Still Reaching
by Kyle Pederson
(Words and music by Kyle Pederson unless otherwise noted.)
Still Reaching weaves together scripture, hymns and original music in a meditation on the final days of Jesus’ life exploring themes of love, service, grief, betrayal and the quiet persistence of grace. The title evokes the posture of Jesus throughout Holy Week: reaching to wash feet, to share bread, to forgive, to surrender. Across time and silence, Christ is still reaching toward us and toward the world he loves.
Movement I
Jesus, Hope in All Our Sorrow
Music: based on the hymn tune JEFFERSON (Southern Harmony)
Paula Rowell, soloist
Jesus, hope in all our sorrow; wounded hands held all the world.
Love endured the world's rejection; fire of mercy gently burned. In the silence, still You lingered, bearing all our darkest night; God made known in thorn and timber, mercy crowned in grief and light.
Jesus, strength in every weakness, broken, yet You bore us whole. In Your death, a deep completeness, in Your wounds, our healing soul. Every tear and cry of sorrow, every loss and every shame, found a place within Your story cross-shaped love, a holy flame.
Jesus, Dawn of Resurrection, still Your scars reveal Your grace. In our doubt and imperfection, still You meet us face to face.
From the grave's cold isolation springs the hope we now confess; wounded hands hold all creation, clothed in light and tenderness.
Movement II
What Wondrous Love is This Music: Southern Harmony (American folk tune) Peggy Ray, soloist
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, what wondrous love is this, O my soul. What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the sacred wounds for my soul, for my soul, to bear the sacred wounds for my soul.
When I was lost in grief, sinking down, sinking down, when I was lost in grief, sinking down. When I was lost in grief, with no abiding peace, Christ drew my sorrow close to His own, to His own. Christ drew my sorrow close to His own.
To Love that bore the cross, I will sing, I will sing, to Love that bore the cross, I will sing!
To Love that bore the cross, Who bears my pain and loss, and claims me as His own, I will sing, I will sing. And claims me as His own, I will sing.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on!
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, and through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on. And through eternity, I’ll sing on.
Movement III
Go to Dark Gethsemane
Original music and text by James Montgomery
Go to dark Gethsemane, all who feel the tempter's power; Your Redeemer’s conflict see, watch with Him one bitter hour. Turn not from His griefs away; learn from Jesus Christ to pray.
Follow to the judgment hall, view the Lord of life arraigned. O the wormwood and the gall! O the pangs His soul sustained! Shun not suffering, shame or loss; learn from Him to bear the cross.
Walk the path to Calvary, see the cross now lifted high. Hear the cries and bitter moans; feel the shadow drawing nigh. In the stillness of that loss, learn from Jesus Christ the cost.
Calvary’s mournful mountain climb; there, adoring at His feet. Mark the miracle of time—earth and heaven in silence meet; Hands outstretched, a final cry; learn from Jesus Christ to die.
Movement IV
Kyie
Kyrie Eleison
For when we turned away, for when we would not stay, for every bond abandoned shamefully, for silver we still take, for promises we break, for our betrayal, Lord have mercy.
For when they spat Your name, for when we do the same, for every word that wounds so bitterly, for robes they draped with scorn, for shame our world has worn, for our hatred, Lord have mercy.
For when we raised the spear, for nails we pound in fear, for every war that rages endlessly, for blows that bruised you then, for blows we deal again, for our violence, Lord have mercy
Kyrie Eleison
Movement V
Why Have You Forsaken Me?
Words: Scriptural adaptation (Matthew 27 and 1 Corinthians 11)
Craig Clesson, soloist
Why God, why God? Why have You forsaken Me?
Father forgive them, they know not what they do.
I am poured out; they pierced My hands and My feet. They drove the spear in My side.
This is My body, broken for you.
This is My blood, poured out for you.
Into Your hands I commend my spirit.
Movement VI
Traditional Spiritual Jennifer Langley, soloist
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Sometimes it causes me to tremble.
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree? Sometimes it causes me to tremble.
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb? Sometimes it causes me to tremble.
Were you there when the sun refused to shine? Sometimes it causes me to tremble.
Following the ministers’ recessional, the congregation is asked to depart the sanctuary in silence.
The Sanctuary Choir, Danny Vancil, director Denise Burcham, violin
Jeremiah Hamby, narrator
David Hancock, cello
Heather Huff, pianist
Rusty Wilson, oboe
Kyle Pederson (b. 1971) is a Minneapolis-based composer, lyricist, pianist and educator. Kyle was awarded the American Choral Director’s Association Genesis Prize in 2020 and the American Prize in Choral Composition in 2019. His work has been commissioned, premiered and recorded by All State/Honors choirs, and youth, church, college and professional choirs around the world. Kyle enjoys working at the intersection of the sacred and secular, with his lyrics and music inviting the choir and audience to be agents of hope, grace and compassion in the world. Kyle has an undergraduate degree from Augustana University, a Master’s Degree in Education from University of St. Thomas, and an MFA in Music Composition from Vermont College of Fine Arts. His work is published by Walton, Santa Barbara, Galaxy, Beckenhorst, Morningstar, Alfred, Hal Leonard, and Carl Fischer music publishers.
This work has been made possible through the generous support of the following choral directors:
Doug Boyer, Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, TX
Michael Culloton, Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, MN
David Erwin, Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, MO
Shaun Halland, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Shoreview, MN
Mark Kemp, Myers Park Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, NC
Andy Muskrat, First Baptist Church, Waco, TX
Cass Roberts, First United Methodist Church, Cookeville, TN
Nathaniel Roper, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Brunswick, GA
Chris Shaw, Plymouth Congregational Church, Wichita, KS
Danny Vancil, Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Stone Mountain, GA
Taylor Vancil, Second Baptist Church, Richmond, VA
James Wells, Brentwood United Methodist, Brentwood, TN
Mark Potvin, First Lutheran Church, Decorah, IA
Gabriel Hiner and Julia Severtson, Decorah Lutheran Church, Decorah, IA
