Common Ground Song 80 ‘Love is the Touch’
Words: © Alison M Robertson  / Music: John Bell © Panel on Worship
YouTube recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlBAX0cCKeI  (Slane)
or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvBUn15QT7Q (Amor Dei)  
Featured image: Detail of the ‘works of mercy’ window, All Saints' church, Mountfield, Sussex © Julian P Guffogg

The words of this modern hymn are all about love, in its practical sense. It is described, among other phrases, as ‘the touch of intangible joy’, ‘the lilt in a lingering voice’ and ‘light in the tunnel of pain’. The refrain at the end of each verse is ‘God is where love is, for love is of God’ (as St John so often reminds us).

I have linked two YouTube videos, which illustrate the difference the choice of tune can make. Nearly all the performances I found online used the well-known tune Slane, which is very upbeat and perhaps gives the idea that love is always a comforting thing to give as well as receive.  But the tune set in Common Ground is called ‘Amor Dei’ (God’s Love) by John Bell, and is in D minor. This goes with the editors’ comment that ‘Christian love is more than sentimentality, and is essentially tough’. Neither of the two recordings of this that I found were sung performances: one was the tune only, but the one linked here has the words as well. Using the minor key emphasises that giving practical love can indeed be tough.

The ‘seven corporal works of mercy’ are often quoted as examples of what practical Christian love looks like: visiting the sick, feeding the hungry and so on. Such work can be costly in terms of time and money, emotionally draining, and for some people even at risk of injury. But it is what Christ did throughout his years of ministry in Judea and Galilee, and what he calls us to do.