Continuing our coverage of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s New Years poem, “In Memoriam (Ring out, wild bells)” here are stanzas four, five and six. (See the entire poem below.)

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

This fourth stanza is so true of America today in our highly politicized culture. Everyone seems to be wrapped up in a cause, but it is ultimately a dying cause, because no cause except for the cause of Christ is everlasting. Today it’s something; tomorrow it will be something else. This is why we seek nobler modes of life, sweeter manners (we are a society that has lost its manners entirely). And in the marketplace, as believers in the world but not of the world, we seek purer laws, love of truth and right, and love of the common good.

As you reflect on these words, think about what you can do about the “faithless coldness of the times.”

During this last year, as a writer and prophet we have explored Christ within the culture, and along with the leadership of Marti, Assistant Pastor, Wayne Bridegroom; Pastor of the Prayer Ministry, Cynthia Cody Vera; and Director of Discipleship, John Shirk; thank you for your ever mounting interest and satisfaction. We are happy to say at the end of 2023 our daily cyber church together is growing.

Indeed, it seems that we are only beginning to move into something like a “miniature Renaissance” of thought, appreciation, and action focused upon, and inspired by, the reality and the glory of the eternal Word.

The daily Catch and its multiple ministries lets us connect and exchange with one another in the personal ways that we all crave.  As cyber citizens, you are an intricate part of this growing community that began several years ago with a cornerstone of believers who envisioned a network of many individuals committed to overcoming personal barriers and creating motivations to participate in God’s business, specifically within the marketplace and to everyone. Indeed, you are the co-creators in our daily experiences.

Thank you for your participation throughout 2023 and we ask you to consider an end-of-the-year gift to your ministry, the Catch Ministry. (Click on the banner below to contribute)

Yours for the journey,

Marti and John

And on behalf of the Board of Directors and Vanguard Leaders

And Wayne Bridegroom, Cynthia Cody Vera and John Shirk

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

   The flying cloud, the frosty light:

   The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

   Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

   The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind

   For those that here we see no more;

   Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

   And ancient forms of party strife;

   Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,

   The faithless coldness of the times;

   Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes

But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

   The civic slander and the spite;

   Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;

   Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

   Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

   The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

   Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.