill Kuhlman
Lyrics to Good Friday, Resurrection, and Tenebrae, Piano and Vocals: Alyssa Stadtlander
