The Summons (Will You Come and Follow Me?)
John Bell (b. 1949), a hymnist and Church of Scotland minister, serves as a modern- day troubadour of Scotland’s Iona Community - an intentional faith community founded on the Island of Iona (western Scotland). Bell joined the liturgically-innovative community in 1980 because it was “a place where the potentials of the socially marginalized as well as the socially successful would be attested.” In the decades since, he has composed songs for and guided the music and worship publications of the Community. Bell believes the purpose of singing is to fully engage people in the congregation’s song, stretch their faith, and encourage them to live for justice.
The Summons, Bell’s most famous hymn, was first published in 1987. The text challenges with thirteen questions as Christ summons us to a radical Christianity - to leave yourself behind and risk the hostile stare, set the prisoner free and kiss the leper clean, and to use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around.
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