2 days before Susan left for India
n.d. Hello, my name is Susan Rochat and this is my husband Roger. I've been asked to say a few words about stewardship. What can I say to such a congregation as North Avenue? You love, you give, you serve, you pray. You have generously given of yourselves to diverse groups in the city and in the world. But I ask the question, especially to myself: have you, have I,
really opened our hearts to the God who has created, loved, and ultimately given Himself for us.
Since I'm not a public speaker, I have written a poem which, if I can't get through, Roger has promised to read for me. Thank you, Roger.
Open my heart
My heart is silenced at the Cross,
I stand in awe by this act of love,
The Son of God crucified, this world to save,
For each of us His life He gave.
Yes, the Son of God died for you and me
Bearing our sins He hung on a tree,
Mocked, ridiculed, spat upon and scourged,
He uttered not one contemptuous word.
"Father forgive them for they know not what they do"
was his cry
"This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise" to the
thief who hung near by
What love was His, He gave his all
And can we do less than answer his call?
Lord, open my eyes that I may see
The world as You see it, this vast humanity
The hungry, the troubled, the oppressed and the lost
Lord open my heart, may I not count the cost.
Lord, open my eyes, my mind and my heart
Without you, this world is falling apart
Hate and fear rule, violence abounds
Your people are suffering the world around.
Lord help me show your love the world at my door
My family, my neighbor, the lonely, the poor
Open my eyes, let me run the race
Open my heart, may I see your face.
Thank you.
Hope you enjoy her thoughts--the rhymes may be original,
but the thoughts are true for many Christians.
Love, Roger